least it's not full of 30A fuses :x

Yes, and the breaker box on the right is very interesting to say the least. "Caution" "Shut Both Breaker When Working On Circuit" "Washer" "Dryer."
NJow, could on assume that there is a 30a 120/240v 2p circuit w/neutral supplying and electric dryer and then a 120v washing machine has been supplied from it?
If so, let's think obout this. If #10 has been run, then you install a 120a outlet to the L-N with what and how?
But,then again, it does appear to be a COMMON TRIP breaker so how would you turn OFF one pole without the other?

To me the breakers look newer than the enclosure, perhaps the original wasn't a common trip?

i like that porcelain bushing for the doorbell transformer.

Those Wadsworth boxes are in awfully good shape, age not withstanding.

Bill: Do you have any pix of your new installation? Also, was there some kind of existing workspace problem here (spare fuses in the foreground sitting on top of something...kinda looks like an oil tank)?

Mike (mamills)

Chip may be right. That is definitely a 2-pole breaker, looking at the difference between the two halves' labeling. I believe that to be either a Bryant or T&B breaker.

I was thinking that this is one of the neatest older panel installations I've seen. What catches my eye is the poor cable-clamp installation on the 10-3; the newest part.

what's that box under the fuse panel?

I was only there for about 20 min. I'm told that Washer/dryer is a [real] 2P C/B that feeds the 220V dryer AND the 120V washer. They tapped one of the dryer legs and used the grounding conductor as the neutral. Unfortunately I never got back to take after photos. The sm Wadsworth box is 2 more fused ckts. You can see where they are tapped onto the buss just under the pull-out. It was in great condition and the neatest older service I have ever seen. I'll find out if the elec took after photo's.
Bill

Mike ~ That is a 275 gal oil tank you see. I beleive this was installed after the service.
Bill

Bill: Looking at this service again, what did they use for a neutral to the buss at the bottom? The only thing I can see in the pic is what appears to be a large uninsulated solid conductor on the left side. All the others look pretty small.

I have seen panels like this with main conductors connected a couple of different ways. That shown in the pix appears to be the most common (and what the manufacturer had in mind, by the label on the door). I have also seen the main conductors attached to the lugs between the fuse pullout and the plug fuse section, and the pullout used for a stove - no main disconnect and quite a heavy load for a 60amp-rated panel .

Mike(mamills)

Can anyone post a pic of the type of cartridge fuses which were used in the "Main" of these older panels?

Pauluk:





[This message has been edited by Hemingray (edited 01-12-2006).]

That's an interesting thing, indeed! I don't see anything like a neutral come in with the feeders at the top either, only a red and a black wire!

Thanks! What would have been the typical rating of these in the era in question? 50 to 100 amps?

for the main fuse? the main was usually 60A max, with the range block having 40A fuses.

Love the "Shut both breakers", when of course if you are using that terminology it should be "Open both breakers" as shut would technically leave the circuit energized.

Might want to omit any reference to "open" or "closed" where unqualified persons might be involved. "On" and "off" are less likely to be misunderstood.

Don't you just hate those blue plastic NMC clamps

Mike - After looking closely at the photo I can only guess that the solid conductor you see must be the neutral(??) I'm sure there was a neutral, I think! :-) There was actually very little load on this panel. Well under 60A. I beleive when first checked I was told 18A with the frost free frig running. Gas stove, gas hot water, oil heat, no A/C.
Bill

Now that's efficient use of electricity! I wish there were more people using so few electricity - would really help our environment.