Panel In Guest House

 
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Old 08-10-2008, 01:54 PM   #1
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Panel In Guest House


I am adding a new 100 amp panel in my guest house that im remodeling, the wiring and panel is probably 50+ years old.
I have gutted all interior walls and am replacing all the interior wiring also.

The existing panel has no main and only 3 #2 al coming from the meter.This guest house has its own address and meter, yet all the water and sewer are connected to the main house.

Its approximately 20' from the back of my house and the power is in the air and I am moving it under ground.

I hope I gave enough info..

My question is, since all the power and water is connected to the main house ( just seperate meters ), do I just connect the bare #2 al to the neutral and strap that to the ground??

I am using a GE 100 amp sub w/ 12 spaces.

Thanks any opinions are appreciated..

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Old 08-10-2008, 02:03 PM   #2
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Re: Panel In Guest House


Wow. I don't often give an answer like this, but you really could benefit from an electrician's help. I'm not going to be rude and say something like "you don't even have the foggiest clue", but if I was a rude person, that's what I'd say. You've got so many terms in your post mis-used, the way I read it, that I don't even know where to begin trying to answer your question if I wanted to.
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Old 08-10-2008, 02:08 PM   #3
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Re: Panel In Guest House


Quote:
Wow. I don't often give an answer like this, but you really could benefit from an electrician's help. I'm not going to be rude and say something like "you don't even have the foggiest clue", but if I was a rude person, that's what I'd say. You've got so many terms in your post mis-used, the way I read it, that I don't even know where to begin trying to answer your question if I wanted to.
Wow, thanks for the help..
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Old 08-10-2008, 05:04 PM   #4
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Re: Panel In Guest House


Ok, I think this got confusing when I mentioned sub-panel.

There is a 100 amp breaker on the meter which feeds my guest house meter with 2 al #2 wire and a bare al #2 Ground.

So technically this isnt really a sub-panel since its not wired from a main panel but a main lug.

So shouldnt I be able to connect the the two hots to the 100 amp breaker and the bare #2 to the neutral and strap the ground and neutral together??

Does this make more sense???
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Old 08-10-2008, 05:07 PM   #5
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Re: Panel In Guest House


No one on here will give you advice. This isn't a DIY site.
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Old 08-10-2008, 05:11 PM   #6
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Re: Panel In Guest House


Quote:
No one on here will give you advice. This isn't a DIY site.
what the heck is the point of a forum if no one gives advice???

So should I go to the carpenter section and brag about what I build and laugh at others questions??

Thats rediculous...
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Old 08-10-2008, 05:14 PM   #7
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Re: Panel In Guest House


veer, on the off chance that you really are a tradesman, the issues MD is referring to are included within your question. A sub panel has lots of rules associated with it, which rules apply are determined by the specific application. Moreover, oftentimes local jurisdictions, including states, counties, and cities/towns add their own rules. Answering your question would entail an internship and study. No one here is willing to give you the few hundred hours of time it would take to do that. Giving you specific advice on your situation, which could be mis-applied, would be dangerous.

So, you're stuck with the suggestion, hire an electrician to do this work, have it all permitted and inspected, then sleep well at night knowing some "minor" thing that was overlooked isn't going to kill someone.
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Old 08-10-2008, 05:16 PM   #8
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Re: Panel In Guest House


Quote:
Originally Posted by veer View Post
what the heck is the point of a forum if no one gives advice???

So should I go to the carpenter section and brag about what I build and laugh at others questions??

Thats rediculous...
Sounds like you've got our number.
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Old 08-10-2008, 05:23 PM   #9
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Re: Panel In Guest House


I am a tradesman and have been a commercial union carpenter for 14 years and previously did residential.

I am not an electrician by any means and dont dabble in any thing more than running some romex here and there in my rentals and personal home

I'm not asking any one to take responsibility for my own property, just some friendly advice.

Peace out..
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Old 08-10-2008, 05:25 PM   #10
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Re: Panel In Guest House


Quote:
Sounds like you've got our number.
Grow up...
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Old 08-10-2008, 05:32 PM   #11
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Re: Panel In Guest House


Quote:
A sub panel has lots of rules associated with it
Thom, this isnt a sub-panel, i corrected that in my last post.
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Old 08-10-2008, 05:32 PM   #12
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Re: Panel In Guest House


Quote:
Originally Posted by veer View Post
I am not an electrician by any means and dont dabble in any thing more than running some romex here and there in my rentals and personal home
Then why are you asking about running conduit or ENT, a panel, grounding straps, main breakers, meters and sub panels?
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Old 08-10-2008, 05:35 PM   #13
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Re: Panel In Guest House


Because I want to learn how to do it right ??

Whats wrong with that??
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Old 08-10-2008, 05:37 PM   #14
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Re: Panel In Guest House


Your help can be found here:

www.diychatroom.com
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Old 08-10-2008, 05:40 PM   #15
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Re: Panel In Guest House


Thanks for the link, but I'm not going through this on another forum, lol...
An electrical general foreman that works on my project right now is actually going to come over and help me this week...I was just trying to get some knowledge crunching in and I think I've had enough...
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Old 08-10-2008, 05:42 PM   #16
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Re: Panel In Guest House


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