inverted panelboard - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Digital Dawg · 09-14-2009, 02:32 PM

I can't find it in the NEC anywhere, but is it OK to install a GE style panelboard upside down, for a bottom feed?

480sparky · 09-14-2009, 02:36 PM

240.81 is about the only thing you need to worry about.

Digital Dawg · 09-14-2009, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 480sparky

240.81 is about the only thing you need to worry about.

Thanks Sparky ... looks like inverted placement doesn't matter if the CBs are in the horizontal position, and the ones in this GE panel are horizontally positioned.

I also just looked inside the panel itself, and a spec sticker says "if bottom feed service is required, rotate entire device 180 deg.". With 240.81 and this label, I've got some ammunition if the inspector gives me any heck about it.

ampman · 09-15-2009, 07:56 PM

did you cut the feeder to short???

Digital Dawg · 09-15-2009, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ampman

did you cut the feeder to short???

No, bottom feed allowed me to come straight out of the meter base and into the panel, without any L's ... and in doing so the panel is at exactly the right height on the inside. Just convenience, more than anything. I still had to stub the wall out, but if I would have done a top feed, I'd had to stub the wall out a whole lot more to accomodate two L's between the panel and the meter base.

ampman · 09-16-2009, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Digital Dawg

No, bottom feed allowed me to come straight out of the meter base and into the panel, without any L's ... and in doing so the panel is at exactly the right height on the inside. Just convenience, more than anything. I still had to stub the wall out, but if I would have done a top feed, I'd had to stub the wall out a whole lot more to accomodate two L's between the panel and the meter base.

short feeders have been known to happen

Bubbles · 09-20-2009, 10:52 AM

just make sure your main is on to the right...off left...