Latest project house has a finished basement with the electrical panel centered on the basement family room wall. The wall is block with 1.5″styrene and 2X2’s for DW framing, so the panel box come out from the wall 5″ This has conduit and romex running above and below it. Goes up to the finished ceiling and a foot or so below the panel
I was thinking about covering it with a cabinet with a door positioned over the panel door. Screwed in place so it could be easily removed for service. Sized @ 48″X 20″x 6
Is this a code violation? Any better ideas?
Replies
Any better ideas?
Hinge the doors so they can be opened to flip that tripped breaker.
also make sure it's big enough the whole front panel can be removed.
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
That would be a code violation in some places.
And Buck has it right.
If you are going to do it, then make the opening big enough not only to remove the complete front panel of the box, but also so you can reach around the box, to deal with feeders and clamps and such.
And do NOT just screw a cover in place. Code or not. I can imagine the frustration when something is sparking and sputtering inside that panel box, and you are hunting for your screwdriver, and/or fumbling with the screws. Recipe for disaster.
Put a door on, and hinge that door.
Do not lock it. And make sure that it will swing completely out of the way. If you can't get it to swing completely out of the way, as one big door, make it two smaller doors.
Life doesn't often leave a very easy trail to follow.
Hammer, frame a 2-6 door in front of it. It'll look like any other closet and you'll have alot of room to work on the panel if needed. Thats what we do if it calls for it.
Hope this helps, Lou