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All aluminum to copper junctions should have some of that special paste, to stop oxodization and the effects of disimilar metals (electrolisis) Here we use a product called Cu/al. I would suggest shutting off all the breakers and loosening the lugs, then squirt some of the paste in the lug from the top, bottom and where the hold down bolt goes through, you should be able to move the wire inside the lug to distribute the stuff. Be very careful, and if you are not comfortable with working on live voltage hire an electrician .
Bakdo
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HELP!! I need to install a larger service panel. I saw on a episode of This Old House a Plastic service panel with plug in breakers. What made this panel unique was the breakers plugged in through a cover that protected you fron the service bars. The breakers also displayed a red indicator when tripped. I cannot find information on this panel anywhere. Any help would be appreciated.
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I put new 200 amp service to my latest project here- used best Square D stuff and it looks real good. Inspector and utility guy both said so. But I forgot that damn contact paste where the 4/0 aluminum goes in the lugs and it ain't easy to get it in there now. What do you think, is this going to be a problem? Thanks.
*Yes
*I presume the lugs are not aluminum, in which case I agree that it will be a problem. Perhaps this is yet another reason to use copper service entrance cable. I just put new service in my house, and 4/0 aluminum is about $2 something a foot, and 2/0 copper is $3 something. Even though it is about 50% more, the total dollars don't amount too much over a short run. Mine was about 32 feet.
*Yo Bryan: Copper was on my mind, but when I was discussing it in the store everybody there looked at me like I was crazy so I went with the aluminum. That will teach me- no more free advice from those cats lounging around the Square D store!
*All aluminum to copper junctions should have some of that special paste, to stop oxodization and the effects of disimilar metals (electrolisis) Here we use a product called Cu/al. I would suggest shutting off all the breakers and loosening the lugs, then squirt some of the paste in the lug from the top, bottom and where the hold down bolt goes through, you should be able to move the wire inside the lug to distribute the stuff. Be very careful, and if you are not comfortable with working on live voltage hire an electrician .Bakdo
*I would agree exactly with what Bakdo said. BTW: Bakdo... now how'd that come about? Out here, we call it a callback. Just wondering.
*I ain't afraid of the volts, I'm afraid of cutting off that little seal the power company put on there.
*Yes its a problem and you should fix it now so you don't have the problem I did which required replacing the panel after the connections loosened and overheated. Took 3 years to go bad and by then electrician refused to repair.As for the seal on the meter, call the power company. Mine said they would come out, remove meter, and return later to reinstall... All at no charge. When asked, the said they did it as a customer service to keep you from "frying" yourself.
*Have the electric company pull the meter. Then you can add the paste to both ends (Don't forget the neutral). Some companys will allow you to cut the seal your self if you call first and then they will only have to come out once to re-seal the meter base.Watch your fingers inside of the meter box, even without the meter part of it is still hot.
*Ditto what Ron said about pulling the meter. Had to pull the meter on my house a while back so I called the power company and explained my situation. There was a long pause and sigh and the person said "well pull the meter!" All they wanted was to be notified to seal it when I was done. May be different in your locale but here (Seattle) it was a snap.Sam
*Thanks Ron. I do know exactly whats hot in there and what ain't.