Hello All,
Would like some input on your experience with relocatin of a service panel and mains disconnect.
Scenario: HO has Master Bath with vanity separated by door. Wants to expand bath to include vanity area and set wall and door to Master Bedroom. Effectivly increasing bath area by 100%
Problem: Vanity area closet houses service panel and mains disconnect. By converting this area to bath it now becomes a wetroom. Codes do not allow SP and Mains in closet now. So new SP and Mains will move to Garage on other side of house. BTW this is a Ranch style, built in the late 60s with resonable attic access.
Question: Would you
A: use the existing service panel as a Jbox and pigtail to the new SP or
B: Would you run new home runs from the new SP?
Inspector doesn’t care which way. I would prefer to run new home runs but my electrician would prefer to pigtail.
What would you do and why?
Thanks in advance.
Mike
Replies
Probably some of both -- New home runs for those circuits that are closer to the new box than the old, use the old box as a j-box for the ones that go farther. Depending on the layout of the place, it might also make sense to find a location for a sub panel to serve the farthest parts.
-- J.S.
Remember, the connection NOT made cannot have a problem. Since the existing box is in a place that isn't such a great choice, I'd try to run new homeruns if it is reasonable.
For the important runs we'd want all new wire, while older wire for lighter loads in good condition could be connected to junction boxes in the attic with new runs from there.
Wire is cheap. Electricans just get tired of crawling around in attics.
If you have blown in insulation, in the past we've had an insulator suck out all the old stuff so the sparky doesn't have to fight it while pulling all new wire. Well worth the cost for involved jobs.
Cheers
JS thanks for the input your approach makes sense.
Bryan I agree that home runs would be the best , while JS points out the possiblity of some not being readily accessable.
With that in mind I like Trouts idea of new JBoxes in the attic for those that are either sound in wiring or not completely accessable.
Thank you all for your input. If nothing else you have supported my thoughts on home runs vs leaving the old SP in the closet. This also opens up more area for changes that the customer can use for Cabinets or whatever by removing the closet.
Again Thanks,
Mike K