Planning to mount a subpanel in my attic…discussed with inspector and so on….but here’s a late source of confusion: Cauldwell’s “Wiring a House” book says to make sure the surface it’s mounted on is pressure-treated wood…surely pressure-treated is very corrosive? The panel is Square D QO….would 3/4″ plywood be okay? I’m wondering if pressure-treated is for damp (i.e. basement) installations….now I know what #2 AWG cable weighs….
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Pressure treated is corrosive, the new stuff even more so. The panel enclosure is plain steel so will corrode quite readily against pressure treated. You wouldn't be mounting a panel in a wet location indoors anyway. Regular 3/4" plywood is what to use.
just put some rubber bushing on the bolts and carry on.
though about it and though about it, I just mount to plain plywood and say the hell with it. its up in the attic. That plywood be there a hundred years or more.
Edited 6/26/2004 1:53 pm ET by BROWNBAGG
Thanks, that's what I thought, still seems strange that Cauldwell recommended pressure-treated. Plywood it is.
I would have to read the context. But I suspect that he is in an area where 95% of the pannels are in the basement.
But even at that, with the new stuff I would not use it. Use felt behind it or use treated 1by or 2by's as furing strips and then use plain plywood.
Do you really want to go up in the attic every tme you trip a breaker?