How to add ground buss bar

[cfjwang]

I have an old Cutler Hammer panel . I can add more circuits by using the
"duplex" circuit breakers. But the neutral and ground buss bar areas are
very crowded already. The panel has two metal bars shorted together and the
previous owner use the two bars interchangeably for both ground and neutral.
One solution is to add a dedicated ground buss bar and connect it back to
the two original ground/neutral bars (I plan to use the original two bars
for neutral only).

1. Is this the right thing to do?
2. Does it require a permit?
3. Can I just find a mounting bracket and just bolt the assembly inside
the control panel?
4. What other things do I need to pay attention to?

Thanks for the help!

Jerry

 

[Bill]

Sounds to me like it is getting a bit crowded in there.

I would get a new panel. The panel itself is not very expensive, so get a
large one. I think I paid $150 for a 200 amp 40 slot panel a few years ago.

The breakers are expensive though.

So far as getting a permit, I would advise getting a permit for any
electrical work you do like this. The permit is not that expensive and you
get an expert to check your work to be sure it is safe. You can also ask an
inspector questions beforehand so you do the correct things. (Don't need to
re-do work.)

Just call your local inspector and find out when you can go in to ask
questions. Take plenty of pictures of everything. Cover removed from panel,
service entrance where wires come in, grounding of electrical panels, etc.

Once you have a nice new panel with plenty of room, it will be easy to add
additional circuits or rewire existing circuits.


in message

 

[SQLit]

I have an old Cutler Hammer panel . I can add more circuits by using the
"duplex" circuit breakers. But the neutral and ground buss bar areas are
very crowded already. The panel has two metal bars shorted together and the
previous owner use the two bars interchangeably for both ground and neutral.
One solution is to add a dedicated ground buss bar and connect it back to
the two original ground/neutral bars (I plan to use the original two bars
for neutral only).

1. Is this the right thing to do?
2. Does it require a permit?
3. Can I just find a mounting bracket and just bolt the assembly inside
the control panel?
4. What other things do I need to pay attention to?

Thanks for the help!

Jerry

I suggest that you first investigate your new loads. Will they push you over
the main circuit breakers rating?

All residential panel manufactures have a maximum number of
poles/handles/circuits that the panel is rated for. Something like 20/40
Most panel manufactures have listings for 2 wires of the same size under one
screw. CHECK YOUR PANEL to be sure.
All panel manufactures make auxiliary ground bars for their panels. Some
even have holes taped already for installation. NOTE I stated GROUND not
NEUTRAL. Neutral bar is isolated from the metal in most panels.

1. Can not see it from here
2. Can not answer cause I do not know your local code. Where I live a couple
of circuits are not usually permitted. The city wants every change
permitted.
3. Possibly for the ground
4. The answer to that is impossible to know.

Please call a licensed pro in your area and ask these questions to him.

 

[Percival P. Cassidy]

Sounds to me like it is getting a bit crowded in there.

I would get a new panel. The panel itself is not very expensive, so get a
large one. I think I paid $150 for a 200 amp 40 slot panel a few years ago.

The breakers are expensive though.

I recently bought a 200A 32-space Cutler-Hammer CH "Value Pack" at
Lowe's for approx. $150. This included the main breakers and 5 or 6 20A
breakers.

I don't recall the regular (i.e., not GFI or AFI) 15A and 20A CH
breakers being more than about $6 each.

Perce

 

[zxcvbob]

I would think, like others said, that a new panel might be in order.
But, and maybe I'm stating the obvious, you probably just cant upgrade
from say a 100A to a 200A pannel without also upgrading the main
service wires. Not a job for you most likely.

No one has suggested adding a sub pannel. If you are not over loading
then that may be OK.

My advice is free, take it for what its worth.

You can install a 200A panel without upgrading the service wires *if*
you use a 100A main breaker. You might have to special order the 200A
panel w/ 100A mains installed, but they do make them.

-Bob

 

[Paul Hovnanian P.E.]

I would think, like others said, that a new panel might be in order.
But, and maybe I'm stating the obvious, you probably just cant upgrade
from say a 100A to a 200A pannel without also upgrading the main
service wires. Not a job for you most likely.

No one has suggested adding a sub pannel. If you are not over loading
then that may be OK.

My advice is free, take it for what its worth.

The sub panel idea warrants some investigation. If the main panel will
take the new loads, replace two breakers with a 2-pole sized for the sub
panel load. Move a few existing circuits to the sub panel and add the
new ones in there as well. If possible, buy the same brand sub panel as
the main and you won't waste any breakers. The OP also won't have to
de-energize the whole house until the inspection is complete.

 

[zxcvbob]

the service wires are sized to the calculated load, not the size of the
main breaker.

And the main breaker is sized to the service wires. The service wires
are already in place.

-Bob