This switch panel was in a 1950 home I inspected in Dallas, Oregon. I believe the home owner and all of his renters were all budding electricians. This panel is kind of scarry and I was glad to be done with the electrical part of this inspection. Let's see what you think:
Jim THAT is a perfect example of one of Electricity's biggest problems-----it still works even with multiple things wrong with it.
Has it been one owner since then? I've seen fuses, but this is an original design...I just can't believe that a buyer wouldn't insist on a new panel box...
Melina: I have no idea about the owners. This Federal Pacific switch box is wired backwards! and most likely would not trip in the event of an over current.
1. The breakers may trip.
2. The panel is unsafe.
3. Just looking at the outside would tell me it was wired wrong without removing the cover.
4. If you can look at the outside of the panel and see that it was not wired properly WHY would you ever remove the cover? No need to proceed further. Or subject yourself to danger.
I've never seen a sub-panel wired so wrong. Unprotected wires, missing grounding conductor, wired backwards, fpe breakers, double tapped lugs, wrong color neutral (blue wire)... and a lot more. Nice picture.
Mike: Right you are. Safety first! But then I wouldn't have the wonderful blog fodder.
Reuben: I don't think you could make more mistakes if you tried.
Jim,
You might be right about it not being able to trip because it is Federal Pacific, but being wired backwards would not hinder the trip capability. Any other circuit breaker would trip on overload or short circuit regardless of which side was used for line or load, it is after all alternating current.
On the other hand... The installation is soooo wrong, good luck writing up all the defects. You just may want to defer the whole mess to a licensed electrician.
WOW...Federal Pacific Panel and "StabLok" breakers. That alone spells trouble.
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