Transferring circuits to new panel
#1
12-28-04, 02:02 PM
Transferring circuits to new panel
Greetings everyone...
I'm upgrading my house to 200A service. My new panel is about three feet from the old one. My plan is to remove the circuit breakers and use the old panel as a junction box to tie the old circuits to the new panel (after the service has been cut over). My question is: Can I run one large neutral from the new panel to the soon-to-be former panel, along with individual hot conductors for each of the older circuits that I'm connecting to, or, do I have to run an individual neutral wire for each circuit (or each pair of circuits, if I choose to use multiwire circuits)? I hope I've made myself reasonably clear.
Thanks for any help.
- Fred
I'm upgrading my house to 200A service. My new panel is about three feet from the old one. My plan is to remove the circuit breakers and use the old panel as a junction box to tie the old circuits to the new panel (after the service has been cut over). My question is: Can I run one large neutral from the new panel to the soon-to-be former panel, along with individual hot conductors for each of the older circuits that I'm connecting to, or, do I have to run an individual neutral wire for each circuit (or each pair of circuits, if I choose to use multiwire circuits)? I hope I've made myself reasonably clear.
Thanks for any help.
- Fred
#2
12-28-04, 02:37 PM
Originally Posted by ElDerfo
Greetings everyone...
I'm upgrading my house to 200A service. My new panel is about three feet from the old one. My plan is to remove the circuit breakers and use the old panel as a junction box to tie the old circuits to the new panel (after the service has been cut over). My question is: Can I run one large neutral from the new panel to the soon-to-be former panel, along with individual hot conductors for each of the older circuits that I'm connecting to, or, do I have to run an individual neutral wire for each circuit (or each pair of circuits, if I choose to use multiwire circuits)? I hope I've made myself reasonably clear.
Thanks for any help.
- Fred
I'm upgrading my house to 200A service. My new panel is about three feet from the old one. My plan is to remove the circuit breakers and use the old panel as a junction box to tie the old circuits to the new panel (after the service has been cut over). My question is: Can I run one large neutral from the new panel to the soon-to-be former panel, along with individual hot conductors for each of the older circuits that I'm connecting to, or, do I have to run an individual neutral wire for each circuit (or each pair of circuits, if I choose to use multiwire circuits)? I hope I've made myself reasonably clear.
Thanks for any help.
- Fred
#4
12-28-04, 03:51 PM
Thinman: Thanks for your unambiguous answer.
Trinitro: Thanks for responding. However, one of the reasons that I'm upgrading is because I want to get rid of the dangerous mess that is currently installed: Four main lug panels -- no service disconnect anywhere (unless you count pulling the meter out of its box, which I once had to do). Also, the old box is not in good shape (loose contacts, evidence of past water in the box), etc. I installed a nice, new QO 40 space panel and I want to use it.
Trinitro: Thanks for responding. However, one of the reasons that I'm upgrading is because I want to get rid of the dangerous mess that is currently installed: Four main lug panels -- no service disconnect anywhere (unless you count pulling the meter out of its box, which I once had to do). Also, the old box is not in good shape (loose contacts, evidence of past water in the box), etc. I installed a nice, new QO 40 space panel and I want to use it.
#5
12-28-04, 04:00 PM
In that case you may want to remove the old box alltogether, and replace it with a couple of large junction boxes. This is relatively easy if you have NM-B wiring, but more difficult if you have EMT or metal clad conduit wiring.
The easiest way to transfer the circuits would be to use a bunch of 12-3 and 14-3 (if you have 15A circuits) conductors.
A lot depends on what type of wiring you have now.
The easiest way to transfer the circuits would be to use a bunch of 12-3 and 14-3 (if you have 15A circuits) conductors.
A lot depends on what type of wiring you have now.
#6
12-28-04, 04:12 PM
While I could add a couple large junction boxes as you suggest, I'll have a huge junction box (my existing panel) once the utility has cut the power over to the new panel. I will consider your suggestion, though. I could locate the boxes between joists and free up wall space. Thanks for taking the time to help.
#7
12-28-04, 08:47 PM
Some jurisdictions don't like "reusing" old panels as junction boxes. Also, you mention the box is not in very good shape. Also, you'll need to not only remove all of the innards of the box, but also cover all existing breaker slots with blanks.
#8
12-29-04, 05:56 AM
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IMO using an old panel as a J-box is not a workmanlike approach to this job. To some it may seem like an easy way around a problem, but it in reality it is just the easy way out. When in actual reality it is more work and less professional.
Why is the new panel so far away anyway? Can it be moved closer to facilitate not having to splice home runs? Like right next to the existing panels.
Why not transfer the circuits to the new panel one by one? The ones which don't reach, those you box and splice.
To me this is the correct way to tackle this task.
Why is the new panel so far away anyway? Can it be moved closer to facilitate not having to splice home runs? Like right next to the existing panels.
Why not transfer the circuits to the new panel one by one? The ones which don't reach, those you box and splice.
To me this is the correct way to tackle this task.
#9
12-29-04, 08:09 AM
Unfortunately, there is a window to the left of the old box (and a built-in cabinet to the right), so that's why the new panel is so far away. The local inspector did indicate it was fine to use the old panel as a j-box as long as I screwed the door shut. I'm beginning to think that y'all are right. The circuits that come from the left (where the new panel is) will go straight into the new panel and the circuits that come from the right will bo into j-boxes, spliced to new romex and fasten them to a running board under the joists to the new panel (I'd rather not drill a dozen new holes in the joists). Thanks.
