My bachelor uncle who loved fishing died recently and left me a 30+ year old doublewide on a lake out in the sticks. It needs a little work but I want to fix it up for my kids and grandkids to use. When I went to look it over, I noticed it had an old Federal Pacific electric panel box that I definitely want to replace. I had my son who lives closer (I’m four hours away) to go over and get me some pictures of the panel box with the cover off so I can figure out what all I’ll need and get it from my local supplier. He sent me pictures of a second box that I hadn’t even noticed. It’s on the outside next to the electric meter and has one 200 amp breaker.

So, is it likely that this is the main disconnect which means the inside panel is actually a subpanel and obviously has to have the ground and neutral isolated? I’ve swapped out a main panel and put in a couple of subpanels before but I always knew for sure whether it was a main or a subpanel.

From the pictures I can tell that the “neutrals” and the grounding wires definitely go to separate busbars but I can't see for certain that they are not bonded.

 

MH usually have the main panel on the pole so I would say yes that is a subpanel in the MH. How accessible is the one in the MH? In older MHs I have seen them in closets even the back of kitchen cabinets. That won't be code compliant these days if you follow NEC. I'd also check the size wire between the main and the sub. Do you know what brand panel is on the pole? http://www.doityourself.com/forum/li...-pictures.html

 

The panel with the one 200 amp breaker is actually mounted on the outside of the house as is the meter. I can't reach my son until tonight and I'm not sure if he knows what brand it is anyhow. Fortunately the Federal Pacific panel is located smack dab in the middle of a bedroom wall behind a fake panel although strangely the top of the panel is only about three feet from the floor.

I tried without success to include pictures. I'll try again later. Fortunately I know more about wiring than I do computers.

 

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Hey, whaddaya know, I got it to work. Thanks for the tip.

 

That would be a subpanel although it does have a main breaker in it. The neutrals and grounds should be isolated.