spair breakers

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09-15-13, 10:39 AM

trotter

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spair breakers

Had a question on panel spair breakers,is it important to place them in lowest area of main panel and does it have to be on both sides if you have two or can they both be on side i have open space on.
Also wondered if on inspection will they ususally remove panel cover.i have a sticker on inside panel with nec 1981 verification on it and want to be sure thats seen.my panel was built in a bathroom area so im unsure how it will do on inspection.the box looks great compared to original set u.I'm still making the panel Id chart.
Any info is appreciated

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Last edited by trotter; 09-15-13 at 10:58 AM.

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09-15-13, 10:42 AM

ray2047

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The important thing is no removed knock outs that have neither a spare breaker or a blank filler. There is no requirement to even have spare breakers in a panel. If there are location doesn't matter.

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09-15-13, 02:08 PM

PJmax

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Like Ray said.... as long as all open spaces in panel cover are filled it doesn't make any difference where the spares are.

That 1981 sticker doesn't really mean much either.

Inspection ?? Home inspection or electrical inspection ?
The fact that the panel is in the bathroom will raise some concern.

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09-15-13, 02:34 PM

trotter

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Electrical.
I'm assuming the bath was added,not sure if they ever built them in that location in early 80s...original location on panel ,looks to be .

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09-15-13, 02:35 PM

CasualJoe

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Quote:

my panel was built in a bathroom area

Is the panel just in the area of the bathroom or is it in the bathroom. It makes a big difference.

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09-15-13, 03:28 PM

Furd

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Quote:

i have a sticker on inside panel with nec 1981 verification on it and want to be sure thats seen.

Quote:

That 1981 sticker doesn't really mean much either.

That inspection sticker means absolutely nothing. It is a FACTORY inspection sticker, not a field inspection sticker.

BTW, it is spare, not spair.

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09-19-13, 05:34 PM

trotter

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Panel is in bathroom behind toilet.Original panel.

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09-19-13, 06:22 PM

ray2047

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Quote:

Panel is in bathroom behind toilet.Original panel.

And that is the real problem. You need 36" clear space in front of the panel. Either the toilet can't be there or the panel can't be there.

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09-19-13, 06:59 PM

CasualJoe

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Quote:

Panel is in bathroom behind toilet.Original panel.

The panel isn't allowed to be in a bathroom, but that would be subject to your local AHJ's (inspector) ruling. If the panel has always been there and was inspected when the house was built, they may grandfather it and allow it to remain. There are still many rural areas in this country that have no inspections at all. Your area may have been that way when the house was built, but who knows? Best to talk to the AHJ about it before any inspections.

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