Hello,
I need to rearrange some wiring between a main circuit panel and a sub-panel with a generator connection. The problem is that I will need to extend some of the wiring in order to make the switch to another circuit breaker in the opposing panel. Is there a box or some approved space that this could be done in BEFORE the wires enter the intended panel? Here is the rest of the story…
Recently I had an electrician to my home for another project and had him evaluate the electrical system. He called the generator configuration a "farm hookup" or part-load generator design. He also laughed at why the sub-panel didn't include basic emergency coverage for the refrigerator and other primary needs (obviously the original designer had unusual intentions). At the time, he confirmed that it was acceptable with local code to extend wiring in a circuit panel via wirenut connection. Since then, I have mapped out all of the outlets in the home and see that I will need to reroute up to 20% of the wiring between panels in order to more efficiently meet our emergency generator needs. Doing this inside the existing panels would be too cluttered and compact for general safety.
Since I am going to open up drywall anyway, I was thinking of installing a box similar to a circuit sub-panel, but without all the internal hardware. It would simply be used as an extra space to extend the wiring via wirenut in an organized fashion before it is routed to the intended circuit panel (like what is done when extending wiring in a junction box for a light, but on a larger scale). So far, I can't seem to find any product online that this is made for and only a few items that I might alter for this use. I also can't seem to find anything in the local code that acknowledges this intention. This kind of issue has to have been deal with before without replacing full wiring runs.
So, any suggestions?
Knowledge is power, but an good attention span can never be replaced,
Dr. Z.
I need to rearrange some wiring between a main circuit panel and a sub-panel with a generator connection. The problem is that I will need to extend some of the wiring in order to make the switch to another circuit breaker in the opposing panel. Is there a box or some approved space that this could be done in BEFORE the wires enter the intended panel? Here is the rest of the story…
Recently I had an electrician to my home for another project and had him evaluate the electrical system. He called the generator configuration a "farm hookup" or part-load generator design. He also laughed at why the sub-panel didn't include basic emergency coverage for the refrigerator and other primary needs (obviously the original designer had unusual intentions). At the time, he confirmed that it was acceptable with local code to extend wiring in a circuit panel via wirenut connection. Since then, I have mapped out all of the outlets in the home and see that I will need to reroute up to 20% of the wiring between panels in order to more efficiently meet our emergency generator needs. Doing this inside the existing panels would be too cluttered and compact for general safety.
Since I am going to open up drywall anyway, I was thinking of installing a box similar to a circuit sub-panel, but without all the internal hardware. It would simply be used as an extra space to extend the wiring via wirenut in an organized fashion before it is routed to the intended circuit panel (like what is done when extending wiring in a junction box for a light, but on a larger scale). So far, I can't seem to find any product online that this is made for and only a few items that I might alter for this use. I also can't seem to find anything in the local code that acknowledges this intention. This kind of issue has to have been deal with before without replacing full wiring runs.
So, any suggestions?
Knowledge is power, but an good attention span can never be replaced,
Dr. Z.