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09-07-2011, 02:44 PM
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#1
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Newbie
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 2
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Main Breaker Missing
I live in Texas and am currently renting a house. My landlord's "handyman/electrician" removed the main breaker from the panel in 2008 and I just noticed it recently when one of the other breakers tripped. Is this legal to do? There is no main breaker on the exterior of the house. Thank you for any input regarding this matter.
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09-07-2011, 05:04 PM
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#2
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I=E/R
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 2,052
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Main Breaker Missing
Where is the meter? There may be a disconnect close to the meter. Is this a single residence dwelling?
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09-07-2011, 05:32 PM
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#3
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Semi-Pro Electro-Geek
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 2,164
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Main Breaker Missing
How did he remove it and still provide power to the panel? Did he just connect the feeder to the pass-through lugs at the bottom of the bus? Is there a disconnect between the meter and the panel? How many breakers are in the panel? If there are less than 6 breakers, then it's probably a legal installation. If there are more than 6, then there would have to be another disconnect.
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09-08-2011, 10:16 AM
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#4
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Newbie
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 2
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Main Breaker Missing
The meter is on the back of the house, yes single family dwelling. I have no clue how he did it, I wasn't home. I really don't know that much about electrical issues. There are 10 breakers in the box right now. The panel is about 20' from the meter inside a pantry. I know there used to be a main breaker because I would flip that one to turn off the power to the house all at once...it is gone now. I was fixing an outlet the other day and had to flip all the breakers off 1 by 1...I don't trust how this house is wired, so I shut it all off. I experimented with a couple of breakers that aren't what used to be in there and they aren't the main breaker either. I went outside to see if there was something and I don't see anything different.
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09-08-2011, 10:45 AM
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#5
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Master Electrician
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Indiana
Posts: 2,309
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Main Breaker Missing
Are you sure it isn't a meter/main on the outside?
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09-08-2011, 12:36 PM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: WV
Posts: 2,112
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Main Breaker Missing
I am not a pro, but did wire my own house a couple of years ago. I don't recall the exact number (I'm thinking something like 5 feet) but do know there is a limit to how far your panel can be from the meter before you are required to have a disconnect at the meter. I have one because my panel is more than 30 feet away. I also have a main breaker in the panel, more for convenience that anything. And because MLO panels actually cost more that those that come with a breaker.
I think such a requirement comes about because the service cable between the meter and the panel is essentially unprotected from overload. If the right (or wrong) thing shorts out in your panel, there is nothing to de-energize the cable. It will draw as much current as the POCO can deliver until it melts and burns down your house. Having a very short run minimizes this risk.
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09-08-2011, 01:01 PM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Welland, Ontario
Posts: 6,016
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Main Breaker Missing
You should not be doing any electrical work on a rented house.
__________________
Do not PM with questions that can be asked in a forum. I will not respond.
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09-08-2011, 04:28 PM
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#8
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Learning by Doing
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Easton, Maryland
Posts: 3,156
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Main Breaker Missing
Quote:
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Originally Posted by joed
You should not be doing any electrical work on a rented house.
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 I just was too tired to rant about it; thnx, Joed.
__________________
If I could only remember to THINK about what I was doing before I did it.
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09-08-2011, 05:01 PM
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#9
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Licensed electrician
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Maryland
Posts: 5,974
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Main Breaker Missing
Quote:
Originally Posted by Leah Frances
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Too tired or too wet? Can we ship some of this rain to Texas?
__________________
Answers based on the National Electrical Code. Local amendments may apply. Check with your local building officials.
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09-08-2011, 06:01 PM
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#10
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Average Joe/ex-Navy IC3
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Midwest - Central Illinois
Posts: 9,271
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Main Breaker Missing
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Port
Too tired or too wet? Can we ship some of this rain to Texas?
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That would be a sight.
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09-09-2011, 09:40 AM
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#11
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Learning by Doing
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Easton, Maryland
Posts: 3,156
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Main Breaker Missing
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Jim Port
Too tired or too wet? Can we ship some of this rain to Texas?
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Jim - I'm letting the rain go CHEAP. The friend price is 0.01$ per 100 gallons. All you have to pay is the shipping 
__________________
If I could only remember to THINK about what I was doing before I did it.
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