Pushmatic

747 · 02-15-2013, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oso954

Many of the pushmatic panels are a split bus design. They often do not have a single disconnect or breaker that kills the entire bus.

I knew this.:

: Be extremely careful. You have pro sparky's show up see one of these and say there went my day.

old_squid · 02-15-2013, 11:01 PM

I had pushmatic boxes in a building once, my electrician told me that they should be replaced at the earliest possible time. Something about the breakers have a tendency not to trip when they should. He came close to saying that they were very dangerous. That was an opinion of his though and I'm just repreating what he said.

Jason34 · 02-16-2013, 10:37 AM

My father also has a pushmatic 200 amp serive I told him he must replace because I too heard alot of bad things about them, not to mention hes got that box maxed out by far. He went and bought a Siemens panel. His panel (like mine was) did not have much written on the door as to what each circuit runs so I told him to do the breaker game as to flip off all breakers and one by one turn each on and write down what each one powers exactly. The problem with his box though is that its not really long (i think 7" shorter than the Siemens so he will need wire nut mostly all the circuits in the new panel to make them longer. When I had my neighbor electrician pull out my Bryant and install a genetator ready Reliance panel it took him alittle over 5 hours and I payed him $150. He said he would do my fathers panel as well but thats alittle more in depth.

k_buz · 02-16-2013, 12:14 PM

I haven't heard anything bad about Pushmatic panels, and have never suggested to a customer to replace one based solely on the name.

Kyle_in_rure · 02-16-2013, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crescere

I finished this and everything works fine. I t was time consuming because I had to unscrew every outlet and switch, but I do not understand why so many thought this was a job for a pro. Actually most of the switches already had the black wire attached and when I switched the wires at the box this made them “right.” Most of the outlets had the polarity reversed except the GFCI. The only thing I nearly missed is to re wire the kitchen hood fan and light, but I caught that in time.

Glad everything went well. When just seeing a picture an older panel with some obvious wiring problems, and not knowing the electrical layout and other issues that may be present in the house, it can turn into a real mess. That is why so many were recommending an electrician to come in. Glad everything worked out though

Jason34 · 02-16-2013, 01:33 PM

My father in law had a pushmatic that had to be replaced back when the electrician re-did some wiring. And like I said my father has a pushmatic and his one circuit keeps tripping every now and then even if there is no load on it. The guy that upgraded my panel said pushmatics should be replaced.

k_buz · 02-16-2013, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason34

My father in law had a pushmatic that had to be replaced back when the electrician re-did some wiring. And like I said my father has a pushmatic and his one circuit keeps tripping every now and then even if there is no load on it. The guy that upgraded my panel said pushmatics should be replaced.

Did the guy making the recommendation stand to make a profit?

bobelectric · 02-16-2013, 03:23 PM

When I did houses for a E.C. we used P-matics and we just stripped and put a straight wire under screw.Mind the side you place it in.You want to have in the clockwise side.