[Smitty505000]

Hello all,

Have a bit of a head scratcher. I was trying to find out what the outlet amperage was in a bedroom of my house. I had read it could be 15A or maybe 20A. So I went out to the garage and started flipping breakers and checking the outlets in the bedroom for power. I went through all the breakers and the power in the bedroom never went out. I must have missed one right? No, I turned off all the breakers and still have power in the bedroom outlets. I also had power in another bedroom and its adjacent bathroom.

My house was built in 2001. The breaker box has breakers for AC, Furnace, Range, Dishwasher, fridge, Disposal, Kitchen, hall, master BR ect.

I checked outside and there are no accessible boxes outside.

Thanks for any help,
Smitty505000

 

[Chris616]

I had the same issue when we were mapping out the circuit breaker panel in our first house. It turned out that one circuit was getting its power from two different breakers. That is a bad thing, of course.

Chris

 

[surferdude2]

Plug some device in while all the breakers are off and see it it works. You may be getting an invalid reading if using a digital meter to measure the power. Use a lamp, hair dryer, vacuum cleaner or the likes to see if there is actual power as opposed to a phantom reading from capacitive or inductive coupling by the wires running close to the feeders in the panel.

 

[Smitty505000]

Yes, with all breakers off I plugged in a hair dryer and still have power.

 

[Chris616]

Whoops. I see that you wrote that even with all breakers turned off you still have power, so ignore my previous comments.

When you look through the list of breakers, does it seems like there are obvious things missing that might suggest a sub-panel somewhere?

Chris

 

[Smitty505000]

Also, the box has no main shut off. So I cant to go into it.

 

[surferdude2]

Also, the box has no main shut off. So I cant to go into it.

That suggests that another panel exists somewhere else.

 

[NCmountainCabin]

you have a main breaker somewhere, you have to, even if it's out on the power pole/electric meter area - you probably also have a Main Interior panel, as this panel you refer to sounds like it's actually THE sub-panel...

 

[Smitty505000]

The only other panel is outside under the meter. I can not open it because the door has a flange that goes under the meter door that is locked.

 

[NCmountainCabin]

generally, anything 'under' the meter is YOUR equipment, or your landlords, if you are renting, etc., which may be why it's locked, or it just may be for 'safety' purposes - what type of 'lock' does it have on it?

 

[Smitty505000]

Its my house. The meter has one big tall box with two doors. the meter on top has the standard plastic tag/wire locking it and the bottom door has a place for a lock but no lock. I tried to open it and it will not open unless the top door/meter door is open because it has a flange that is under the top door.

 

[Chris616]

Photos would be helpful.

 

[NCmountainCabin]

hmmmm.... it should open.... keep trying.... that's your MAIN panel, or your MAIN Disconnect(Breaker).... but until you get it opened, you'll never know.
Yes, METERS are locked from the Utility, as only they are allowed to open it - is has live power.

 

[Smitty505000]

Its dark out now but Ill get some photos in the morning of both boxes.

Thanks guys!

 

[surferdude2]

It's good that you have revealed this problem now rather than when you may need access to the main panel and main breaker in some possible future emergency.

A main breaker that is easily accessible is required on all services.

 

[AllanJ]

See if the bottom edge of the bottom door pushes up and out or pulls out, or if you could remove the hinge pin.

 

[Smitty505000]

Ok, here are some pics.

Garage box:

 

[Smitty505000]

Outside meter box:

 

[surferdude2]

There you go! Pull that small metal hasp up on that bottom panel below the meter and pull the cover bottom out slightly and then drop it down to allow it to be opened or removed completely.

That's your main panel.
;
;

 

[Smitty505000]

I tried that but maybe I didnt pull down hard enough. Upon closer inspection of the photos, It looks like the hinges on the left are able to slide up/down.

Ill give it a look and let you all know.

Thank you!
Smitty