[rugby1]

Needs some expert review of current setup. I don't believe my neutral and ground are bonded at either main service panel(outside about 15 ft from houst) and panel at house(sub). Three wires come from outside meter/pole about 15 ft overhead to house then to subpanel(main lug).

Where should I bond neutral bar at , the house subpanel?

1st pic - old meter service panel (with spider webs) 60 amp fuses . I can't see any bonding of ground....three wires from top are from service lines from street.

2nd pic - main(sub) in house. Neutral and ground not bonded here either, three wires from outside (old main box) go to this box...rats nest. I have a new main panel to trade out in near future.

thanks for your feedback

 

[wirenut1110]

Pics are too small for these "old" eyes Then when I zoomed it got blurry.

 

[theatretch85]

Pictures are definitely too small, post some bigger pictures please!

 

[rugby1]

trying to......frustration for sure!

 

[rugby1]

ttt - ok fixed pics

 

[chris75]

Everything looks good, at the disconnect I can see the ground rods tied to the neutral conductor, ( I'm assuming this is a service rated disconnect.)
as far as the panel inside, your neutrals and grounds have to stay separate. They are using the conduit as the grounding conductor.

 

[rugby1]

Everything looks good, at the disconnect I can see the ground rods tied to the neutral conductor, ( I'm assuming this is a service rated disconnect.)
as far as the panel inside, your neutrals and grounds have to stay separate. They are using the conduit as the grounding conductor.

Chris75, how can you tell that the service panel is bonded? When I look at it, there is a ground wire going to a one rod next to pole, but i do not see where the neutral is bonded to ground or panel... Thanks for the response, i just want to understand.

nevermind, i follow now.... the three wires in the lower center..
one is from the service from streen
one is going to the house
one is going to the ground.

got it! Thanks

 

[chris75]

Chris75, how can you tell that the service panel is bonded? When I look at it, there is a ground wire going to a one rod next to pole, but i do not see where the neutral is bonded to ground or panel... Thanks for the response, i just want to understand.

Well, thats kind of why I was assuming this was a service rated disconnect, but you'll just have to look more closely to see if the neutral is indeed bonded to that disconnect can. I cant tell from the picture how those 3 lugs are fastened to the can. One thing you can do is check for continuity between the 3 lugs and the can.

 

[rugby1]

thanks Chris75, i'm clear (see earlier post).

One more question, can I change out fuses to 100 amp? and if so, what do I need to change down stream? I have a 100 amp panel to replace house panel.

 

[chris75]

That whole setup is due for retirement... change out the disconnect and the panel. Gonna have to kill the power first, so a call the power company is needed.

 

[Speedy Petey]

One more question, can I change out fuses to 100 amp? and if so, what do I need to change down stream? I have a 100 amp panel to replace house panel.

That is a 60A disconnect. 100A fuses are physically larger.

 

[InPhase277]

Does anyone else find it interesting to see a service this old and yet still not just totally buggered up by years of hack abuse? Someone apparently replaced the original panel with a breaker panel in the not-too-distant past, and did a OK job, especially in the area of recognizing ground/neutral bonding issues.

What I mean by this, is that when I come across a system this old, or modified, it has been subject to 50 years of handyman/jackleg "upgrades" and is unusable. Sure 60 A is a little small, but overall there is not a thing wrong with this service. Surprising.

 

[rugby1]

I would like to replace the three wires coming from the Service disconnect, spanning about 15 ft to house overhead, into service head
and down to the house panel.
What size wire would I use for 60 amp? I need to do this as a temporary tune up since the current wires are basically bare and severly weathered at the service disconnect. At the service disconnect, they exit a service head and are spliced to other gray wires that cover the span.

Thanks for feedback so far. Feeling better for now about current setup. I do plan on having expert relocate and up service to 100 amp when $ are available.

 

[Speedy Petey]

I would like to replace the three wires coming from the Service disconnect, spanning about 15 ft to house overhead, into service head
and down to the house panel.
What size wire would I use for 60 amp? I need to do this as a temporary tune up since the current wires are basically bare and severly weathered at the service disconnect. At the service disconnect, they exit a service head and are spliced to other gray wires that cover the span.

DO NOT do this. Replace it all or leave it alone.