[molson14]

Hey Guys, First post....

I rewired most of my main floor (20 or so circuits) and I'm working on getting them all into the main panel (Bryant with 200 Amp Service)

All the new ones will be Arc fault, but I've only got a neutral bus bar on the right side of the panel. Is it allowed to run the short neutral wires from the circuit breakers across a couple of blank spaces? I read about it somewhere but the source wasn't super reliable.

It's the only way I'll be able to reach with the wires provided. Alternative option of course is to wire nut on some extensions and run them down around the bottom but that will get crowded fast with all of the ground and neutrals running through there.

I've run a couple to see how it would work, see image below.

Open to any other options you pros can think of! Thanks.
-Micah

 

[joed]

Not sure about code, but it is definitely not professional.

Seems a bit odd to not have a neutral buss on both sides of the panel.

 

[molson14]

I agree its odd! The box must be original to the house (1977)

 

[joed]

Move the breakers to the other side.

 

[lenaitch]

Move the breakers to the other side.

I'm guessing the come-back will be he will end up with the same problem only now with the hot conductors. I can't tell if moving them to higher slots wil free up enough cable length.

 

[molson14]

I've still got 14 more breakers to put in, so some of them will need to be on the left side...

 

[Knows a Little]

Not sure about code, but it is definitely not professional.

Seems a bit odd to not have a neutral buss on both sides of the panel.

That is a Zinsco panel the cheapest of the cheap, but the single sided neutral bar on one side was pretty much the norm pre 1980's

1980's is an estimate.

 

[joed]

I am surprised you can get AFCI breakers for Zinscos. I thought those were obsolete and flagged as dangerous like the FPE. If that is a Zinsco it should be replaced.

 

[Oso954]

Those are not Zinsco breakers.
My guess would be Bryant breakers.

 

[Oso954]

I've still got 14 more breakers to put in, so some of them will need to be on the left side...

I would pickup some #12 thhn white and some wire nuts. You can extend those AFCI pigtails and route them around the breakers/bus bars to the neutral bar.

 

[molson14]

I would pickup some #12 thhn white and some wire nuts. You can extend those AFCI pigtails and route them around the breakers/bus bars to the neutral bar.

I will do that. Hope I can find the space up the right side there...

Thanks you guys! Looks like it might be worth replacing the whole panel and getting a big one when I eventually finish off my basement. This will do for now, as the cost of replacing the rest of the old breakers as AFCI is kinda overwhelming right now...:surprise:

 

[Knows a Little]

Those are not Zinsco breakers.
My guess would be Bryant breakers.

:thumbsup:

I blew the pic up and you are correct they cost .01 more than a Zinsco

 

[J. V.]

Wire nuts are fine and compliant.

 

[fa_f3_20]

It might be possible to mount another neutral bus bar on the left side. That would be the cleanest solution.

 

[molson14]

It might be possible to mount another neutral bus bar on the left side. That would be the cleanest solution.

I'd be a fan of that. Anyone ever seen it done?

 

[Bria Johnn]

I'd be a fan of that. Anyone ever seen it done?

Clean and that panel have nothing in common.

We do IR and our IR Tech take 1000's of pictures a year, I have seen lots of HACK work but this one is surely different. If this photo crossed my desk I'd have to pull in other employee's to have a good WTF LAUGH.

 

[molson14]

Clean and that panel have nothing in common.

We do IR and our IR Tech take 1000's of pictures a year, I have seen lots of HACK work but this one is surely different. If this photo crossed my desk I'd have to pull in other employee's to have a good WTF LAUGH.

Ha! Thanks for being honest... I do appreciate a pro's opinion. I definitely will be redoing it.

Thanks all!