CDsDontBurn
PostWhore
There is. You can make out that there's writing on the side of the breaker there, but it's covered in dirt and dust.
The DIY Home Improvement Thread
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There is. You can make out that there's writing on the side of the breaker there, but it's covered in dirt and dust.
Well shoot. If it's covered in dirt and dust we'll never know what it says. 
CDsDontBurn
PostWhore
Well shoot. If it's covered in dirt and dust we'll never know what it says.
I'm too chicken shit to stick my hand (or any object) in there to clean it up.
Honestly, my panel needs to be replaced with a modern switch style. I've had various issues with my panel over the last 12 years of ownership.
Just stick a wet rag on a steel pole in there to wipe them down. It will be fine.
Can you get a close up pic of the sides at least? Might help trying to track down what they are.
Can you get a close up pic of the sides at least? Might help trying to track down what they are.
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If I take a close look at the side in your pic, I can make out just enough to discern that it's a Pushmatic P120: https://www.amazon.com/Siemens-CECOMINOD030315-P120-Circuit-Breakers/dp/B00ECKQ1K2
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Use a dry paintbrush to dust it off
That is an old push pushmatic panel, known for issues. You can find replacement breakers but I'd advise on getting that panel replaced. Not as bad as the old Federal pacific panels but pretty close. As an electrician I cringe every time I see one of those still being used...that being said, I've you need any advice/help replacing it feel free to message me. Also, I noticed that breaker is double tapped, meaning there are two wires on the breaker. That's a big no no on those. Looks like you have extra space in the panel so if you plan on keeping it for a while you might want to grab two breakers.
Grog6
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Your job just got more expensive. I've had two die in 20 years.
Take the breaker out, and start hitting old hardware stores.
Search google. There should be a label on it.
To take any breaker out of any box, there's a procedure.
At the top where power comes in: There is a main breaker, for the whole box. This is what makes it a 60A box, or 200A box.
TURN OFF THAT BREAKER.
Verify that everything in the house is dead, even the stove. turn off anything you turn on.
Use a meter to verify the breaker you're dinking with is dead, remove the retaining screw, and pull it out.
Now you can clean the label. Start calling the guys in the oldest phonebook you have. Ask everyone who the oldest hw store is.
Worst case, say fukit, call an electrician, and tell him to put in a 200a box.
siemens is what mine are, breakers are on amazon cheap.
Take the breaker out, and start hitting old hardware stores.
Search google. There should be a label on it.
To take any breaker out of any box, there's a procedure.
At the top where power comes in: There is a main breaker, for the whole box. This is what makes it a 60A box, or 200A box.
TURN OFF THAT BREAKER.
Verify that everything in the house is dead, even the stove. turn off anything you turn on.
Use a meter to verify the breaker you're dinking with is dead, remove the retaining screw, and pull it out.
Now you can clean the label. Start calling the guys in the oldest phonebook you have. Ask everyone who the oldest hw store is.
Worst case, say fukit, call an electrician, and tell him to put in a 200a box.
siemens is what mine are, breakers are on amazon cheap.
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If you go that route, needless to say you can't just "put in a 200A box" without 200A service and at least 4/0 wiring from the utility, it would be a coordinated process and also involve city permits/inspections.
Trying to upgrade from 100A service to 200A service would be like putting a 30A breaker on 14 AWG wire.
Trying to upgrade from 100A service to 200A service would be like putting a 30A breaker on 14 AWG wire.
Should be able to get a 200A panel as long as you get a main breaker to match the incoming service
Just in general, the panel should be replaced. Im in the same boat
Just in general, the panel should be replaced. Im in the same boat
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Replaced this little stirrer motor on our microwave today. My wife said that the Microwave had developed a "Death Rattle" after some investigation I discovered that this small part was the culprit.
It's a $26 part on Amazon. The "Official" GE Parts website wants nearly a hundred dollars for it! When it arrived from Amazon guess what? It was wrapped in an "Official GE Parts" bag.
A new over range microwave with exhaust runs about 300 + installation. Net savings = ~ $280 to $300.
Christened the repaired microwave by cooking some microwave Kettle popcorn that I bough from some Boy Scouts outside of Lowe's today.
It's a $26 part on Amazon. The "Official" GE Parts website wants nearly a hundred dollars for it! When it arrived from Amazon guess what? It was wrapped in an "Official GE Parts" bag.
Amazon.com: GE WB26X10037 Stirrer Motor for Microwave : Home & Kitchen
Amazon.com: GE WB26X10037 Stirrer Motor for Microwave : Home & Kitchen
a.co
A new over range microwave with exhaust runs about 300 + installation. Net savings = ~ $280 to $300.
Christened the repaired microwave by cooking some microwave Kettle popcorn that I bough from some Boy Scouts outside of Lowe's today.
CDsDontBurn
PostWhore
Good to know! And while it may be a "no-no", there is almost never any load on the breaker. There is an outlet for my backyard and an outlet in my front yard where these wires go to.
I will most definitely get it done correctly though when I get this addressed.
Mine is a 100A main breaker, but herein lay a big part of the problem, and why I need to replace my breaker panel with something more modern.
My main 100A breaker is bad, lol. I learned this the hard way shortly after buying my house almost 13yrs ago.
About 4 months after buying my house, my wife became adamant that someone was stealing our electricity and the reason why we had such high electricity bills. So to prove to her that nobody was stealing our electricity, I turned off the main breaker. In doing so, naturally, everything turned off and the meter wheel stopped spinning. My wife calmed down and admitted I was right.
I go to turn on the main 100A breaker, and it doesn't click back over to the "on" position. Try and try as I might, the breaker refuses to click back over to "ON" (same situation I have now). After about an hour of playing with it, I call an electrician and they get it so that the 100A main breaker is working again.
Since then, I've never pushed the breaker back off for anything. When I do, it'll be because I'm replacing that panel.
@theterminator93 , @Vicinity
I'd love to get this replaced with a 200A panel.
Grog6
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A good electrician in your area will know those boxes. My originals were all fuses, but those were already replaced .I call one if it's more than adding a breaker. I've got 3 outlets I want to add to a new grounded wire. at least my basement is mostly finished. I have room for new breakers., so I'm adding 2.
CDsDontBurn
PostWhore
Continued my slow rolling flooring project today. Moved the couch out of the way, cut up a chunk of carpet, removed the 9" brown tiles that are original to the house, and used the stripper stuff to remove the black mastic.
Sofa back in its spot. This big section of carpet is next. House smells of the stripper stuff. I'll be working on this some more tomorrow since it'll still be raining here in SoCal.
All I know, is that it'll be nice once we have actual flooring installed. We got these long planks picked out that we'll be installing, and my wife wants them in herring bone style. That'll be...... fun.
Sofa back in its spot. This big section of carpet is next. House smells of the stripper stuff. I'll be working on this some more tomorrow since it'll still be raining here in SoCal.
All I know, is that it'll be nice once we have actual flooring installed. We got these long planks picked out that we'll be installing, and my wife wants them in herring bone style. That'll be...... fun.
Just tell her your installer doesn't do herring bone. Worked for me when we did our paver brick patio.
Bill H
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CDsDontBurn
PostWhore
That won't work for me. She's already compromised with me on going with tile whereas she wanted vinyl flooring. So, if I'm getting tile, she's getting the style of placement for said tile as compromise on my part.
Not sure what the red thing is. All I know is that he's cute and sweet, and that's all he's got going for him. I guess he's smart-ish too, lol.
The one sleeping in the back is our 16-ish year old puggle (pug - beagle mix). Poor guy is old and is sick. We have a vet appointment coming up, hopefully he's not going to be too expensive.
I got one of those too that I also need to install. My install though, is going to be a bit tricky as where I was thinking of installing it won't really work as it's will be covered up by stone here in the near-ish future. The runner-up spot is also a bit tricky as I'd have to fabricate some sort of post into the ground to make it work in that spot.
