The DIY Home Improvement Thread

KevinVarnes said:
Well shoot. If it's covered in dirt and dust we'll never know what it says. ;)
Click to expand...

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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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. :)
 
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 :(
 
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. :LOL:

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. :usa:
 
AdamG said:
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.
Click to expand...

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.

Grog6 said:
There is a main breaker, for the whole box. This is what makes it a 60A box, or 200A box.
TURN OFF THAT BREAKER.
Click to expand...

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.
 
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.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Back
Top