anallisguy
Member
This is an original 1930's Bulldog Electrical Panel in a non-profit group's building that I do most of the maintenance on. The insurance company has decided they don't like this, and want us to replace it with a breaker panel. So its on my list of projects for the spring. I have a few random thoughts on this project and just thought I'd see if there was any other input or ideas. Also have a major question, but first......As you can see, this panel is fed thru the trough on the right. I'm intending to do the following: feed the new panel thru a short piece of inch and half conduit on the right side that will extend into the trough for a few inches; install the new panel at a height where the bottom of the panel is the same as the existing bottom so the cables are the right length. I've got 13 BX cables entering the box from the bottom and 3 from the top. Any of the 13 that I don't have room for on the bottom will have to go thru a junction box so I can extend them up to the sides; Same thing for the 3 on the top. Will take them into junction box and run new extensions;
So the big question is ground. First a bit of background on the building set-up. The feed comes into the building to a disconnect box. From this box the cable runs to a large metal cabinet in the hallway (about 2ft by 4ft) where the meter is located. The trough runs from this cabinet and feeds this main panel and a few other disconnects. The only ground is an old bare copper cable connected from the main disconnect box to nearby plumbing. (there used to be a toilet under the disconnect!)
The old panel is ostensibly grounded by its soldered connection to the trough, and metal to metal contact is maintained back to the main disconnect through the trough and conduit.
All of the cables in the fused panel are two wire BX; there are no ground wires.
Now most folks will probably say we need to go back to the beginning and run a new ground at the main disconnect. But this is on the 2nd floor of a old building with concrete floors, and its probably not going to happen.
I was thinking of running a piece of #6 ground wire from the new panel and tying it down back in the trough; this will emulate what happens now.
Thoughts?
<image src="http://forums.yesterdaystractors.com/photos/mvphoto14166.jpg"/>
<image src="http://forums.yesterdaystractors.com/photos/mvphoto14167.jpg"/>
<image src="http://forums.yesterdaystractors.com/photos/mvphoto14168.jpg"/>
So the big question is ground. First a bit of background on the building set-up. The feed comes into the building to a disconnect box. From this box the cable runs to a large metal cabinet in the hallway (about 2ft by 4ft) where the meter is located. The trough runs from this cabinet and feeds this main panel and a few other disconnects. The only ground is an old bare copper cable connected from the main disconnect box to nearby plumbing. (there used to be a toilet under the disconnect!)
The old panel is ostensibly grounded by its soldered connection to the trough, and metal to metal contact is maintained back to the main disconnect through the trough and conduit.
All of the cables in the fused panel are two wire BX; there are no ground wires.
Now most folks will probably say we need to go back to the beginning and run a new ground at the main disconnect. But this is on the 2nd floor of a old building with concrete floors, and its probably not going to happen.
I was thinking of running a piece of #6 ground wire from the new panel and tying it down back in the trough; this will emulate what happens now.
Thoughts?
<image src="http://forums.yesterdaystractors.com/photos/mvphoto14166.jpg"/>
<image src="http://forums.yesterdaystractors.com/photos/mvphoto14167.jpg"/>
<image src="http://forums.yesterdaystractors.com/photos/mvphoto14168.jpg"/>