I've got a 44 year old 200 Amp Zinsco panel, and I'm considering 3 options for replacement, and I have a few questions that readers here may be able to answer. Note that in any case, a licensed, insured electrician will do the work.
The first option is a complete panel replacement. I've been told that the biggest part of the expense of this option is cutting the pipes that the wires are in to fit the new box - the argument being that the wire in the pipes has to be pulled out so they won't be damaed when the pipes are cut.
The 2nd option is to use a Cutler-Hammer retrofit kit (see, for example, http://www.inspect-ny.com/electric/Zinscoreplace.htm). An apparently reliable electrician (licensed, insured, bonded) estimates 3-4 hours to install the kit.
The 3rd option is to buy a new panel with innards that fit into the Zinsco box and install the new innards in the old box - essentially the same as option 2, but probably cheaper, but there's no UL certification.
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Wires enter the Zinsco from the top and bottom. Panel boxes seem to have customzable knockouts for wire entry.
1) Are the pipes really so rigid that they couldn't be made to fit into a new box that is within, say, 1/4" of the old box's size?
2) Are there ways to minimize the labor for a complete replacement? (I so, what are they?)
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The electrical inspector in my jurisdiction has never heard of the C-H retrofit kit, so it wouldn't pass inspection unless he was convinced it was safe. He also said mixing new innards and old box won't pass muster because UL certification is based on the innards being in a specified box.
I live in a 4 story, 16 -unit condo. Power to my panel can be shut off downstairs, so work on the panel is under everybody's radar. Other people in my association have replaced their panels without getting permits or inspections.
3) How much value is added by getting a permit and an inspection? How likely am I to get hit with the consequences of not getting a permit? Would any reader be willing to estimate how much panel replacement work is done without permits?
4) Can anyone make an educated guess as to how often new works are installed in old panelboxes these days? (I can see that a slight increase in danger could result, since each additional operation is an additional opportunity for s@#$ to happen, but I understand this used to be permissible.)
Thanks.
PB
The first option is a complete panel replacement. I've been told that the biggest part of the expense of this option is cutting the pipes that the wires are in to fit the new box - the argument being that the wire in the pipes has to be pulled out so they won't be damaed when the pipes are cut.
The 2nd option is to use a Cutler-Hammer retrofit kit (see, for example, http://www.inspect-ny.com/electric/Zinscoreplace.htm). An apparently reliable electrician (licensed, insured, bonded) estimates 3-4 hours to install the kit.
The 3rd option is to buy a new panel with innards that fit into the Zinsco box and install the new innards in the old box - essentially the same as option 2, but probably cheaper, but there's no UL certification.
*****************
Wires enter the Zinsco from the top and bottom. Panel boxes seem to have customzable knockouts for wire entry.
1) Are the pipes really so rigid that they couldn't be made to fit into a new box that is within, say, 1/4" of the old box's size?
2) Are there ways to minimize the labor for a complete replacement? (I so, what are they?)
*****************
The electrical inspector in my jurisdiction has never heard of the C-H retrofit kit, so it wouldn't pass inspection unless he was convinced it was safe. He also said mixing new innards and old box won't pass muster because UL certification is based on the innards being in a specified box.
I live in a 4 story, 16 -unit condo. Power to my panel can be shut off downstairs, so work on the panel is under everybody's radar. Other people in my association have replaced their panels without getting permits or inspections.
3) How much value is added by getting a permit and an inspection? How likely am I to get hit with the consequences of not getting a permit? Would any reader be willing to estimate how much panel replacement work is done without permits?
4) Can anyone make an educated guess as to how often new works are installed in old panelboxes these days? (I can see that a slight increase in danger could result, since each additional operation is an additional opportunity for s@#$ to happen, but I understand this used to be permissible.)
Thanks.
PB