On Wed, 20 Dec 2006 19:38:59 GMT, (Arthur Shapiro) wrote:

The gentleman was quickly able to confirm my hypothesis, but then pointed out
some alleged issues in my breaker box. I personally choose not to fool with
breaker boxes, other than tightening the screws on the blasted aluminum wire
once every year or so; I'm comfortable with wiring and conduit manipulation
and the like, but feel breaker boxes are left to pros.

OK ...

He pointed out one breaker which had two wires going into it. Being copper, I
knew this was a circuit I had had (professionally) added in the past, but
being on the nonfunctional leg neither he nor I could determine what was being
powered from this breaker. He claimed that was highly dangerous. Now that I
have power again, I'll be able to ascertain what's being powered from that
breaker, but my question is: is this automatically a Highly Bad Thing, or are
there instances where two wires into one breaker is a legitimate installation?

Consider the notion that noone (including yourself) was in a position
to -say- if it was 100% "legitimate" as re any relevant concern ...

You omit relevant info (breaker spec, specs on the "two wires"), but,
in general, the little breakers are supposed to be co-specified for
a single circuit. Circuits are something thatcha kinda sorta -design-.

He wanted $450 to correct this, which given the triviality of snapping two
breakers into a box and connecting a wire to each seemed to me to be a ripoff
in the making, so I declined. He also suggested that since many of the
breakers were quite old (it's a 1969 house, although some circuits have been
added over the years), and since replacing them all would be expensive, that I
have him "lubricate" the breakers. I had visions of duct-cleaning "services"
in my head, and simply sent him on his merry way after paying the basic
service fee. Was he blowing smoke, or did he know something about circuit
breakers not apparent to me?

Art

Perhaps he noted that the breaker appeared to be jerry-rigged and
decided he didn't wanna fool with such without a sizable premium.
Blow some smoke re lube, and he's outa there.

I can tell you this. If your house were for sale, I stopped by, and
noted, say, 12 15A romex cables going into the service panel and
only 8 (or less) corresponding breakers, I'd likely pass your
property by.

Cheers,
Puddin'

Pease pudding hot,
Pease pudding cold,
Pease pudding in the pot
Nine days old ...