"Robert11" wrote in message
...
Hello,

Just had a new residential service box installed; replaced a 30 year old
Federal Pacific one which everyone said was not safe.

New box is a GE Powermark Gold Model TLM 2412 CCU (TLM 24 bc)
The box is rated for a 125 amp main breaker, and has spaces for 24 1"
breakers.

Curious about this:

According to the GE info on their site, and the paperwork that came with
the
box, the box does not allow for any
1/2" breakers.

Is this simply a case of some model boxes do, and some don't ?


*That is correct.



Or, for technical reasons, they are getting away from using 1/2" breakers
anywhere, anymore ?
If so, why ?

It always seemed like a viable approach if one needed another circuit or
two, assuming the capacity of the box was not exceeded.



*It is only viable if the the loadcenter is approved for that purpose and
even then there are limitations as to the maximum number of circuits.




Might as well also ask this, please.
The Electrician was very hard to talk to, or discuss this with.



*What was the deciding factor in choosing this particular electrician for
your electrical work?




The two heavy phase wires from the outside meter were led into the box,
where, for convenience, or they were just a bit too short, he spliced in
about another 6" or so of wire using a short block with two screws type of
connector.

He then just taped over this connector block (which "floats along with
these
two lead in wires until secured at the main breaker)

Is this use of a connector block like this for this purpose "legal" per
the
NEC code ?

Is just "taping" over it legal ?



*Yes, but it was short sided of him not to allow enough slack so that a
splice would be not necessary. I doubt that it was planned that way. Was
this installation inspected?