When I replace my main panel I will need to move it down about 2" or
3" from where the current panel is. Several of the branch circuits
are running through the top of the main panel and they will do the
same in the new panel. This will mean the NM sheathing won't reach
into the main panel.

The reason for the panel replacement is a complete rewire of the house
to replace/upgrade all of the Aluminum branch circuit wiring so any
'fix' will be temporary. I already have my panel replacement permit
and plan to submit my wiring replacement plans before I get my panel
inspected. This way the guy who does the panel inspection will know I
am planning on removing all of the current Al NM wire.

Is there a tape that is rated as a sheathing repair that can go into
an NM clamp?

Conduit offset fittings would probably be long enough to cover the
missing sheathing I'll encounter. Or I could install 3" pieces of
conduit but is there a clamp that allows you to connect NM to conduit
w/o a box?
(I know the sheathing has to be removed once you enter conduit)
If I went this route I would also have to use bigger knockouts and
standard NM clamps wouldn't work once I replace the circuits.

2x4 junction boxes are out of the question because of the number of
branch circuits (8) and their proximity to each other.

I don't expect the inspector to give me a hard time since I'll be
replacing all of the wires but I don't want him to start thinking
"what else did this idiot do?" I won't be able to get my power turned
back on until the panel passes and it is a little cold this time of
year...

On Jan 21, 8:59*pm, Limp Arbor wrote:
When I replace my main panel I will need to move it down about 2" or
3" from where the current panel is. *Several of the branch circuits
are running through the top of the main panel and they will do the
same in the new panel. *This will mean the NM sheathing *won't reach
into the main panel.

The reason for the panel replacement is a complete rewire of the house
to replace/upgrade all of the Aluminum branch circuit wiring so any
'fix' will be temporary. *I already have my panel replacement permit
and plan to submit my wiring replacement plans before I get my panel
inspected. *This way the guy who does the panel inspection will know I
am planning on removing all of the current Al NM wire.

Is there a tape that is rated as a sheathing repair that can go into
an NM clamp?

Conduit offset fittings would probably be long enough to cover the
missing sheathing I'll encounter. *Or I could install 3" pieces of
conduit but is there a clamp that allows you to connect NM to conduit
w/o a box?
(I know the sheathing has to be removed once you enter conduit)
If I went this route I would also have to use bigger knockouts and
standard NM clamps wouldn't work once I replace the circuits.

2x4 junction boxes are out of the question because of the number of
branch circuits (8) and their proximity to each other.

I don't expect the inspector to give me a hard time since I'll be
replacing all of the wires but I don't want him to start thinking
"what else did this idiot do?" *I won't be able to get my power turned
back on until the panel passes and it is a little cold this time of
year...


some other dialog on the subject with a concensus that Ul tape (not
just black tape) is a good repair.
http://www.electriciantalk.com/f6/re...ex-jackets-31/

Limp Arbor wrote:
When I replace my main panel I will need to move it down about 2" or
3" from where the current panel is. Several of the branch circuits
are running through the top of the main panel and they will do the
same in the new panel. This will mean the NM sheathing won't reach
into the main panel.

The reason for the panel replacement is a complete rewire of the house
to replace/upgrade all of the Aluminum branch circuit wiring so any
'fix' will be temporary. I already have my panel replacement permit
and plan to submit my wiring replacement plans before I get my panel
inspected. This way the guy who does the panel inspection will know I
am planning on removing all of the current Al NM wire.

Is there a tape that is rated as a sheathing repair that can go into
an NM clamp?

Conduit offset fittings would probably be long enough to cover the
missing sheathing I'll encounter. Or I could install 3" pieces of
conduit but is there a clamp that allows you to connect NM to conduit
w/o a box?
(I know the sheathing has to be removed once you enter conduit)
If I went this route I would also have to use bigger knockouts and
standard NM clamps wouldn't work once I replace the circuits.

2x4 junction boxes are out of the question because of the number of
branch circuits (8) and their proximity to each other.

I don't expect the inspector to give me a hard time since I'll be
replacing all of the wires but I don't want him to start thinking
"what else did this idiot do?" I won't be able to get my power turned
back on until the panel passes and it is a little cold this time of
year...

The thing to do is to ask the inspector this question. He is the only one that
matters.

Limp Arbor wrote:
When I replace my main panel I will need to move it down about 2" or
3" from where the current panel is. Several of the branch circuits
are running through the top of the main panel and they will do the
same in the new panel. This will mean the NM sheathing won't reach
into the main panel.

The reason for the panel replacement is a complete rewire of the house
to replace/upgrade all of the Aluminum branch circuit wiring so any
'fix' will be temporary. I already have my panel replacement permit
and plan to submit my wiring replacement plans before I get my panel
inspected. This way the guy who does the panel inspection will know I
am planning on removing all of the current Al NM wire.

Is there a tape that is rated as a sheathing repair that can go into
an NM clamp?

Conduit offset fittings would probably be long enough to cover the
missing sheathing I'll encounter. Or I could install 3" pieces of
conduit but is there a clamp that allows you to connect NM to conduit
w/o a box?
(I know the sheathing has to be removed once you enter conduit)
If I went this route I would also have to use bigger knockouts and
standard NM clamps wouldn't work once I replace the circuits.

2x4 junction boxes are out of the question because of the number of
branch circuits (8) and their proximity to each other.

I don't expect the inspector to give me a hard time since I'll be
replacing all of the wires but I don't want him to start thinking
"what else did this idiot do?" I won't be able to get my power turned
back on until the panel passes and it is a little cold this time of
year...

Isn't this the sort of thing the large-diameter industrial heat-shrink
tubing was invented for? Borg won't have it, but I bet the local
industrial supply that sells to the local factories, will have it by the
foot. If you can postpone the project a week or so, multiple online
sources have it available.

--
aem sends...

"Limp Arbor" wrote in message
...
When I replace my main panel I will need to move it down about 2" or
3" from where the current panel is. Several of the branch circuits
are running through the top of the main panel and they will do the
same in the new panel. This will mean the NM sheathing won't reach
into the main panel.

The reason for the panel replacement is a complete rewire of the house
to replace/upgrade all of the Aluminum branch circuit wiring so any
'fix' will be temporary. I already have my panel replacement permit
and plan to submit my wiring replacement plans before I get my panel
inspected. This way the guy who does the panel inspection will know I
am planning on removing all of the current Al NM wire.

Is there a tape that is rated as a sheathing repair that can go into
an NM clamp?

Conduit offset fittings would probably be long enough to cover the
missing sheathing I'll encounter. Or I could install 3" pieces of
conduit but is there a clamp that allows you to connect NM to conduit
w/o a box?
(I know the sheathing has to be removed once you enter conduit)
If I went this route I would also have to use bigger knockouts and
standard NM clamps wouldn't work once I replace the circuits.


I think you may be over thing this.

I don't know about your area but around here, for homeowners doing their own
work all the inspector wants to see on that first trip is a properly wired
SE. No branch circuits need to be in place. He approves the connection and
returns for the final at a later date.

Actually if you don't tell them you plan to do anything other than an SE
upgrade, they give you final right then and there. No more inspections
required.

It would take a really hard-nosed inspector to turn you down on temporary
patch job where you were just missing a few inches of outer romex covering.

If you feel you must why can you not just splice short sections of wire to
the old wires a foot off to the side using the old SE panel as a big
junction box?

Or use a short run of EMT with the wire feed into the top with no connector?
The 1/2" EMT connectors are the same size as a romex connector.

Colbyt

If the wiring is temporary and will be replaced, just use a few octagon
junction boxes and mount them up and to the side. Then run new wire from
these boxes to the new panel.

Or install junction boxes in the attic. Whatever...


"Limp Arbor" wrote in message
When I replace my main panel I will need to move it down about 2" or
3" from where the current panel is. Several of the branch circuits
are running through the top of the main panel and they will do the
same in the new panel. This will mean the NM sheathing won't reach
into the main panel.

The reason for the panel replacement is a complete rewire of the house
to replace/upgrade all of the Aluminum branch circuit wiring so any
'fix' will be temporary. I already have my panel replacement permit
and plan to submit my wiring replacement plans before I get my panel
inspected. This way the guy who does the panel inspection will know I
am planning on removing all of the current Al NM wire.

Is there a tape that is rated as a sheathing repair that can go into
an NM clamp?

Conduit offset fittings would probably be long enough to cover the
missing sheathing I'll encounter. Or I could install 3" pieces of
conduit but is there a clamp that allows you to connect NM to conduit
w/o a box?
(I know the sheathing has to be removed once you enter conduit)
If I went this route I would also have to use bigger knockouts and
standard NM clamps wouldn't work once I replace the circuits.

2x4 junction boxes are out of the question because of the number of
branch circuits (8) and their proximity to each other.

I don't expect the inspector to give me a hard time since I'll be
replacing all of the wires but I don't want him to start thinking
"what else did this idiot do?" I won't be able to get my power turned
back on until the panel passes and it is a little cold this time of
year...

Bob F wrote:

Limp Arbor wrote:
When I replace my main panel I will need to move it down about 2" or
3" from where the current panel is. Several of the branch circuits
are running through the top of the main panel and they will do the
same in the new panel. This will mean the NM sheathing won't reach
into the main panel.

The reason for the panel replacement is a complete rewire of the house
to replace/upgrade all of the Aluminum branch circuit wiring so any
'fix' will be temporary. I already have my panel replacement permit
and plan to submit my wiring replacement plans before I get my panel
inspected. This way the guy who does the panel inspection will know I
am planning on removing all of the current Al NM wire.

Is there a tape that is rated as a sheathing repair that can go into
an NM clamp?

Conduit offset fittings would probably be long enough to cover the
missing sheathing I'll encounter. Or I could install 3" pieces of
conduit but is there a clamp that allows you to connect NM to conduit
w/o a box?
(I know the sheathing has to be removed once you enter conduit)
If I went this route I would also have to use bigger knockouts and
standard NM clamps wouldn't work once I replace the circuits.

2x4 junction boxes are out of the question because of the number of
branch circuits (8) and their proximity to each other.

I don't expect the inspector to give me a hard time since I'll be
replacing all of the wires but I don't want him to start thinking
"what else did this idiot do?" I won't be able to get my power turned
back on until the panel passes and it is a little cold this time of
year...

The thing to do is to ask the inspector this question. He is the only one that
matters.

Bring the too short circuits into a smaller "pull box" with normal NM
connectors, something like a 6x6x4 box will probably do. Connect the
pull box to the panel with a section of conduit, 1" or 2" say depending
on the number of conductors (remember fill calc exception for less than
24" conduit). Wire nut to new wire in the pull box as needed to reach
into the new panel. You can consolidate grounds in the pull box if you
want, but the hots and neutrals need to go to the panel properly. When
you rewire the house, at most you'll need to cap off the one knockout
where the conduit connected to the panel.

Limp Arbor wrote:
When I replace my main panel I will need to move it down about 2" or
3" from where the current panel is. Several of the branch circuits
are running through the top of the main panel and they will do the
same in the new panel. This will mean the NM sheathing won't reach
into the main panel.

The reason for the panel replacement is a complete rewire of the house
to replace/upgrade all of the Aluminum branch circuit wiring so any
'fix' will be temporary. I already have my panel replacement permit
and plan to submit my wiring replacement plans before I get my panel
inspected. This way the guy who does the panel inspection will know I
am planning on removing all of the current Al NM wire.

Is there a tape that is rated as a sheathing repair that can go into
an NM clamp?

Conduit offset fittings would probably be long enough to cover the
missing sheathing I'll encounter. Or I could install 3" pieces of
conduit but is there a clamp that allows you to connect NM to conduit
w/o a box?
(I know the sheathing has to be removed once you enter conduit)
If I went this route I would also have to use bigger knockouts and
standard NM clamps wouldn't work once I replace the circuits.

2x4 junction boxes are out of the question because of the number of
branch circuits (8) and their proximity to each other.

I don't expect the inspector to give me a hard time since I'll be
replacing all of the wires but I don't want him to start thinking
"what else did this idiot do?" I won't be able to get my power turned
back on until the panel passes and it is a little cold this time of
year...


I'd just put a big trough above the panel and splice with wire nuts or
terminal strips in there, then pull new wire from the trough into the
new panel. If you eventually want to get rid of the trough, pull all
the NEW wiring straight through the trough without splicing or stripping
the jacket, and maybe even leave a little slack in it. You can just
connect the trough to the panel with a couple big nipples (2"?)

this is what I"m thinking of

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/4B444?Pid=search

(you'll need caps for the ends too but you get the idea)

Another option would be to stub up from the panel with a small conduit
for each circuit and then put a bushing on the conduit where the conduit
ends, presumably above the basement ceiling. If you do it that way
there'll be a lot of wire nuts in your panel though until you repull all
the circuits

either way, make sure you use proper wire nuts or terminals for splicing
Al to Cu

nate

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

aemeijers wrote:
Limp Arbor wrote:
When I replace my main panel I will need to move it down about 2" or
3" from where the current panel is. Several of the branch circuits
are running through the top of the main panel and they will do the
same in the new panel. This will mean the NM sheathing won't reach
into the main panel.

The reason for the panel replacement is a complete rewire of the house
to replace/upgrade all of the Aluminum branch circuit wiring so any
'fix' will be temporary. I already have my panel replacement permit
and plan to submit my wiring replacement plans before I get my panel
inspected. This way the guy who does the panel inspection will know I
am planning on removing all of the current Al NM wire.

Is there a tape that is rated as a sheathing repair that can go into
an NM clamp?

Conduit offset fittings would probably be long enough to cover the
missing sheathing I'll encounter. Or I could install 3" pieces of
conduit but is there a clamp that allows you to connect NM to conduit
w/o a box?
(I know the sheathing has to be removed once you enter conduit)
If I went this route I would also have to use bigger knockouts and
standard NM clamps wouldn't work once I replace the circuits.

2x4 junction boxes are out of the question because of the number of
branch circuits (8) and their proximity to each other.

I don't expect the inspector to give me a hard time since I'll be
replacing all of the wires but I don't want him to start thinking
"what else did this idiot do?" I won't be able to get my power turned
back on until the panel passes and it is a little cold this time of
year...

Isn't this the sort of thing the large-diameter industrial heat-shrink
tubing was invented for? Borg won't have it, but I bet the local
industrial supply that sells to the local factories, will have it by the
foot. If you can postpone the project a week or so, multiple online
sources have it available.

--
aem sends...

Or a boat store. West Marine usually carries it.

nate

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

When I replace my main panel I will need to move it down about 2" or
3" from where the current panel is. Several of the branch circuits
are running through the top of the main panel and they will do the
same in the new panel. This will mean the NM sheathing won't reach
into the main panel.

The reason for the panel replacement is a complete rewire of the house
to replace/upgrade all of the Aluminum branch circuit wiring so any
'fix' will be temporary. I already have my panel replacement permit
and plan to submit my wiring replacement plans before I get my panel
inspected. This way the guy who does the panel inspection will know I
am planning on removing all of the current Al NM wire.

Is there a tape that is rated as a sheathing repair that can go into
an NM clamp?

Conduit offset fittings would probably be long enough to cover the
missing sheathing I'll encounter. Or I could install 3" pieces of
conduit but is there a clamp that allows you to connect NM to conduit
w/o a box?
(I know the sheathing has to be removed once you enter conduit)
If I went this route I would also have to use bigger knockouts and
standard NM clamps wouldn't work once I replace the circuits.

2x4 junction boxes are out of the question because of the number of
branch circuits (8) and their proximity to each other.

I don't expect the inspector to give me a hard time since I'll be
replacing all of the wires but I don't want him to start thinking
"what else did this idiot do?" I won't be able to get my power turned
back on until the panel passes and it is a little cold this time of
year...


*Rubber tape with some vinyl over it will be more than adequate. However it
would be a good idea to discuss this with the electrical inspector ahead of
time and get his okay. The inspection will go a lot smoother that way.

"Bob F" wrote in
:

Limp Arbor wrote:
When I replace my main panel I will need to move it down about 2" or
3" from where the current panel is. Several of the branch circuits
are running through the top of the main panel and they will do the
same in the new panel. This will mean the NM sheathing won't reach
into the main panel.

The reason for the panel replacement is a complete rewire of the
house to replace/upgrade all of the Aluminum branch circuit wiring so
any 'fix' will be temporary. I already have my panel replacement
permit and plan to submit my wiring replacement plans before I get my
panel inspected. This way the guy who does the panel inspection will
know I am planning on removing all of the current Al NM wire.

Is there a tape that is rated as a sheathing repair that can go into
an NM clamp?

Conduit offset fittings would probably be long enough to cover the
missing sheathing I'll encounter. Or I could install 3" pieces of
conduit but is there a clamp that allows you to connect NM to conduit
w/o a box?
(I know the sheathing has to be removed once you enter conduit)
If I went this route I would also have to use bigger knockouts and
standard NM clamps wouldn't work once I replace the circuits.

2x4 junction boxes are out of the question because of the number of
branch circuits (8) and their proximity to each other.

I don't expect the inspector to give me a hard time since I'll be
replacing all of the wires but I don't want him to start thinking
"what else did this idiot do?" I won't be able to get my power
turned back on until the panel passes and it is a little cold this
time of year...

The thing to do is to ask the inspector this question. He is the only
one that matters.



Yep. Even if someone here was an active licensed for your county gave you
advice, the local inspector previals and is the one who signs off.

Limp Arbor wrote:
When I replace my main panel I will need to move it down about 2" or
3" from where the current panel is. Several of the branch circuits
are running through the top of the main panel and they will do the
same in the new panel. This will mean the NM sheathing won't reach
into the main panel.


Another possibility, mount the new panel to the side of the old panel a
few inches away. For now, feed the old panel as a subpanel. This allows
you to make the change a new service panel a lot faster because you can
do a lot of the work before you start disconnecting anything and you
don't need to move all the old stuff. Come out of the bottom of the
meter, put a sweep at the lower end to move the building entry point to
the side.

The old panel becomes a subpanel and should have ground wires to a
separate ground bar from the neutral bar and the bond from neutral to
ground should be removed. For your 'temporary' subpanel, the inspector
may let you ignore that and feed the old panel as-is.

--
bud--

On Jan 23, 10:01*am, bud-- wrote:
Limp Arbor wrote:
When I replace my main panel I will need to move it down about 2" or
3" from where the current panel is. *Several of the branch circuits
are running through the top of the main panel and they will do the
same in the new panel. *This will mean the NM sheathing *won't reach
into the main panel.

Another possibility, mount the new panel to the side of the old panel a
few inches away. For now, feed the old panel as a subpanel. This allows
you to make the change a new service panel a lot faster because you can
do a lot of the work before you start disconnecting anything and you
don't need to move all the old stuff. Come out of the bottom of the
meter, put a sweep at the lower end to move the building entry point to
the side.

The old panel becomes a subpanel and should have ground wires to a
separate ground bar from the neutral bar and the bond from neutral to
ground should be removed. For your 'temporary' subpanel, the inspector
may let you ignore that and feed the old panel as-is.

--
bud--


I agree with this advice...

Install the new panel next to the old one...

Leave the "shell" of the old panel in place...

Remove the busbars, breakers and main feeders from the old panel,
connect the old panel to the new panel with several large diameter
conduits, connect the wires inside the old panel that used to go on
the circuit breakers in the old panel to jumper wires that run through
the large conduits to the new breakers in the new panel with wirenuts
and
you are good to go, your old panel essentially becomes a junction
box...

~~ Evan