John Dirks Jr

Thanks Jim, I am using a Sperry DS-500. I experimented on my fuse panel and the method was easy. Mine is a 1962 FPE fuse(not breaker) panel with two side by side rows of 5 breakers each plus a pull out intended for a 240. Each five on either side are on opposite busbars. Heres something interesting. I noticed that with only one lead of the tester touching a lug and the other hanging loose in the air I got about 10v. I then touched the loose lead to the block wall and the reading came up to 16v. Heres the kicker that might surprise some people. There is a stack of tires next to the panel sitting on the concrete floor. I touched the second lead to the one of the tires and the voltage jumped to 100. Go figure. Who would think that rubber tires would be a better conductor than the block wall? What gives? Is it the carbon content in the rubber that works as a conductor?

Jim, Please explain exactly how to determine opposite/similar busbars using a tester. What kind of tester? VOM? Thanks

I will hang out and listen for the responses of the experts. Meanwhile, do you know how long this wood siding has been on there? Time is always a good test. If significant time has passed since the installation and its secure and in good condition, that is a hint that it was generally a good installation. That's our main responsibility right? Is it secure and in good condition after x # of years? It's not as easy to criticize something that has stood the test of time. Flashing around windows and doors might be a point of interest. You have to think about how the thickness of the siding may have effected the sills and spill plates and whatnot. The windows were probably replaced too so all of that may have been addressed then.

Just the opposite. Every other breaker is on an opposite busbar, no matter if the breakers are lined up horizontal or vertical, one row or two. Charlie has some good advice; go look at the equipment in a different environment. Are you sure? Look at the photo in the link I posted above. He is pointing at two breakers seperated by another that is in between them. He is indicating that it is wired wrong because they are on the same busbar. This suggests that every other breaker on the panel in this particular photo is on the same busbar.

What about when busbars run straight down the middle and intermingle? Dont they alternate? Meaning that breakers positioned next to each other vertically are on different busbars.

Read up here http://www.inspect-ny.com/electric/multiwir.htm The intent of the post was to discuss breaker/fuse layout with respect to their relation to the two different busbars. I screwed it all up from the beginning.

I totally screwed up the question. Sorry. Some 240 appliances still need a neutral though don't they? Like a dryer for instance, the heating element might use 240 but the timer for the control and the light bulb use 120. So therefore, it needs a neutral right? Sorry I messed up the question and that confused your answer but you are right anyway. I botched it up. Don't know where my head was. I am aware that the 240 appliance wont even work if it doesn't get the two feeds from the opposite busbars. Lets change the original question to regard of multi-wire branch circuits instead of a 240 appliance. For example, a kitchen receptacle fed by two hots, each with its own breaker/fuse. If fed by a single 3 wire conductor, those two hots need to be on opposite busbars to prevent the neutral from being overloaded. This is an example where making sure the two hots need to be on opposite busbars and that is the reason I wanted to discuss breaker/fuse and busbar arrangements. I confused the issue enough already it may never get on the right track. I mean a 120v receptacle fed by two hots with a 3 wire conductor using 1 neutral. Get the picture?

On 120/240 volt circuits such as a clothes dryer we need to verify that the 2 hot feeds are on different bus bars so the neutral wont get overloaded. I want to know if there is a general way to recognize the busbar arrangement by looking at the breaker/fuse arrangement. I probably had this in training but I need to refresh. Two questions; 1. Some breaker/fuse panels have two rows of breakers lined up across from each other. Is it "always" safe to assume that each vertical row is on the opposite busbar? 2. On breaker/fuse panels with a single row top to bottom, is it "always" safe to assume that every other breaker in the row is on the same busbar? The point is, I want to strike up conversation on ideas to identify busbar breaker/fuse arrangement. Even if the conversation will only lead to, "this brand is this way and that brand is that way", well, lets have it. Pictures will be helpful too so please post them if you can. A group effort would be nice. Each person could post a picture(s) of a particular panel arrangement along with an explanation of the layout. A link(a) to a page(s) with multiple examples would be good too. Thanks.

Got the picture in my head now. I see em all the time. I didnt know they were called that. Thanks.

The inspectors comments above mentioned "dog ear eaves". What are dog ears eaves?

Lets see, standing in a wet bathtub, reaching up and grabbing the metal chain that goes up into the switch. Hmmmm...life on the edge baby!

I mean backflow preventer in the main drain line.

Lets talk about getting up on roofs. I am looking for advice and certain techniques to get up on multiple level roofs. How does one person safely get a second ladder up onto the first level? How does that person safely position the second ladder to get up to the next level and not damage any materials? I want to know stuff like that plus whatever else anyone wants to add.

I will add a question that might lead to another possible answer. If there is a backflow preventer, could it be causing the delay? It waits for a slight bit more pressure to build then it opens and woosh....down it goes. Are the occupants new to the home? PVC drains are typically make more noise then the various metal drains. Maybe their old house had metal and they just are not used to the extra noise.

Houses built between which years are most likely to have Stab Loc breakers?

Gadgets help confirm suspicions derived from general knowledge and investigative intuition. Hows that for philosophical entanglement?

I wonder how long before the illegal immigrants want to become HI's ".....no speak english....wall broke...you call me hombre...he fix...mow lawn too..." The sad thing is, some of our states will probably invite them.

The main purpose of the a mast is to raise the service drop so it meets at least minimum height requirements. Lack of a mast is not a problem by itself unless the cable is too low. The fact that the SEC uses the interior of the building to travel from one point to another before coming back out through the wall to a meter, that doesnt sound right.

Maybe poor insulation in that area allowed heat to escape up an condense on the sheathing. The insulation may have been corrected since then. Also, condensation from the A/C lines could have wet the insulation in that area and affected the R value.

For extra money I am putting up signs for a realtor. I put up and take down 100 per week. 10% to 20% of them I dont recover each week. I suspect the cause is theft by other realtors. It is getting desperate for some I suppose. Last year at this point they couldnt keep up with the appointments. This year they cant make their own mtg payment. Crazy aint it? A good reason to always live below your means. But after all that isnt the American way, or so the story goes..we trudge on...

The note is in case I forget my name. It says "DORK"

I was only joking really. I wouldnt be carrying all that stuff at the same time nor all the time, especially not hanging all out like that. I did it for a laugh, it was a joke. I know, I aint that funny. Oh well. The fact that some of you thought I was serious, (did you?) Now that's a joke....

Im still figuring out how to use my Razor V3. Duh........

Hey Kurt, I did take up your suggestion. I picked up some cargo pants at Kmart today on sale for 9 bucks. They have deep deep regular pockets in front plus extra pockets down lower on the thigh with velcro flaps. The back pockets are good size too and they also have velcro flaps. I got the last pair that was there but Im gonna be gettin some more of em. I weigh 180 soakin ringin wet. By the time I get all suited up and loaded down with all my tools Im gonna be pushin 220 and walkin with the big boys. Heck, who needs steroids? Brian, weiners rule!!!!

Smile you say..ok here you go... Cheeeeeeeeese.......... Image Insert: 43.63 KB Mike, I got a blindfold for you here in one of my pouches...