How To Work on LIVE CIRCUITS - Replacing Circuit Breakers in Old ZINSCO Panel
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- Опубліковано 15 жов 2024
- There are many old-school breakers out there still working today, even though their companies have shut down, and these materials have been outlawed for safety reasons. Many of these terrible breakers...are in my house currently. So today we swap them out, and talk about WORKING ON LIVE CIRCUITS SAFELY.
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PRODUCTS USED IN VIDEO:
Zinsco 20a Breaker : amzn.to/3qvNOI7
Electrical Hot Gloves: amzn.to/39HnzYa
Face Shield: amzn.to/3bJFRLd
Fluke Voltmeter: amzn.to/3qsKq0A
Connecticut Electric reached out to me about a year ago and we sat down and did an episode together talking about many of the products they offer. They manufacture brand new breakers for old legacy electrical systems like Federal Pacific, Zinsco, Wadesworth, Pushmatic, Challenger, and Murray.
When I told them I have an old Zinsco panel they asked me to snap a picture of all of the breakers and they offered to send me all new replacement breakers so I could test out their equipment. I happily agreed and thought it would be a great opportunity to test out my new GoPro 9 in the process. Many of you have asked that I strap on a GoPro and work so you can see first hand how I work. So I went and bought one so I could replace all my breakers.
I found, in the process, that one of my busses was damaged, and it was the spot on the bus where the existing 100 amp main breaker attaches. You can tell that there's been some heating issues over the years and when I tried putting the new 100 amp breaker in it's place it gave me a lot of trouble. But that's not a flaw in the breaker, it's a flaw in the bus. All of the other breakers went in just fine and now I have a practically new panel...except that I'm going to be ripping it all down and replacing it soon lol. That damaged bus makes me a little leery, even though I haven't had any issues with it in the past.
Once I got all of the new breakers in I began working on the live main breaker. I didn't have the luxury of the power being disconnected on this one, so I put on hot gloves and a face shield because of the environment I was working in. I don't recommend working on live wires if you don't have to. It's extremely dangerous, even when you're fully aware and paying attention. But every once in awhile you do need to work on live circuits, and there are companies that make PPE just for the occasion.
There are full flash suits that can be worn, however I chose not to wear them in this situation. I have many years of experience in this trade, I've worked on live circuits for years so I used the amount of PPE that I wanted to for the situation. This is also my own home, my own company, my insurance, so it was my liability to work with the level of PPE I did. Some would say I shouldn't have bothered wearing any at all, others would say I should have had the full suit on. Every electrician is the smartest electrician on the planet, so take what they say with a grain of salt. Just be careful working on live circuits. Make sure you wear proper PPE (information can be found in NFPA 70E), and don't do this kind of work unless you are a licensed and insured electrician, or are under the direct supervision of one.
Even though I've been doing electrical for almost 2 decades, I still like watching simple "how to" videos, even if I already know how to do something, because everyone does things a bit differently and can still contain informative information that you might not have thought about, especially with code/technology changes..
Same. I like to pick up new tips and techniques
That’s what I called to be open minded congratulation
How many times have you used a faceshield? be honest now... I replace live panels all the time... I just take a leg off tape it, then the other leg tape it... once they all taped up is game over, old panel off new panel up...
@@etiennea.delarosa2383I feel as if complacency is what causes the most injuries. It’s always good to be safe. I mean your just flesh and bones going up against steel, concrete, and electricity everyday.
Ditto - There are always new things to learn. Nobody knows everything.
Been an Electrician for 20 years and never worn insulated gloves... until last week when I opened a 415volts 200amps DB, I looked at the crowded wires and I just felt I need gloves on. Have to delay the job for about and hour when I hunt around for gloves... something in my guts just gave the feeling that something bad is going to happen if I don't take care. Sometimes when you get more experience, you can begin to just 'smell' the risks... and it begins with testing the circuits with multimeters over and over and over again. Regardless of experiences, we should always trust the meters.
Hope you send gloves out every 6 month to be tested. Each sparky thetefore needs 2 pairs of gloves. We rolled rubber gloves up to check for leaks before each use. In summer always wore thin white gloves inside ofvrubber gloves to absorb sweat.
That is his jerkoff gloves special shield so he doesn't get all in his eyes
last saturday i was working on some main panel in a building and we shut down main breaker and backup breaker, then i tested and there was current still, it turned out the client has a solar power inverter connected to batteries and it was leaking back current from the input wires... about 95 volts both wires, so after turning the inverter off, voltage dropped to zero. it is always important to keep checking before touching
Bro facts
This is my favorite electrical channel. So well done with intelligence, humor and modesty. Excellent.
Thank you!
Im a electrician in Jamaica and im going for my diploma in electrical Installation. Your channel have helped me alot during my studies . keep up the good work my friend 👍
Fresh God I did electrical installation for my practical at school didn't get too further as I would like,but I know some the basic.i change my breaker panel and meter socket my self,I hope to go further in it..electrician U give us some real lessons.
Yow a heart Granville you attend mi G ??
@@provocativethoughts3819 no old Harbor
Link me up I am a electrician from Jamaica but I am living in antigua
Maybe I can give you some pointers too
DIYer here. You have no idea how valuable videos like this are--I only wish they had been available when I owned my home and often DIMS. That house (wired with fabric covered 14ga) started out with a ZINSCO panel; had to replace a breaker once with a modern upgrade, which was nice but pricey ($20 back in the 90s; regular breakers were $5 or $6, as I recall). A couple of years later, I was able to have the 100 amp service upgraded to a 200 amp Siemens. Watching the pro do that was a great education--although I still get shivers when I remember him replacing the live service drop cable down from the pole--in a light rain. He was an old guy, which to me means he had survived his mistakes--better than any license or certification in my book.
Key tip: replace the wires AFTER pulling the breaker. [smacks forehead]. How did I not figure that out?]
I noticed you clipping a couple of wires with excess exposed conductors. What is the deal with guys baring so much of the conductors? I see that on a lot of outlets and switches I replace.
I have to say man, because of watching your videos. I started trade school for electrical and im about to finish school in May. You really inspired me. Keep up the great work 🙂
Same bro! He inspired me as well. I pray we both grow & master this trade.
Congrats fellas, its a great future!
@@stan56lombard Thanks man we got this!
Working a hot panel is kinda like being on a first date. You better know what you can and cannot touch.
second date....well...
😂😂😂😂
Ha!
So what you're saying is If you glove up you can touch everything!!!
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Have you considered insulated screwdrivers? I'd be more worried about shorting a live screwdriver (especially a long one) to anything grounded in the box than about accidentally touching 120 VAC with my hands. They're pretty cheap too.
Or if your a chepo like me throw some tape around it...lol
@@AmericanOne9621 Shrink wrap. (I was thinking the same thing... "It's OK, I'm a pro, ignore my totally inappropriate Ace Hardware screwdriver." :-))
@@jfbeam Been there more times then I should of had...lol
@@AmericanOne9621 Milwaukee, Wiha and many other brands have affordable 1000V insulated screwdrivers.
@@illestofdemall13 no offense but insulated screwdrivers wont protect you from anything. i learned that from experience
Can’t wait to see the panel upgrade! I always get a little anxious when the time comes to turn that main on for the first time. I move off to the side too, thanks for taking the time to video this for us bro!!
as a electrician who retired five years ago, i worked for forty years in industrial electrics.it makes me smile to see american electricians all kitted out ppe,yet they don,t use insulated screwdrivers.
Was told for years to wear 100% cotton t shirts underwear & socks under our company supplied PPE. Now they are saying to only wear approved PPE tee shirts under PPE ling sleeve t shirts but companies refuskng to pay for them.
Face shield and rubber gloves. But no long sleeve shirt?
Or don't even wrap tape aroung the bare metal. LOL.
I mean I use insulated drivers. Not everyone's the same
The shield and gloves are uncomfortable and take some getting used to but it could keep you from getting your head blown off. Speaking as one that's done plenty of hot work 3 phase power. Been in the game 21 years now myself. Glad to say I only been shocked a couple of times. Worst I ever had was off single phase 120V. Household current will kill you. Believe it. If you got gloves and shield... Wear em
My favorite panels are the Siemens and QO types with bolt in breakers. There's something exciting about putting a metal screwdriver directly onto a live bus. Also, I noticed how you instinctively stood to the side as you energized the main. I ALWAYS do the same and tell everyone in the area to stand clear. There is alot of vids out there of equipment failures that result in needless injuries.
I thought about mentioning that after i started editing the footage, I'm glad you noticed me step to the side. I do that on all gear.
My boss drilled that into my head from the very start. Always stand to the side when you energize panels.
As a side note, fuck those panels where the doors swing vertically
@@NieveIsThicc Haha we, at work, are constantly replacing old panels and pot boxes like those vertical-swinging doors, and yea they suck.
@@NieveIsThicc 🤣😂😅
Take lid off for anything more than fliping a breaker.
love the video.. old family story was a neighbor’s child was playing outside in an old house and it was a hot day. she went to take a drink from the outside faucet and was electrocuted. Can you please make a video explaining how to check for stray voltage and what we can do to fix something like this?
Right on time ! The production quality has clearly improved (It was already great), best sparky channel on youtube 💪
I love the arc flash rated skin on his arms LOL we get so into “safety” we loose sight. I was always taught before NFPA 70E to have long sleeves, a pair of leathers, and to bow your head down when jamming a neater or closing a main. Now with mandate safety are we safer ? Chances are nothing happens anyway, and I don’t believe there was a problem before NFPA 70E in fact I hate it. but I find the arc flash equipment with short sleeves so interesting.
🇬🇾 Looking from Guyana, South America . I really appreciated your hands on info of how to handle/ hold live hot wires & not get shock. Safely first then you explained the rubber gloves as needed essential. Also you showed close ups of how to screw in the brakers with there safety tips. How to firstly isolate a hot main wires so as not to accedentially touch them while working. Basically you showed me how to work around my house and NOT get SHOCKED , providing i understood to use ( ALL ) the safety measures. Protect my hands with dry rubber gloves, rubber boots dry . It's best not to work with an active live main but if i must work , then employ these safety measures . Thanks . Close ups video shots are always better for learners continue to use them as they helps us to see & understand best . Thanks . I feel more confident now.
this is why, in my opinion, it should be required by code for there to be a dedicated separate shutoff switch between the meter and the panel, not just a main breaker. if you had a shutoff switch you wouldn't have to worry about doing hot work to swap the main breaker.
Thé problem with that is many places like here have a meter lock meaning the city requires you to pull a permit for a panel change, and if there was a disconnect it’s to easy for someone unauthorized to change the panel
@@Vanilla_Icecream1231 Well, the shutoff would be after the meter, so changing the meter would be exactly the same regardless. Besides, making the meter itself safer to work on wouldn't be a bad thing imo, if someone does fuck with it illegally they should be fined, sure, but they don't deserve to accidentally turn themselves into a crispy critter.
@@doctordev97 yeah that’s fair I just meant that’s why many places pervent it but it would make it safer for those doing it illegally cause even
If a master electrician of 30 years did if they didn’t pull a permit they could get in big trouble
@@Vanilla_Icecream1231 very true. Even qualified professionals still need to get permission.
Back in the day I did what you did. Tape up my screwdriver, and work on stuff live. Had a panel blow up because the main lugs were broke inside and shorted when I opened the panel. I would highly suggest wearing your full gear including arc flash suit. I know it’s hot in there but will help. Also use insulated screwdrivers. They aren’t that expensive but the burn unit is.
You should start by telling people to use a insulated screwdriver while working in a hot panel!
Lmfao.
Any professional electrician only has insulated screwdriver in his toolbox. Uninsulated screwdrivers are for carpenters.
I personally put insulation tape around my drivers and not waste my money on the insulated stuff
Just to point out. Not being a dick ... but if you have insulated rubber gloves on and a arc flash shield ... short sleeves just looks ... for lack of a better word ... stupid
Insulated screwdriver is not necessary
Thanks for a VERY helpful video! I am only at 3:11 and already you helped me understand why my research is so difficult.
I have a weak (mushy) 30 Amp breaker on a paired 240V circuit for my water heater.
I see Sylvania on the breaker box and keep seeing Zinsco online when I see breakers that look like mine. They are expensive and seem to show up more on Ebay and mostly used or refurbished, especially when reasonably priced.
Since the box is old (bringing some question to the age I am told from landlords of the house I am renting) and now I learn it is no longer approved for installation and the dangers of developing hot connections... a cause for pause.
I will pull the cover and look at the bus connections for these 30A breakers and may inspect them all.
Seems that Connecticut Electric, Inc. (thank you VERY much!) may have alternatives, hopefully that are plug and play replacements offering a safer install at least for however long I live here.
Regardless of whether you make money at this I want you to know how helpful you have already been and may God reward your helping others!
As an Electrical Engineer for 30 years, who work in digital (5 volts), thank you for the education in power. Love learning more!! Thanks!
Yup, I know exactly what you mean. I do flip houses now and going from 5 and 12 volts to 120 was an adjustment. This channel helped me learn the code!
when i hear 5 volts.... i didn't know something runs on 5 volts.. yesterday i saw some guy installing 5 volts LED lights, we use 220v in my country
Great demo. Most people need to understand that the voltage in residential is far less dangerous than industrial and commercial. The arc flash from this equipment(120, 208, 240 volts) is nothing compared to 277, 480, 600 and up. I try my best to pull the meter if possible, insulated tools prevents accidents big time and when in the danger zone or working space, everyone must keep out until I say so. Licensed experienced electricians only... when in doubt shut it down and test, test, test. Always treat equipment like it's live even when you know it's not
General you can call the power company and schedule a disconnect of the service via meter or service drops. Don’t take unnecessary risks as anything can happen. Nice replacement breakers as a good option.
True, but here at least they charge a non trivial fee to do so.
@@NickFrom1228 and can take up to 4 hours after call to come disconnect and then another 4 when calling for a reconnect lol
So true it's not worth your life working live in Australia or more specific Queensland haha funny name we are allowed as a contractor to pull the primary fuse from an overhead supply or from an underground supply pillar box legally seems crazy to work live if you don't have to safety should be paramount
I'm in a old house with no main shut off and probably will get them to schedule a shut off when I got to put one in. I will also be waiting until fall when it's cooler 😂 it's hot here in texas
Yeah here in Texas we can call the company and they will come out. Saftey takes planning. I would never do a panel change hot😂😂 I'm pretty sure you can get seriously fined for doing it hot as well...
Bro, you've helped me get my drive back with my trade 💪,I've been doing commercial electrical and building automation/controls since January 2000,,,, and let's just say life got crazy some ten years ago and I've jumped back into construction about 6 months ago and it's through a friend and he doesn't touch a wire,so he has me doing any electrical and I also help with the other builds,,but wiring is my passion and watching your DIYs,it stokes me on how you remind me of how proud it is to stand behind your work and the passion you put it ,pumps me up and is helping with getting back on track with my life and hold it down,,you kick ass boss💪🙏
Zinsco usually always has Bus Damage, No way I would waste time changing Breakers in one!, Replace it with Square-D QO and be done
Yay
The only problem I have with Sq D is the tiny terminals those panels use. It is like that German company forgotten the US uses larger wires for lower voltages. That and the threads for QOB panels are notorious for stripping.
@Thomas Heydrick For me, the hype for Leviton panels have worn off. I'm not impressed the main lugs are smaller than most other panels, barely accepts 4/0 aluminum under normal 200 amp services. God help us if the service requires 250mcm for voltage drop, there is no way to change the lugs on leviton panels. For some strange reason, the lug for the neutral Buspar is larger than the phase lugs. WTF.
I stick with EATON now (I used to swear by Murrey for the last 15 years) Good breakers, good panel guts, but God dam the cans are made of tin for residential grade. At least the commercial lines are decent.
Qo or homeline?
@@Bremend QO, I don't like Homeline!
Glad you found a way to force the main breaker in there. What a pain in the ass. I bet you will feel better once you replace that whole thing. Nice arc mask. I need one of those
Hello, Will. I have your book. Good to see you here. Count me as among the few that do use PPE, most of the time.
Hey Will, I have the same face shield it's by Honeywell if you want to check it out. Make sure to get the gloves and also a hood to go under the face shield. I've learned a ton about PV systems from you, something a service electrician like myself never works on!
I'm not sure why he didn't burnish the buss while he was in there.
Don't forget the arc-rated clothing to go with that face shield, along with the arc-rated ear plugs and z87 eyepro. For a pro he is severely under-equipped to be performing hot work.
Now I don't think he is saying this is how to protect yourself when doing this kind of work. However. If I saw this work being performed on any of my sites or even as a contractor working a job, I would question if that electrical contractor or company deserves their certifications and qualifications if this is their Master Electrician.
I've worked on my own circuits for my house hot and I wore at least CAT I Arc-flash hazard PPE.
Use the right tools. Wear the right PPE. Or don't. But don't slack on those two things then make a video of yourself doing it and making yourself look an ass for public consumption.
Is that harsh? Depends. People get fired for this and then their name gets put out that they are an extreme safety risk which makes it very, very hard to get a good qualified job.
@@infblu3808 lmao talk about overkill. I’m a lineman and we work on house services with leathers . As long as you’re careful “hot” gloves aren’t necessary . Talk to me when you’re handling 27 KV.
Just a suggestion. Its something i like to do prior to putting in breakers, new or used. I like to exercise the breakers a few times to make sure it flips properly along with checking continuity with my meter to make sure when i flip the breaker to the off position there is no continuity and vice versa. All prior to installation.
W.r.t. to PPE, I would recommend keeping the PPE on until the main breaker is closed. There's no protection device between the panel and the meter, or visible anywhere upstream of the meter. So, if that breaker malfunctions, there might be 25kw there, and there might be 500kw. Earlier this year, we had a new 150A 480v breaker explode when closed, third time it had ever been cycled (by us, one would assume Eaton tested it) -- in a 1000A panel. The electrician was in full PPE, but he was still "pretty far from happy." (and yes, it's live work, that panel isn't so easy to power off.)
I have observed to many near misses working on live electrical installation. One which l recall at a NHS UK hospital where l was called to the loss of all the kitchen electrical power, turned out to be an electrical contactor had unsuccessfully attempted to install a three phase circuit breaker in a live panel. It had tripped a 400 Amp. main supply C/B which had taken out all the kitchen power, the panel he was working on was now internally copper clad and he had suffered severe burns to his arms. The rule is always work on electrically isolated equipment when ever possible. Keep up the good work and stay safe.
Hey Dustin, look into getting a hood for under your face shield. I used to work for Rogers and didn't know I even needed one before working there. Also 100% cotton long sleeves help a lot if you don't have a hot suit in the event of an arc flash. I know you know your stuff either way because I've learned SO MUCH from you lol
Can you please do a video on Megger testing insulation? I just bought a Klein ET600 and I'm trying to figure it all out..
Manual
I like how you taking out each individual circuit breaker out, one at a time wires still attached to the circuit breaker and rewire back to new one , and then insert back to slot. Great work! Thanks! 😀😀😀
This is what we need. Video on an actual work site. More of these.
Thanks for being an inspiration. 👍
+
Thanks also. I want to go to trade school now
Texas Master Electrician and contractor since 1991. I like what you are doing with your videos. I wish we had UA-cam when i first got into the trade, it would have made things easier for sure. Keep up the good work.
Where are you based? I’m an apprentice and looking for a place
With any zinsco breaker you can reverse the bussing clips, (2 screws on back side) Doing so would have allowed you to avoid the damaged bussing section.
Yes or he could have just put the main at the bottom where the bar was good. I can't imagine someone spending all that money on those breakers for only a couple of weeks. Good video on hot work though.
@@LarsDennert Those were sent to him by Connecticut Electric. Probably free or at lower cost.
@benmusson395 You can't do that on the top space, look closely at the bus they have stamped indents that won't allow the breaker to clip on. (But you're spot on that most parts of the bus you can swap the breaker clips which will get you to a clean bus connection.)
All your disclaimers are why I like to reference your channel over any other and it has contributed a lot to beginning my path as a prospective apprentice. I just don’t like DIYer videos for the sake that you take so much more into account most normal guys can’t - especially where safety is concerned.
You can tell he’s a “master electrician” by the way he waves his screwdriver all around the energized busbar like a “master magician” waves a wand.
i especially liked prying the breaker out while leveraging towards the energized buss.
@@matthewlewellen6516 ...and at 4:54 ???...!
@@matthewlewellen6516 And how would you do it.? Just wondering.
He shut off the main so they busbar is dead ….. like your brain cells
@@talbertadams6586 don’t listen to these twats . The main breaker is off therefore not feeding the busbar. These guys are clowns
Great video. I hope that no one other than a licensed pro would ever even CONSIDER working on a live panel. We sold a home last year in California where an unlicensed person did some work on a live panel. We had to have the buyer sign a disclosure stating that they were aware that the person who did that died on the property. Your videos are great and you got the message across loud and clear with the PPE equipment.
Did they die because they screwed up and got electrocuted and that’s why you had to have them sign disclosure disclosure or is there some weird California law with requiring disclosure for any death on a property.
I would remove the cover to have clear work space. No need to risk grounding to it, and no need to risk it falling on your head.
Also i would look at the main breaker to look for damage as a result of loose connection.
I have stepped away from a pannel and then I hit my forehead on it coming back 😭😭
My Zinsco panel is inside my condo so not exposed to the elements, been working fine for the last 13 years. Thinking about changing the breakers like you did here.
Dude keep it up you convinced me to be an electrician 3B here been grinding hard essential worker 50-60 hour weeks good pay benefits looking at becoming a foreman in a year or so keep the videos coming. Love reviewing and seeing new style breakers
Hows it going now bro? Im a 2nd year apprentice
I don't know what luck you've had using those new breakers but I run a fairly large solar company with over 100 employees and it is probably our number one replacement after install is those new zinsco breakers especially the slim ones we've had better luck with the thick ones or full size whatever you like to call them we actually have a breaker house that test old breakers for us to make sure they're still in good working order cleans them up and gives a year warranty on them and we've had much better luck using those than the new kinetics we've also had a lot of problems getting the new ones to actually fit in some of the older panels because it looks like the molds tend not to be exact to the old ones they're slightly bigger we have to modify them a lot to even get them to fit when we can't get used ones just my opinion
Good video. I have been doing power line work for 29 years. We have both class 0 and class 2 as our required gear, plus FR clothing. We mostly work on 12,000 volts sometimes 34,000 and on the low side of our transformers are 120 - 480 volts. A suggestion, wear long sleeve natural fiber shirts while doing energized work.
Great video! I get that this was just a demo. But in this case, I would have swapped out all the old breakers but the main, then called the power company and asked for a meter pull so you could swap the main breaker. That doesn't require a permit anywhere I've ever heard of, and with those side by side, the lineman would have waited the 5 minutes for you do to the swap. With this one, it's not so much getting shocked, but as you know there's no fuse on the secondary, so if you dropped a wire and it welded itself to the box, you'd be waiting until something melted through or you pulled the meter..either way you'd have some 'splainin to do. Love the content, though!
Wondering why (you may have explained but in that case I missed it) why you're not using an isolated screwdriver ? And as is the case in other countries, are you supposed to tighten the screws on the terminals to a specific torque ?
Of course he needs to pay attention to the torque. This determines the resistance in the connection and with that fire hazard.
@@hjooy but he never mentioned nor demonstrated torquing the terminals
Electrician U- Your presentations are great . Question - I saw the one video on re-doing the service box on your old Zinsco panel . Years ago in a electrical class I took the instructor said this , ' High amp breakers air conditioner , washer or dryer after the main connect should be at the top of the buss bar the rest smaller breakers regular lighting receptacles in usual spaces". Any truth to that ?
Cheers .
Hey Dustin, thanks for your videos. I live in the UK- electricians here use mostly VDE insulated tools as standard. It seems this isn't common practice in north American - just from what i've seen on youtube. Do you know why this is?
We did a kitchen remodel for a couple who had an old Zinsco panel with one breaker for the kitchen. I explained to them that their new kitchen would need 5, and this would be an ideal time for a panel upgrade. I wound up putting in a sub panel, they didn't believe me on the need for replacement.
You should add long sleeve Arc Flash rated CAT 2 Shirt or coveralls to your PPE any exposed skin is not good.
Excellent observation. Glad to see he had the face shield and gloves, but still missing PPE.
@Adam Cosper Anything makes it safer. though I don't believe at a cat2 or less the balaclava and ear plugs are required. But it can't hurt that's for sure.
@Adam Cosper correct
I always work on electricity jobs without any of that lmao just my work shirt but bare hands
Also stored gloves fingers down. 🤔
I'm an electrician too and I am watching these amazing tutorial videos because there are many different designs and even new models to know about electrical components. Also different techniques from different amazing electricians around the world like this guy.
I’m an electrician, and I love when other electricians act like changing breakers with the busbars off is like disarming a bomb LOL. You gotta be careful, but calm down….I had to change a panel the other day and the meter was seized in the meter box, so I had to both remove the SE cable from the old breaker/panel and then install the hot SE cable into the new panel and main breaker. Just relax (as in don’t build it up as some catastrophic event), use common sense, and have quality gloves and a way to safe off the ends. I find that most people I work with that have trouble working hot have trouble MOSTLY because they’ve built it up in their head as this monumental task. Think about everything he did here other than the main breaker. When it comes down to it, he was changing breakers on a dead busbar….easy. As long as you are smart with your movements, it’s the same as putting breakers in a completely dead panel. Then you get to the main breaker install, and that’s when you have to be smart and calm. If a main breaker that turned off has you hesitant to install breakers on the dead busbar, I venture to say you shouldn’t be doing panel work at all. He did a great job.
Probably a good idea for a yt video though considering many people watching may not have that level of knowledge. But yeah, if the main breaker is off changing out the other breakers is pretty easy and I don’t generally wear gloves for that.
I did notice how you didn't check to see if anything was still hot. Got to at least check. Especially to at least make sure the main did cut the power. Great video as always
Wow what a coincidence, I did a survey for a retire community, they wanted to upgrade their panels and all their panels were Zinsco.
Well done instructional video, but as you are watching your P's and Q's I thought that you would bring up torquing the breakers loan screws.
Though I must say after you do a few thousand you're probably pretty dam sure it's tight, it would be fun to see how close you would be to the manufacturer's torque standards. (Behind closed doors one might say do as I say not as I do.)
Being a UK sparky watching this, find this board interesting. One thing I would like to ask though, do you ever double over the conductors before terminating them in the breaker to give a greater CAA of conductor bing gripped by the breaker?
Hey Adam! Jeff from the US!🍻🍻 Im trying to figure out what you’re saying, Brother! Im not understanding your weirdo UK terminology haha! I can probably help you with an answer. And i wish you and your family the best!
@@jeffreyharbert3439 so the caa is a mistype for CSA (Combined surface area.) and doubling over is stripping twice the insulation and folding it over with pliers so you get double the conductor being introduced to the breaker.
I've dabbled with electrical, amd now am trying to apprentice to jump to my Master and pick up the experience along the way. I confess that I've hardly taken the time to look through your videos, (maybe an hour or so) but I can already tell I'm going to be spending a LOT of time on your channel.
Watching you do this HOT was making my anxiety levels go through the roof lol After getting electrocuted by 277v a few years ago, I am deathly afraid of working on things HOT but it's also given me a high level of caution when working on anything HOT. Absolutely love your vids btw :)
You weren't electrocuted, if you lived to tell about it. Electrocuted means death. Shocked means you lived.
I got nipped by 277 working on a hotel, that shit was zesty!
Nice vid. One suggestion- Remove that outer panel cover so it is not banging you in the head! I always do that for panels big and small that over overhead hinged
i love how i spent 10 months in school being told not to ever work hot. "first day of work" ok everything we do is hot :) all but the 347v
It’s my third day on the job as a maintenance tech and I changed a push button hot and changed a blown fuse in a hot panel. I just graduated 4 days ago lmao.
@@damion1121 congrats! if you understand how it works 120/240 really is no big deal
@@clatonblade2211 yeah I’m being careful. I’ve touched 120 in my home before just changing fixtures and it’s only a tickle. Lol
@@clatonblade2211 240 is just a wake up, about the same as a cup of coffee lol
@@JeremyPeters most times you are only ever 120 from zero unless you are real dumb lol.
Dustin so glad you are wearing the PPE. I just wish many more US electricians did this. You are a master electrician but maybe you did this and wasn’t shown on the video I suspect you already proved the bus was dead using a specific proving dead technique (and use of a proving unit and dedicated voltmeter). Thankyou so much for showing this and I like your attitude, being a master electrician means nothing unless you are thinking. You should have also shown how you check for holes in the rubber insulated gloves using the osha approved rolling up approach. Excellent, excellent work. At some point you are gonna put in an external disconnect? And make your main panel your sub panel?
Right, start thinking: buy some insulated screwdrivers.
You always need to be careful taking the panel cover off. Some panels have little clearance and you can end up doing some welding. The same applies to putting a panel cover on.
This was amazingly helpful. I have a question though, entirely hypothetical but if you took a live wire from the meter and put it somewhere conductive such that it pulled say several hundred amps, what happens? Does the meter have an overload/breaker protection, or does the transformer on the pole, or… basically what blows up of you short a main without any breakers in the line?
Opens panel, holds long screw driver, talks with hands. Makes me nervous.
He's a master electrician bro. He knows what hes doing 😂
I use to do the same thing until a veteran electrician pointed out what I was doing. I appreciated that he told me about it.
I am not an electrician. I was wondering why not sand or file the arc area down rather than hammer the breaker. In the old days, I have dressed automobile points with a small burnishing file to extend their useful life. Sparkplugs too, to make flat area for better spark. I was also concerned about cover panel that fell a few time, bringing a ground to you.
I very much liked how you captured the live conductors in the replacement breaker to manage them.
You should see all the paperwork we have to fill out for any hot work. It is brutal!
I can imagine, do you work for a large company or are you maintenance at an industrial shop?
@@ElectricianU
Contracting in CA for a Class A general engineering company with a C10.
Substation, utility, tower work, and EV charge networks. There are times, especially on the utility and substations side, where things can not be offlined.
Testing in tomorrow to get my Journeyman's in Montana. Then I can finally change pace and stay in my home state, commercial, residential, and utility with the local electric coop.
I'm just curious, why didn't you take a razor knife or a file to the charred bus and clean it up before you installed the new main breaker? Thank you for your time and your great videos.
I've seen most of your videos and I'm curious why you don't use electricians' screwdrivers? Preference?
No. Complacency
What’s the idea of the top hinged door? Out of the 4 options that has to be the worst one? Greetings from England. Excellent videos thanks.
I'm sure most of you know this but always check the bus with a meter after shutting off the main.
Don't use a harbor fright or a cheapo meter. If you don't have the knowledge and proper tools dont even attempt.
I'm still kinda new, but what potentially could happen to leave the bus hot after shutting off the main? A faulty main?
@@blindorize well the bus would just be hot and whoever working just assumes its dead could get hurt. But yes it would result In a faulty breaker.
@John Connolly Ahh the old glancing finger test! The most efficient of them all. Thanks for sharing your experience, I''ll definitely be testing no matter what.
I got hammered working in a panel with the main off, it was an old building, panel was back fed from another panel in the building on one of the branch circuits. Learned my lesson
Good video. Which brand main panel do you think is best? Is there a video about that I may not be aware of?
We are provided all insulated tools. All the ppe you can ever need. Just weird for me to see you stick a standard flat in there hot. 😆 I’m in industrial.
ignorance resy guys dont know what arc flash is
Resi/commercial guy here.
As long as you know what you can and can't touch it's usually no big deal but we also pull the meters pretty often.
Nothing wrong with using a regular Klein flathead if you know what you’re doing, I’m in industrial aswell and all we use is regular screwdrivers
@@pgood7266Why do you NOT use insulated screwdrivers?
I'm an automotive technican, I work on the electric cars, we use the same gloves rated for work on the batteries. we don't have a arc sheild which would be smart but I do have saftety glasses that i make sure i'm wearing when i'm working on them. Its hard using those gloves on tight spots with little nuts and bolts.
I was thinking why replace the individual breakers if you're going to replace the panel box in a couple weeks
Content? 😅
I think he did it just for the instructional video. But yes, easier to replace the entire panel
I came across this channel by mistake but glad I did..instant fan..
I started to tighten up with the install of the main breaker. Been told to tape or cap those feeders...OMG HAMMER!???🤢
Why would you tape them if they're going right into another breaker? How else was he supposed to get the main in? Did you listen at all?
As a electrical design engineer since 1983, now retired, I can say that you are correct about Zinsco breakers. They sometimes just would not trip. Very dangerous. Most of the rest of the companies you named in the beginning of the video, just got bought out by other companies, not because their breakers were unsafe.
I can't believe you said A phase and B phase.
Respectfully, Kevin
I am also surprised at how often he describes the separate legs of the phase as different phases on single phase residential. In practice doesn’t cause any real issues, but is factually incorrect.
@@Chase_AM Correct. A conductor termination point is not a phase.
Depends on the transformer feeding the house. Alot of POCOs run 3ph OR 2ph in their distribution and use 2ph xfmrs to serve the house so the house is actually using 2 separate phases from the utility. Its 99% of the services in northern California.
As far as the meter, you, as a homeowner, can ask your utility company to kill power to the house. With no risk.
Legit question, with all the PPE while working on the live hot service main he is using a metal screw driver. Why not use an insulated screw driver as well? If the screw driver accidently touched the exposed hot wire would it not utilize the path along the screw driver as the shortest path to ground or lower potential ? Or is he safe because the gloves are insulated and braking the path to potential ground or lower potential?
I would never mess with the hot side of a panel, but I love learning about this stuff. Much respect to all the master electricians out there!
great job. just a few tips for the next one though. first, remove that pain in the head door, 2nd, after removing live wires from main just cap them with blue wire nuts or an insulated tap, that way you can install the new breaker w/o the risk of the wire popping out from the lugs plus it'll give you more flexibility stabbing it on to the bus. just saying.😎
Right. Then you can test fit the main without live wires in them.
Electrician U,you really goes in real depth in every video which gave me more knowledge and understanding of electrical installation.i really appreciate your efforts..
Glad to help
When all else fails, beat the shit out of it.. 😂
have read a number of other comments so wont repeat the ones i agree with
doing loop impedance reading can really help to find issues like your main breaker arcing more commonly used in Europe however see it being used in the USA more.
a lot manufacturers are pushing the use of torque setting on breaker screws and that would be nice to show.
lastly I think checking neutral to hot after a load is applied is also a very important test as it will show is the neutral impedance is high which you will know the effects of
first time I have come across your channel enjoyed it keep up the good work
Could the main breaker have been shifted down?
Had to do the exact same thing on my panel on my house built in 69’. One phase on the bus bar of my 100 amp main breaker was damaged from arcing. I just filled it down a bit to make a better contact between the breaker and bus bar, and now waiting to get a new 200 amp service panel installed. Those old breakers are a pain in the ass to replace and will do damage to your bus bars.
That is a lot of money to spend on Conn. Electric breakers for a service getting replaced soon.
Was thinking the exact same thing
Yep me too I was literally searching the comments because I was thinking the same exact thing I've only got one bad zinsco 2 pole breaker and I am absolutely not spending $95 for one freaking breaker when I can get the Cutler Hammer retrofit kit to put in the zinsco metal box!! Altogether including the bus bars retrofit system and the needed breakers $125 versus $95 for one lame breaker!!!... Yep it's a no-brainer for me!!!
But how would he make both videos then? To teach people?
Great video. I have one of these old Federal Pacific panels. When I turn off the main breaker, nothing turns off in the house. Not too excited about working on the panel while not being able to turn it off.
I hate and love working on live panels.
Hate knowing I could die if it arcs.
Love the rush.
fuck yeah get that rush, its the hit you been missing get it in ya veins son
Nice video! I am surprised that you didn’t use a Klein insulated shaft screwdriver for extra safety when working on live circuits.
I thought I was the only electrician with a zinsco panel, lol!
Federal Pacific panel in my house.
We come to find out a majority of electricians own houses with the worst panels. lol
@@aaron74 "the cobbler's children have no shoes."
@@PatrickKQ4HBD Terrified
@@PatrickKQ4HBD until it burned down right?
Im a licensed home inspector in Texas, and although I do nothing like you guy's do when it comes to electrical, it's still cool to watch.
I would suggest removing the hinged dead front cover.One less thing to ground out on and allow you to stand in front of the panel without bending your neck.
Or the cover not slam into your head as you hammer a stubborn breaker in 😂
How do you get it off? I need to replace a breaker in my panel and it has one of those doors, and it will. not. stay open.
@@rprastein
It's just two short screws that act as hinge points at the top sides.
@@wilburrrrr742 Thanks, I did finally go to try to replace the breaker and saw that. Then I couldn't get the breaker off -- turns out I was trying to swing it the wrong way, but even once it was out of the box, the terminal screws were on SUPER tight. I had a supervisor/trainee pair out on a "free estimate" visit that turned into I think $100 for them to change the 4-pole breaker with my new one (no warranty), and the supervisor gave the trainee some ribbing for how long it was taking him to get the wires off. One of the breaker contacts had completely vaporized, and there was carbon on the bus bar that they also filed smooth. Working great now, $100 learning experience, money well spent.
Good content, thanks. Old stuff can be a pain. I still have a 1/4" nut driver taped up to change old ITE 277V breakers live. Can't shut the lighting panels down. PITA
I can't remove the seal without getting a fine.
I would suggest the "it was like that when I got here" line. Let them prove otherwise.
We had our local power company roll up in a black, unmarked, heavily tinted, antennas everywhere kind of Tahoe. We had pulled the meter for the exact same gig of replacing a main breaker. He showed up because they know when meters are pulled. Smart meters are not just smart for the end user.
@@whofixeditanyways funny thing. I used to break seals and pull meters all the time. Just had to call utility company and tell them I needed a reseal. They'd have you work safe also. The only seal I couldn't break was my own when I put a new panel in my house where I used to live. Guess that makes sense. At one point I was doing so many upgrades, the line supervisor gave me seals. I'd call in and give them the old and then new seal number. And I had to turn in the old seal.
@@davep6977 yup, that’s usually what the case is when your a licensed electrician. Not the end of the world.
Thanks for taking the time to make these videos.
I’m still considered as a newbie and I’ve been shadowing a master for the last three years now. I’m trying to learn as much as I can while not learning any bad habits and your videos has been helping me a ton.
Thanks again 👍👍
This video was full of bad habits. Please work safely.
I’m not a electrician but do residential HVAC.i have learned so much from your videos.live in southern Virginia and there are still a lot of Federal Pacific panels down here.when I’m at a old house and the electricians are changing the service,always ask for a few of the old breakers.like you said,Saturday after hour call,no cooling and have a bad breaker,nice to have one you can use to get them going until you can get another new one.
In a pinch, they could do without their clothes dryer. Temporarily "steal" the dryer circuit breaker to feed the A/C condenser to get them through the night or a week end. Just a thought. (Unless they have a gas dryer)
Put some noalox on the back of the main breaker next time it should slide right on with this little trick
Cool video! Thanks for showing. Don’t like to be watching the electricians at work when they’re doing this and when they’re all decked you in their flash gear it’s barricaded off anyway. Even though it’s just a smaller service panel, still can be deadly to someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing. Was impressed! Thanks!
Don't work things hot. You will eventually get bit. Call the power co. to turn the power off. Famous last words " I'm a master electrician " . Train people right from the get go. Secure the power. What is your life worth?
Good video, what I do in these situations of the main breaker and because the bus it's no energized I clean it with sandpaper and apply a little nolox and very easy to install the new main.
I feel like with a name like Electrician U, when talking about arc flash gloves you'd mention dropping some baby powder and leak testing them before using them.
And to not store them fingers down.... or wearing an ARC rated long sleeve....balaclava...so much. I get that its his own home but hes doing this as an educational video and missing a lot.
Have worn Cal 8 12 40 & 50 and never.used bany powder. Perfer the thin white glove liners. We would get issued a 10 pak of them. As soon as they got dirty throw them out.
The last class I was in said not to use baby powder. Said it reacts with the rubber. There is a special glove powder to use though.
Love your channel . One thing that did make me nervous was when you were explaining how you were changing out the breakers you had a screwdriver in your right hand close inside the box. Around the 2:24 mark. I know your turned all the breakers "off" it just got me a little nervous, that's all.