This video is an example of an outdated breaker panel. The house was built in 1915 and had some of the 1st electrical material made. The panel had been updated roughly 50 years ago which now is not up to code. Multiple problems were found such as; no main breaker to shut off the breaker panel, improper size wires to breakers, multiple tapping of wires on breakers, original aluminum cloth casing wire and most importantly melted wires on the main feed lines to the breaker panel. This is very unsafe conditions and it is recommended to upgrade the panel immediately.
What makes this panel different from other breaker panels is that this is what as known as a split bar breaker panel. In the past 100 years electrical supply materials have changed to become safer but main breakers were still not required by code. During the timeline this breaker panel was made they started to make the breaker panels with a split bus bar from top to bottom. You will notice in the video that the melted wires are coming from the electric company, just below that is a double pole 60 amp breakers that is double lugged with multiple wires. The larger wire in the rear you will see goes up inside the breaker panel and curls back down behind the breakers which connect to the lower bus bar and breakers. Technically the double pole 60 amp breakers is a main breaker for only the lower bus bar and breakers. You rarely see these breaker panels any more.
Last year I found the same scenario on another home with a split bar breaker panel & my client buyer of that home did not listen to my findings & recommendations of upgrading the panel. 6 months later, the panel caught on fire. Fortunately their house was built of cinder block and the fire did not get out of control.
©2020 Home inspection by John Frejeris "Watch & Learn" ™ 👀
