Electrical: ROUGH IN – SERVICE AND MAIN PANEL

Remember to turn off breakers before doing any work. DO NOT work on live circuits.

SUBCONTRACTOR SPECIFICATIONS

When replacing or upgrading an existing panel, always replace it with a 200-Amp Square D Home line Panel. If this means there will need to be a meter base upgrade, please get the project manager's approval.

Always replace Federal Pacific panels - they are a fire hazard. Also, always replace fused panels. While they are safe and hard to improve upon, they are viewed as old and unsafe by the general public.

Inspect the existing panel for any sign of arcing or wear that would cause it to be unsafe.

If you encounter aluminum wiring, the ONLY Burr Oak-approved connection is an AlumiConn. Putting Noalox in a wire nut WILL FAIL (see this picture)

How to use AlumiConn wire connector

How to use alumiconn connector.mp4

Generally, a panel upgrade will be noted on the blueprints. However, there are certain instances where upgrades will not be necessary. A house can be all-electric on a 100 amp panel, so long as the HVAC heat strips are under 10KW and the water heater is a tanked model. Having this said, many of our projects will require significant electrical upgrades.

If the service wire from the Masthead to the panel is not sleeved, it should be sleeved in Rigid or PVC (preferred). If you are sleeving service wire, and replacing the panel (because it is fused or otherwise), always upgrade to 200 amps - this upgrade does not require Project Manager Approval.

When installing a new panel or working on an old panel (where the drywall around it has been removed), install a large piece of PVC (1.5’’ should suffice) from the bottom of the panel, into the crawl space, and one from the top of the panel into the attic.

There should be a 90-degree elbow at the end of the PVC, with a cap at its end, to keep airflow from going into the panel.

This will keep there from being drywall repairs should a circuit need to be added AFTER drywall has been installed.

If the wiring is CUT, we can put it in a junction box to make connections.

Junction boxes protect electrical connections from damage and provide a safe and secure location for making electrical connections.

Junction boxes make it easy to access and maintain electrical connections, without having to disassemble large sections of electrical systems, making it easier to trace and troubleshoot problems in the electrical system.

Suppose there is a nice DETACHED Garage that would make an excellent workshop, install a 60 Amp 220v sub panel in the garage (Square D Home line), with some outlets to use. We prefer the cable to be buried; however, it can be suspended for certain instances. There should be a disconnect on the exterior of the building.

If a panel has been cut out- you can reset with junction boxes above it.

Use this to install electric boxes quickly, with a perfect cut.

HELPFUL HINTS:

ELECTRICAL EDUCATION BACKGROUND AND REASONING

For why we do things, the way we do them.

INSTALLING FLASHING BOOT

This video show a cool trick on installing flashing boot on an electrical mast head without dropping the lines. Instead, a $50 retrofit kit from Amazon is used. The process includes installing the bottom of the kit, adding sealant, nailing it down, cutting out the top, and sealing around the conduit for better protection.

Retrofit flashing boots.MOV

Note: When you see the Mastiff the electrical lines going into the house had a lot of cracked insulators. Touching the lines during installation is strongly discouraged due to the risk of electric shock and arcs. If an issue is observed, it's advised to contact an electrician for proper repair.

Retrofit Pipe Flashing | Quick Demo

Garrdal is an American-made 2 piece flashing that is designed to go around rooftop obstacles such as wire masts, high-efficiency HVAC stacks, or other circular penetrations up to 5 3/8 inches. A split boot alternative that has a single-piece appearance. UV resistant with tear-away ribs allowing the flashing to adjust from a 1 1/2 inch diameter to 5 3/8.

Improper nailing will cause damage

We should always make sure that we are aware of possible damage when we are working. Here's an example of these.

When a power company was hooking up the power to the cabin, there were 3 siding nails that had been shot into the electrical panel.

One of the nails went through the back of the panel, and Into the bar that distributes power to the entire house. Because of this- the panel needs to be swapped out and re-inspected. I bought the panel last night.

what'S inside the electrical panel?

Things inside the electrical panel.

This video will show the simplified breakdown of what an inspector is checking when they look inside the electrical panel.

Inside the electrical panel.mp4

First thing's first. This is known as a breaker.

The end of each breaker, there will be a screw. Each screw should only have one wire coming out of it.

All the shiny copper wires should be connected to something that connects them to this box.

All the white wires should be connected together as well, but they need to be separate from the shiny copper wires.

Only black and red wires should be connected to the breakers.

White ones should have black tape on them to let you know that they're a power wire.

You should not be able to see aluminum wiring here. They would look like an aluminum can. They wouldn't be copper colored. They'd be aluminum colored.

And anywhere there are aluminum wires inside of here,

they need to have the black, gooey stuff where they connect to something or that's wrong too.

DO NOT Paint Breaker Panel

There are a few reasons why you should not paint your breaker panel.

Paint can create a fire hazard. If the paint is flammable, it could cause a fire if it comes into contact with a spark or flame. Even non-flammable paint can create a fire hazard if it is applied too thickly and it traps heat.
Paint can make it difficult to identify the circuit breakers. The circuit breakers in your breaker panel are labeled with the name of the circuit they control. If you paint the breaker panel, these labels may be obscured, making it difficult to identify which circuit is causing a problem.
Paint can damage the electrical components in the breaker panel. The paint can create a layer between the electrical components and the air, which can trap heat and cause damage. It can also create a non-conductive barrier that can prevent the circuit breakers from making a good connection to the bus bars.

ELECTRICAL REPAIRS

Open Splice Junction Box

Junction Box Wiring Made Easy

Open Splice Junction Box is a one-piece electrical junction box that helps you encase open splices in minutes. Open splices are a common, but dangerous, electrical wiring issue. They need to be repaired right away but with traditional junction boxes you can easily find yourself wasting time and money rewiring and remaking open splices. Wire splices left open need a wire cover, and none are as easy-to-use as this.

Cut how much time you spend in damp crawl spaces and hot, dark attics trying to work in poorly designed standard junction boxes. Go from dangerous, illegal open splices done by amateur handymen to a fully installed and safe junction box with just 4 screws and a few minutes of your time.

This ingenious electrical wire cover makes the routine job of repairing open wire splices less tedious. If the connectors are tight and undamaged, you can bring electrical work up to code without splicing wires from scratch with the Open Splice Junction Box.

Here's the link for the item: Open splice junction box

ELECTRICAL REPAIR: REMOVING KNOCKOUT

This video shows an electrical repair technique on how to remove a knockout from existing box using some tools like text screw and diagonal cutter.

removing knockout.MOV

HELPFUL VIDEOS

How a carpenter drill holes for the cables?

This video shows how a carpenter drills holes for cables using a laser level, a block to mark the center of the stud, and a sharp forstner bit.

How a carpenter drill holes for the cables.mp4

How to put adjustable boxes.

This video shows how to put adjustable boxes behind the kitchen backsplash to make an easy backsplash install.

adjustable boxes.MOV

This video show why electrical is done after plumbing and HVAC

why electrical is done after plumbing and HVAC.mp4

How to use AlumiConn wire connector

How to use alumiconn connector.mp4

DIY: Switch and Receptacle marker

This video shows how to make a DIY Switch and Receptacle marker using 2 wood cuts.

Switch and Receptacle marker.mp4

Measuring wire with a multimeter

Before we get into the specs for our houses- we want to show you a really neat trick for measuring wire with a multimeter.

measuring wire with a multimeter.mp4

HOW TO BOND GROUNDING WIRES

Bonding grounding wires is an important safety measure that can help to protect people and property from electrical hazards. This video show how.

How to Bond grounding wires.mp4

Roller Splitter

When was the last time you use a roller splitter?

Roller Splitter.mov

ADJUSTABLE ELECTRICAL BOXES

An adjustable electrical box is a type of electrical box that can be adjusted in depth to accommodate different thicknesses of drywall or wallboard. This makes them a versatile option for both new construction and remodeling projects.

Adjustable electrical boxes are typically made of plastic or metal and come in a variety of sizes, from single-gang to four-gang. They can be used for a variety of electrical applications, including installing outlets, switches, and light fixtures.

To install an adjustable electrical box, you will need to first determine the thickness of the drywall or wallboard. Then, adjust the depth of the box accordingly. Once the box is in place, you can secure it to the wall with screws or nails.

Here are some of the benefits of using adjustable electrical boxes:

They can be used with different thicknesses of drywall or wallboard.
They are versatile and can be used for a variety of electrical applications.
They are easy to install.
They are a safe and code-compliant way to install electrical boxes.

If you are working on a new construction or remodeling project, adjustable electrical boxes are a great option to consider. They are versatile, easy to install, and safe.

Adjustable electrical boxes.mp4

ADJUSTABLE ELECTRICAL BOXES

GROUND WIRE (GEC)

Watch this video on how to properly install a ground wire.

A ground wire is an electrical wire that provides a safe path for excess electrical current to flow to the ground. It is typically made of bare copper wire and is usually green or green with yellow stripes.

The ground wire serves two main purposes:

To protect people from electrical shock: In the event of a short circuit, the ground wire will carry the excess current away from the person who is touching the electrical appliance, preventing them from being shocked.
To protect electrical equipment from damage: The ground wire can also help to prevent electrical equipment from being damaged by a short circuit.

Ground wire.mov

How to use NOALAX correctly

NOALOX is an anti-oxidizing compound used to prevent corrosion between aluminum and copper conductors. It is commonly used in electrical connections where aluminum and copper wires are joined, such as in electrical panels and junction boxes.

How to use NOALAX correctly.mp4

Safety mechanism of GFCI outlets

Stay safe with GFCI! It’s important to have Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters in the NEC-required areas of the home.

The video demonstrates the safety mechanism of GFCI outlets bathrooms. It shows how these outlets detect current flowing to the ground and shut down to prevent electric shocks.

safety mechanism of GFCI outlets.MOV

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