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Main Disconnect needed for electrical panel?

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Main Disconnect needed for electrical panel? jamesrey 09-07-2007
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Posted by on September 7, 2007, 8:59 am
We are in the process of buying a home and as part of the home
inspection it was found there was not a main disconnet in the
electrical panel. The sellers agreed to have one installed. They
just sent us note from a contractor stating "The panel in question is
a spIit bus bar panel with a main breaker for lighting and
receptacles only. Although it is outdated it is not an unsafe system.
These panels were
used frequently in new construction through the 1970's. (The house was
built in 1982)

My question: Is this something that really should be updated? We have
2 small children plus my parents lost everything in an electrical
fire several years back so I am pretty concerned.

Any advice, thoughts, would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks


Posted by HotRdd on September 7, 2007, 9:06 am
For the cost of installing a main disconnect or a new panel I think the
piece of mind would be worth it.




> We are in the process of buying a home and as part of the home
> inspection it was found there was not a main disconnet in the
> electrical panel. The sellers agreed to have one installed. They
> just sent us note from a contractor stating "The panel in question is
> a spIit bus bar panel with a main breaker for lighting and
> receptacles only. Although it is outdated it is not an unsafe system.
> These panels were
> used frequently in new construction through the 1970's. (The house was
> built in 1982)
>
> My question: Is this something that really should be updated? We have
> 2 small children plus my parents lost everything in an electrical
> fire several years back so I am pretty concerned.
>
> Any advice, thoughts, would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks
>



Posted by George on September 7, 2007, 9:26 am
HotRdd wrote:
> For the cost of installing a main disconnect or a new panel I think the
> piece of mind would be worth it.
>
>
>
But I don't think the seller is obligated to pay for it since split bus
panels are certainly code compliant.

It seems way to common anymore for "home inspectors" to decide that
everything should be as if it were done last week according to current
practices.

Posted by HotRdd on September 7, 2007, 10:35 am
Last time I heard the US was in a buyers market. Whether the home owner
"has" to replace it or not does not mean it can't be negotiated in the
selliung price.


> HotRdd wrote:
>> For the cost of installing a main disconnect or a new panel I think the
>> piece of mind would be worth it.
>>
>>
>>
> But I don't think the seller is obligated to pay for it since split bus
> panels are certainly code compliant.
>
> It seems way to common anymore for "home inspectors" to decide that
> everything should be as if it were done last week according to current
> practices.



Posted by dpb on September 7, 2007, 10:45 am
HotRdd wrote:
> Last time I heard the US was in a buyers market. Whether the home owner
> "has" to replace it or not does not mean it can't be negotiated in the
> selliung price.
...

Like always, that depends on "location, location, location". The major
metro areas are all in the news now with the subprime lending fiasco
(where the rest of us are getting ready to be soaked to subsidize the
fools and greedy who signed up for all these mortgages they couldn't
afford :( ), but in other areas things are pretty much as they've always
been...

That said, it's a negotiating point, agreed...

--

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