I have a recessed subpanel with a 1.5" hole in the top where a knockout used
to be. Presumably this has to be closed. (yes?)
Is there any code compliant way to do it from the inside of the panel?
Access to the outside of the box is impossible without opening up the wall,
and there must be a better way than that. Thanks.
used
wall,
This is Turtle.
Go to any Electric supply houses and ask for a 1.5" metal snap in plug for
electrical boxes. It looks like a big old type coke bottle top that snapped
on to the old returniable coke bottles but it will be 1.5" in diameter. Cut
the power off and go inside and snap it from the inside and that is that.
Now yes, all service enterance or meter pan boxes must be closed to prevent
fire / sparks/ flames from leaving the boxed in area.
TURTLE
They are commonly called knockout seals or K.O. seals by us professionals.
1.5" is probably 1 1/4" trade size. I'm not sure if home improvement stores
carry these. An electrical supply house will definitely have these on their
shelves. Many electricians carry these as part of their inventory on their
trucks as they are needed quite often.
Putting it in from inside the panel can be hazardous if the power is on. Be
careful.
Sometimes the K.O. seal will not be tight after you push it into the hole.
If this is the case use one hand or some duct tape to hold the seal in
place. Next use a long thin screwdriver to go through the wall on top of
the panel (Sometimes there is a gap) and push the tabs on the seal over to
lock it in place. You may have to rotate the seal a little to get at all of
the tabs. You can usually do this without creating any visible damage to
the wall. The electrical panel cover will hide where you pushed the
screwdriver through.
Be careful.
John Grabowski
http://www.mrelectrician.tv
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of
It turned out to be only 1"; which is good cause it was the largest I could
find.
Funny thing is that it was not tight as you said. I was going try the
screwdriver trick, but tried the other one (2 in a package) first, and that
one was tight.
Alls well that ends well, thanks.
they have snap on plugs that are just pushed into the hole.. in your
case you can only get to the hole from the inside, well go there and
push a plug into the hole.. problem solved... i think i saw some at ace
hardware store???? if not then try home depot and lowes, then an
electrical supply store if they will sell to you as most of their
customers are electricians and they only sell wholesale.....
used
wall,
This is Turtle.
i don't think any electric warehouse will not sell you a plug for a mistake.
The items your speaking of as to not wanting to sell you is the regular
items like wire, conduit, and electric equipment. They will tell you to go
down to Home depot or low's and if they don't have it we will sell you just
few items you need. Their problem is other electricians don't like selling
their supply equipment to the public and they want them to install it.
Between Wholesale and retail which they get for it. They get the 30% or so
to warrent the job with. If the equipment or wire fails in some way. They
have to fix it for nothing and this 30% will pay the cost to warrent the
job. If the customer buys the wire, equipment and a item fails. the
electrican will tell the customer that your wire failed that you furnished /
bought yourself at wholesale and you have to bring the warrenty equipment
back to the warehouse and get new stuff. The customer will get mad because
he might think it was the electricans fault and want him to warrent wire and
replace equipment at his expence and he did not get his 30% to pay for
warrentys. If the stuff fails, the electrican will have to furnish new stuff
and replace it for nothing. You got to pay to play.
Now getting a mistake plug, they will probley give you a plug for i know
what they cost and it's not worth ringing it up to get one. A electrican
can talk a warehouse out of a mistake plug with just about every job he
does.
TURTLE
That will not be approved for that purpose. You see, things involve
for mains electricity, have to be aproved by an authority to be used
for that purpose.
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