10/24/2026
Started off our Friday with a panel upgrade. Original to the house, an 100 amp Square D XO panel. Ive never been in one until now. Customer had bought a replacement cooktop, when we showed up to install it, found out that the breaker for the cooktop had failed at some time, and tied the cooktop into the wall oven circuit. Two 30amp appliances sharing the same breaker, which id say would be fine if you only ever used one at a time, but that never happens.
Because the XO panels are obsolete, by almost 70 years!! We quoted a panel change. Today was swap day! The panel is narrower than modern panels, and the way walls were built in the garage, we had to convert to a surface mount setup. Things just never work out the easy way! New wire from the main breaker, to the new panel, separated grounds and neutrals, and wired up the new cooktop. Unfortunately, the hole in the counter was slightly larger than he expected, so i helped make some bracing underneath so he could still cook. The manufacturer makes a trim kit that hes gonna order.
Second stop, another panel for the meter base we installed last week. Ameren was finally out and set a new pole and got us hooked up, and we had the time to get a new panel in. Ran 2 inch conduit from the meter, down and around the building to the basement (no basement on the side with the meter.) My 90 degree bends kinked a little, but i got wires pulled in down to the basement. New 100 amp panel, i ran out of time to get all the circuits moved over, but i got some temporary wires installed so the tenant will have power.
One last stop, customer has a breaker tripping. They were using a space heater, plugged into a backstabbed outlet. Replaced the outlet, and checked the panel while i was there. Bottom is super rusted out, and the neutral is pretty corroded. They'll be getting a replacement estimate from me.
Long day, but very productive! I should start videos instead of text walls.
Still got a few service projects coming up, and calls are still coming in, busy busy busy!
