I have a panel with a separate breaker for the garage. The garage belongs to a different apartment/tenant now. I’d would just leave it on my meter, but he’s running an electric heater in there. I need to move that circuit to another panel that is on a another meter. Can I do it like this?
Shut off power to both panels.
Remove the breaker.
Remove the wires that go to that breaker.
Reassemble in empty space in the other panel.
I don’t think I’ll have to lengthen the wires as the new panel is closer to where the wires enter the house. Anything I’m missing here?
you need to follow the electrical code regulations for your area. you should follow good wiring methods. if you don’t know these then you could be creating a hazard.
receptacles in the garage should be protected on a ground fault interrupt (GFI) circuit.
if you are a another tenant then let the owner do it.
This answer varies depending on where you are located. Some areas allow it. Some areas require an electrician to at least inspect the work. Since there’s a tenant involved there are also potential liability problems that you may want to consider.
Also, while you can replace something old and outdated with something of the same style, any time you actually change anything in most places this requires you to bring the parts that you are affecting up to current code.
Aside from local codes you are assuming liability for anything that goes wrong. It seems unlikely that you’ll do anything which causes harm to your tenants, but that wouldn’t stop them from suing you if they can. Even if you do the work I recommend having an electrician or the local inspector sign off on it when you are done. That becomes your proof of properly installed wiring.
ETA: Every homeowner should make friends with an electrician.
I see no problem with the OP’s method, although I agree with putting a blank in the vacated panel hole. It’s a very simple job. In fact, I wouldn’t even shut off the panel, just the breakers, but you should err on the side of personal safety since you’re not an electrician. While you’re doing the job, check the existing circuit wiring for any problems. I would also the check amperage draw of the heater against the rating of the wiring to make sure there are no overheating problems with the circuit. Otherwise, go for it.
He’s re-routing the wire. We’re talking about a knockout blank for the hole in the panel where the wire enters. Helps keep dust and bugs out of the panel box. Probably a few pennies at an electrical supply.
Put a rubber mat on the floor under your panel to stand on when working there.
Work with one hand only when possible inside the panel. Keep your other hand in your pocket as a reminder not to use it unless absolutely necessary.
Remember that shutting off the main breakers does not necessarily turn off power in the entire panel. The service entry wires above the main breakers will still be hot. If you have a master disconnect switch outside the box, use that.
It is not a knockout blank they are round. But a breaker blank and yes he would have to go to a electrical supply house. Where as a breaker can be purchansed at many hardware stores, depending on the brand and stile.
And a added pluss he would not have to work on the one pannel to pull the breaker. And a lot of home owners are better limiting what they do inside an electrical panel.
OK. To clarify things, you need both a knockout cover, where the cable entered the panel (provided it was the only cable entering that knockout) AND a blank cover where the old breaker was. And yes, just buying a new breaker isn’t that expensive, but I’ve seen blanks for sale for common brands of panels at the big orange stores and the like. Another step a lot of people forget- properly label the new breaker, and label the old breaker if you leave it with “spare” or “unused” or something similar.
I went to the house yesterday. The panel’s weren’t the same, so I went and bought a new breaker. The move went fine, except I didn’t have the plug to fill the hole where the cable went into the old panel. It’s covered with duct tape until I can get back to the store and get the proper cover.
Cool, so now you have a spare breaker in the first panel. Once you get the plug/filler for the cable knockout, those just snap in from the outside so you don’t have to take the panel off.