Where is your main breaker? #electrician #diy #learn #apprentice

[paulrivas]

You’re freaking me out with your hands touching everything

[Doug-gpqw]

I would put a main breaker in the panel box as well as outside. You don't want to be searching for the shutoff in an emergency.

[robertmendick]

An outside breaker by the meter in addition to the usual main breaker in the inside panel, adds an extra measure of safety when work is necessary in the main panel. Shutting off the outside breaker will make work inside the main panel much safer....As always, test before you touch.

[edwhitson]

Poking yer fingers in that meter base is brilliant

[davidperry]

I’m glad my panel has a main breaker in it.

[countryside]

That outside breaker is GREAT for burgelers or others who want to bypass ANY security!!

[lidlett]

Commonly known as a metered main. And NEC states up to six service disconnects or 6 hand throws to kill all power to a structure.

[Gallo-ij]

the main idea for having a safety switch close to your meter is mainly for the fire department, so in case of a fire or any other tragedy going on in our homes, firefighters can be able to cut power off so nobody can be compromised by going around to look for the main breaker.
and possibly I'm missing something, if I do so please feel free to tell me so I can be up to date with this matter.
good day to all !!!

[garyzimmerman]

I hate service disconnects on the outside. Had neighborhood kids that loved to run around and flip everyone’s disconnect switch. It was a pita till they got caught. We had to start putting padlocks on them. Then came the problem that when you actually needed to flip the switch, you could never find the key to the lock. Or the person didn’t know the combination!

[nicolegdula]

This was so helpful! I needed to replace a bad breaker and could NOT find the main service. Thanks to you I found it!

[ReggaeRedeemer]

and if there isnt one just yank the meter off with anger and force 😂

[generalpatton]

Even with a diacconect at the meter i like using a main breaker panel. Only time i like main lug panels is for a sub panel next to the panel feeding it.

[Oto_Travel]

I love you jamming your mittens in the panel

[bryanroye]

My house has none of that. No disconnect from any location you pointed out. If I want to change the panel then I got to call electric company to shut it down.

[DaddyBeanDaddyBean]

My friend's house was built in the early 80's and has a main breaker for the service disconnect outside. The entrance cable penetrated the wall, made its way the length of a bedroom and laundry room inside a bulkhead, and landed at the panel on the far side of the laundry room. Later events would show there was exactly one support clamp on this entire run. (There should be one every couple of feet.) A couple years ago, after the loose entrance cable had been rubbing against a furnace duct inside that bulkhead for 30+ years, it shorted against the duct and started a fire. The house was destroyed, with the middle burned out and the rest having heavy smoke & water damage. The main breaker never popped, but the manufacturer went bankrupt in the 90's, so there's nobody left to sue.

[mikerourke]

Main lug load centers have breaker kits to attach to the bussing so you can have a main breaker shutoff at your meter main and your sub panel.

[shaunwettgen]

Incredibly helpful, thank you for posting this!

[scottnunya]

There is no NEC requirement for the main to be within 8' of the meter.

[lawrence]

Thanks for the update. i retired 32 years ago and you are informing me.

[casey]

You could still have a main in the panel along with the service disconnect.