Connecting flush mount breaker box to control panel

[Roadie]

Ok, I'm official now as I picked up the permit this afternoon. I think I have everything required. Going to start installation tomorrow. Can brewing be far off?

 

[Roadie]

if going the permit route, you may want to consider stating you are putting a 30A receptacle in for a welder or something like that. if you say 'electric brewery', it might open up a bunch of other questions (i.e. is your brew panel ul rated). just a thought...

I just left it at DRYER receptacle. Before inspection I will move the fermentation fridge (about dryer size) which is in that area and leave the control panel in the house.

 

[Roadie]

Finishing this project shouldn't be this hard. I failed to put F'ing push in connectors on the box because I didn't think I needed them. I have this nice weatherproof box View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1445557010.620487.jpg which mounts against the garage wall here View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1445557065.887239.jpg with Romex entering the back middle of the box. The wire enters the box in the back middle so you never see it. Inside the box is a junction to THHN which exits the offset connector you see on the box going through EMT conduit. These connectors may fit the $1.98 metal box but the $8 weatherproof box I bought has threads and the connectors won't push into them.

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1445559230.164227.jpg

Do I really need to use these meaning can't I just run the Romex into the box and call it a day?

This has to pass the city inspector.

 

[itsnotrequired]

how about a regular metallic nm connector?

i believe that is a 1/2" opening on the back? try a 3/8" connector. the threads are probably too small to thread into the box threads but the lock nut will hold it in place. attach the nm cable and tighten everything up, then mount the box to the wall.

 

[wobblypops]

Is that 3-#10awg wire in a 1/2" conduit?? Up here in Canada that's a no no

 

[wobblypops]

Of sorry. 4-#10awg. Not 3

 

[wobblypops]

I'm losing it tonight. oh not of. Lol sorry

 

[Roadie]

how about a regular metallic nm connector?

i believe that is a 1/2" opening on the back? try a 3/8" connector. the threads are probably too small to thread into the box threads but the lock nut will hold it in place. attach the nm cable and tighten everything up, then mount the box to the wall.

I'm not sure that will fit into the hole I drilled into the wall. Maybe if I mount it backwards with the lock nut on the outside of the box? Then I have to deal with a similar issue on the panel itself.

 

[The10mmKid]

Roadie, You have to anchor that box to the wall with two screws . . . no less.
Also have to use a weathertite cover.

The "dryer plug" end will also need the weathertite cover. May be hard to find one with the 2¼"(?) dryer receptacle opening.

'da Kid

 

[Roadie]

Roadie, You have to anchor that box to the wall with two screws . . . no less.
Also have to use a weathertite cover.

The "dryer plug" end will also need the weathertite cover. May be hard to find one with the 2¼"(?) dryer receptacle opening.

'da Kid

I do have a weather tight cover for the junction box and it is fastened with 2 screws. Not so sure on the receptacle end as I just bought a regular dryer cover plate. This is INSIDE the garage after all.

 

[The10mmKid]

 

[The10mmKid]

I do have a weather tight cover for the junction box and it is fastened with 2 screws. Not so sure on the receptacle end as I just bought a regular dryer cover plate. This is INSIDE the garage after all.

I understand that.

However, your devices must stay in the same family. Can't mix indoor covers with outdoor boxes and vise-versa. The inspector may even question why you went with weathertite boxes and not use compression (outdoor) fittings on the EMT. (I fully understand because they look better)

Carry on,
'da Kid

 

[itsnotrequired]

I'm not sure that will fit into the hole I drilled into the wall. Maybe if I mount it backwards with the lock nut on the outside of the box? Then I have to deal with a similar issue on the panel itself.

make the hole in the drywall bigger. if you pull the cable through and clamp it all down before mounting it to the wall, no worries if you can't access the screws.

the panel should have knockouts rather than threaded connections so the push in connectors will be fine.

I understand that.

However, your devices must stay in the same family. Can't mix indoor covers with outdoor boxes and vise-versa.

do you have a code reference for this? the outdoor box has more protection than required for the location it is mounted in, no problem using a cover that meets the requirements for the area. of course, the box will not meet weather requirements due to a non-weather cover but this is not a weather environment. outdoors, i would agree, you would need a weather box and cover. any other combination of indoor/weather box or cover would not meet outdoor requirements but indoors, you can use any combination you want.

 

[itsnotrequired]

Of sorry. 4-#10awg. Not 3

that's surprising. four #10 of thhn doesn't even fill up 28% of a 1/2" emt conduit. here in the states, you could pull five #10 through a 1/2" if you wanted to. i personally would go to 3/4" conduit at that point, just to make the pull easier.

of course, this conversation is related to thhn (or thwn). if you were pulling in rhw conductors (outdoor rated), nec only allows three #10 in 1/2" emt. rhw insulation is about three times thicker compared to thhn/thwn.

 

[Roadie]

It was difficult enough to pull 4 wires forget 5! If I'd have known how hard it would be I would have bought 3/4" instead of 1/2". I'd like to finish this sometime this weekend if possible. I have to go back to the hardware for the metal cable tighteners and then figure out a way to get one of the plastic ones around the romex jacket and into the box. I got it around the romex fine but was unable to push into the box on the first go round last night.

 

[itsnotrequired]

yeah, some of those pulls are ridiculous and really set up to be done by a machine...or the apprentice working on the job.

 

[The10mmKid]

You can use this style:

The screws will be inside the box.

 

[Roadie]

I finished this project today and will call the inspector tomorrow to get approval. Not in a hurry to do this project again!

 

[jcav]

Good luck, I hope it passes with no issues! I know sometimes they can be real picky.......

John

 

[Roadie]

I think I did everything per code so hoping for the best. Did you get your receptacle fixed?

 

[jcav]

Yes he came out today and rewired it right side up this time!

John

 

[chessking]

You brewing yet Roadie?

 

[Roadie]

You brewing yet Roadie?

Close. I bought a couple hundred dollars in 2015 hops the other day though my son STILL hasn't shipped me the hops I left there. The inspector just left and my electrical work was approved. My new tv mount is here so need to install that to hold the control panel. Need to find out where the water tap is outside for the chiller and get a longer hose for it. Still have to figure out how I'm connecting the RO equipment. I should probably order new filters while I'm at it. I think I'm also going to change out all my beer lines in the keezer as it's been warm for a couple of months now and hard telling what could be growing in them. Plus I want to brew my first belgian tripel and need a 21' dispensing line for that anyway and all I have now are 8 - 10' lines.

But, all in all things are moving in the right direction. First brew will be a rebrew of a Lemon Drop SMaSH beer after which I'd like to get that tripel going. Will probably follow that with a pale ale. Somewhere in there I'd also like to do a cider or two.

 

[jcav]

Congrats on getting the electric work approved!

John

 

[Roadie]

Thanks! Still a lot of things to do but I want to be brewing in a couple of weeks.