Electrical Help...

[vivalanation734]

So I basically have a live 220v connection in my backyard left from the previous owner. They had an extra AC unit, but left the cables behind, uncovered and live.

I can get to the breaker box to shut of the wire to cap it off, but I'm not comfortable opening the box to remove the line from the breaker itself. So my question is... can I shut off the power, use a wire nut to cover each line and use electrical tape to secure it and then turn the main power back on?


thanks for the help.

 

[Rode Weary]

Let's get our nomenclature straight first.

There is a breaker panel inside the house. An AC unit should have a "disconnect" outside where the wires come through the wall. If they removed the disconnect or if it never had one, that's another issue.

Ideally you would have a 220v two pole breaker inside the breaker panel dedicated just for the outside AC unit. It should already be turned off. Then the wires would run to an outside disconnecting means, think an old knife switch, and then to the AC unit through a flexible conduit.

So, breaker off, wires dead. Taped would be fine, temporarily. If there is still a disconnect, breaker off, disconnect off and remove the wires from the terminals and remove the flexible conduit.

Now, can you check the wires to see if the electricity is still on? Do you have a tester? If not, assume they are at all times working with them. :drool:

 

[James]

Agree completely with the above. However as an electrician I see people hook things up themselves ALL the time and ignore things such as disconnects. If that is the case and you aren't comfortable removing the wires from the breaker live there is a main breaker for your panel that will kill everything below it. Take the wires off the 220 breaker and cut them as short as you can, problem solved.

 

[James]

If you would like to PM me and we can chat on the phone and you can send me pics of what you have and I'll tell you the best solution. Without seeing it I can't say exactly.

 

[vivalanation734]

Ok. I'll try and post some pics later. We have an outside (main in) box and a box in the garage that controls the house. The old wires are connected to the outide/main box, which does not appear to have a main breaker that would kill all the breakers except for the main power coming in. (I think that makes sense?)

I do have a wire tester that tells me if current is running, so I can verify if the power is off.

 

[vivalanation734]

Here are pictures of the outside box.

The orange cable is the cable the eventually ends up in my backyard with the exposed ends. How safe is it to take off the panel if need be?

 

[zama80]

Ryan, if you electrocute yourself I call dibs on your wineadore and all its contents.... You know... Just in case... Wouldn't want them to go to waste or anything

 

[Mythsmoker]

It's safe to take the cover off if you're comfortable doing it. To be honest from what you've posted I'd suggest calling in someone with more experience, aka an electrician, to do this. It make cost you a couple bucks but it'd be worth it for your safety and the protection of your property. Just my opinion though.

 

[Rode Weary]

That's a romex cable, probably 12-2 or 14-2 by the looks of things. It's not sized right to the breakers. The smallest is 40 amps. So, you have that going for you. Plus there's other things wrong there. No need to worry since you want to get rid of it.

To do this right, you'll need to take the cover off of the panel to access the internal wiring. Visually trace the orange wire and shut the breaker off that it goes to. You can then loosen the screws on the breaker and remove the wire. Remove the bare or green wire from the ground bar, if they even hooked it up. At that point, you can gut the entire wire out of the panel. Close it up and remove the wire all the way outside. Recycle.

If at all possible, find the breaker in your main panel that feeds this sub-panel and shut it off so there's no possibility of you getting hurt. If you are at all nervous about this, make friends with an electrician. Buy them a donut. We like donuts. Or a cigar. Cigars are good. Have them do it. Relax.

 

[James]

That's a romex cable, probably 12-2 or 14-2 by the looks of things. It's not sized right to the breakers. The smallest is 40 amps. So, you have that going for you. Plus there's other things wrong there. No need to worry since you want to get rid of it.

To do this right, you'll need to take the cover off of the panel to access the internal wiring. Visually trace the orange wire and shut the breaker off that it goes to. You can then loosen the screws on the breaker and remove the wire. Remove the bare or green wire from the ground bar, if they even hooked it up. At that point, you can gut the entire wire out of the panel. Close it up and remove the wire all the way outside. Recycle.

If at all possible, find the breaker in your main panel that feeds this sub-panel and shut it off so there's no possibility of you getting hurt. If you are at all nervous about this, make friends with an electrician. Buy them a donut. We like donuts. Or a cigar. Cigars are good. Have them do it. Relax.

What he said . No worries doing exactly what Rode says and if you are comfortable doing it go for it.

 

[Mythsmoker]

Isn't orange Romex 10's? Which is a bit better on a 40 amp breaker than 12-14. And I second the donut idea.

 

[vivalanation734]

Hmmm... ok. I might give it a go tomorrow. If I see my neighbor that helps me with all of my DIY questions, I'll give him a donut in your honor.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[James]

Bottom line viva is that someone, not knowing what the proper way to add a circuit is, went as cheap as possible. One thing that i did notice that concerns me is the 100 amp 2 pole breaker, never seen one on anything but commercial installation, or main breakers. I don't know what all is on the circuit, unless it has #2 feeding a sub panel or your whole house it might be worth hiring someone to just come and look things over.

 

[Mythsmoker]

That 100amp may be acting as a main breaker. I've seen it done before. Use it to back feed the panel, not the smartest thing but a possibility.

 

[vivalanation734]

That 100amp may be acting as a main breaker. I've seen it done before. Use it to back feed the panel, not the smartest thing but a possibility.

Wouldn't surprise me. The original older wasn't the smartest DIYer...

 

[James]

I was thinking the same thing lol. IDK what the codes are in FL but none of that would fly in CO unless it was never inspected lol. I'd have everything looked at just for piece of mind.

 

[Alwayslit]

I was thinking the same thing lol. IDK what the codes are in FL but none of that would fly in CO unless it was never inspected lol. I'd have everything looked at just for piece of mind.

.......ths

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