Replace a Circuit Breaker Panel

Written By R. Smith

Pictured an old Murray Manufacturing Company combination meter socket & circuit breaker panel. There are still lots of these circuit breaker panels hidden in many south Philadelphia row homes. The biggest potential danger with this specific type of panel is that there is no way to shut off or disconnect power entering the property for a homeowner. Inside of this combination box is a busbar, (a constant piece of metal that travels from the top meter to the bottom breaker portion) that is energized all of the time. A qualified professional can shutoff distribution inside the home by pulling the meter out. However there is also a barrel lock that prevents that from happening easily. So the only true means to disconnect is by cutting the service drop from outside connections at the top of the house. A new replacement service will have a separate meter socket and a separate load center breaker panel with a main breaker disconnect. If you have this in your home consider having it replaced by an electrician.

R. Smith

Richard has cultivated a lifestyle of earning money and creating revenue as early as the age of nine. With early beginnings tied to the circulation of the Philadelphia Daily News and the Inquirer newspapers. Following in his father‘s footsteps with an entrepreneurial attitude many other circulatory endeavors became money making adventures. After a brief touch with automotive sales, the hands-on enthusiast trained and learned the electrical trade. With over 25 years experience in residential troubleshooting and new installations, Richard is always endeavoring on other new adventures as well. While this site pertains generally to the electrical field, there are many spiritual implications closely tied to personal growth; in both “power” related topics and his personal favorite of agricultural or horticultural related topics.

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