Electrical – Cutting side entry hole in main breaker panel

electrical

All the main breaker boxes I could find had top or bottom feed entry from the service meter can. Besides being a pain to work with, is there anything wrong with drilling a 2" hole on the side of the panel where my lb box is to enter the panel with main feed wires?

I'm not sure how the wires will bend, but once they do there is plenty of room at the bottom of the panel to go up into the lugs.

The 2" hole will have sharp edges, but after installing the threaded Union and nut, there will be no sharp edges.

Best Answer

You can put a hole in a NEMA-1 enclosure, but if it is a NEMA 3R (raintight, outdoors) the conduit entry must be able to maintain the N-3R rating. The most common fitting is called a Myers Hub. This assures you from dripping water on live parts and that's why KO's are at the bottom and lower sides. Also any sharp edge must be bushed. I'm assuming that's you "threaded union" (not an electrical term).

As far as bending radius of conductors here's a link that may help. http://www.cooperindustries.com/content/dam/public/bline/Resources/Library/catalogs/meter_mounting_equipment/ring-type_metering/ed-minimumwirebendingspace.pdf

Its Tables 312.6 (A) & (B) of the NEC.

There's also NEC rules for conduit entry and bending radius that is Article 314.28 pretty much the whole thing. It may not be directly relevant but should be looked at for verification.