Just nailed my first panel swap without calling the master for help

I was working on a 200 amp panel swap over on Elm Street last Thursday, one of those old Federal Pacific units that always makes you nervous. I had been dreading it for a week, but I took my time mapping out the circuits and labeling everything before I even touched a wire. Got the new Square D panel mounted and started pulling in the feeders, checking each branch one by one. When I threw the main breaker and started testing circuits, every single one fired up perfect. No shorts, no buzzes, nothing. It was a small job, maybe 5 hours total, but it felt huge because I did it start to finish solo. Has anyone else had a first big job like this that caught you off guard with how smooth it went?

2 comments

2 Comments

skyler_kim1528d ago

Holy crap, a whole 5 hours solo on an FPE swap and nothing went wrong?

oscar_hunt6128d ago

Yeah did you double check your neutral bonding before closing it all up? First solo swap is a big deal, especially with those old FPEs that seem to have like a secret hidden ground somewhere. I always take a picture of the old panel guts before I pull anything out, saved me a couple times when I got turned around on a messy install. That feeling when you flip the main and nothing pops or buzzes, just that hum of everything running smooth, its hard to beat. Nice work getting it done clean, that confidence will carry over to the next one.