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Monday, August 29, 2022
Question:
Greetings CQD, my house was built in 1962. The service panel was in the garage where the electric drop was located. In the early '70s, the garage was converted to a bedroom, with the service panel then located in a "powder room". I purchased this house in 2019, with the above conditions. Do I have to have the service panel moved? I want to add PV Solar to my house. In Tennessee, EMT is not used and all wiring is NM Cable. I think this would be an over $15K project to relocate the service panel. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Kenneth Maslowski
A
Answer:
Hello Kenneth, thank you for your question. We do not comment on the cost of a project or repair, however, we can provide some guidance on the code questions. In general, the National Electrical Code (NEC) applies to new installations and is only applied retroactively if a code section specifically requires a retroactive application. Under the current 2020 edition of the NEC, Section 240.24(E) prohibits overcurrent protection devices like branch circuit breakers, from being installed in the bathroom of a dwelling unit. It is always advisable to check with the local AHJ as many jurisdictions have specific rules that apply to existing electrical installations.