Below are the recommended steps to perform on site to gather existing Electrical system information.

Start from outside.

Look for meter or meters outside.

1 - meter pic

Sometimes there are more than one.

2 - multiple meters

Sometimes they may be hiding.

3 - meters hiding

 

From there, determine if the building is fed via underground or overhead.  This is important in case the service capacity needs to be increased.

4 - fed via underground or overhead4 - fed via underground or overhead II

Overhead service is easy to modify with less cost to owner.

5 - Overhead service less cost to owner    5 - Overhead service less cost to owner II

5 - Overhead service less cost to owner III

Now determine the building electrical characteristics.

Sometimes, if you are lucky, it can be found on the side of a utility transformer.

6 - building electrical characteristics

 

Now determine the building electrical characteristics.  Most of the times, it can be assumed from service disconnect switch nameplate.

7 - service disconnect switch nameplate   7 - service disconnect switch nameplate II

 

All else, it can also be determined from the panels inside.

8 - inside panels

Now that we know what the building system is, we need to find out the capacity available to the building.

In this case, it’s relatively easy to find out what it might be.

Suite # is labeled on each meter, which is directly connected to each disconnect switch.

9 - available capacity to the building

 

However, most of the time, we are not that lucky.

Nameplate will be worn out and not legible, and may need to open the disconnect switch to see what the amp rating of the fuses are.

However, we do not recommend doing this, so Don’t Do It!

10 - not that lucky

We can also estimate the service capacity to each space with the size of conduits to each tenant space or the physical size of the disconnect switches…

e

 

Also can be determined from panel or switchboard nameplate.

12 - from panel or switchboard nameplate

But the size of the panel or switchboard does not necessarily means the capacity of the building. Good assumption, though.

13 - from panel or switchboard nameplate II

The best way to find the capacity is to find the main breaker at the main service entrance equipment.

Main Electrical Room

15 - main electrical room   15 - main electrical room II

15 - main electrical room III

…Other times, you may have to take multiple pictures to get overall picture.

15 - main electrical room IV  16 - main electrical room close ups V

15 - main electrical room VI

 Main Electrical Room

16 - main electrical room close ups 16 - main electrical room close ups II

 

…then take close up shots of each panel including the panel schedule.

16 - main electrical room close ups III  16 - main electrical room close ups IV

16 - main electrical room close ups V

Other equipment

Don’t forget about the transformers. On floor and overhead.

Also take close up of the name plate.

18 - fire alarm panels   17 - other equipement II

17 - other equipement III

Other equipment

17 - other equipment 21 - battery charger21 - HVAC Equipment

 

 

Overall Space

22 - Overall Space  22 - overall space II

17 - other equipement III

 

 Site Notes

23 - Site notes  site notes II

24 - site plan

 

 

 

 Conclusion

1. Utility Information

2. Building Electrical System – Voltage, Phase

3. Electrical system capacity – Amps

4. Distribution Equipment – Switchboard, panels, disconnects

5. Other Equipment – HVAC, Plumbing, etc.

6. A lots of pictures IN FOCUS.