NEC 110.20 - Reconditioned Equipment

Or: "That Panel Came from WHERE?!"

The Street Translation

Look, we've all been there. The supply house calls: "Hey buddy, I got a smoking deal on some 'lightly used' gear..." Your GC is sweating the budget. Your helper's eyes light up like it's Christmas morning. But before you go dumpster-diving for electrical equipment or buying that switchgear that "fell off a truck," let's talk about what the Code actually says about used, refurbished, reconditioned, or "gently pre-owned" electrical equipment.

The bottom line? Yeah, you CAN use reconditioned stuff – the Code's not completely heartless about budgets. BUT (and this is a big electrician's-butt-sized BUT), you can't just slap some paint on a rusty panel, call it "vintage," and expect the inspector to sign off.

Here's the deal in language your apprentice can understand:

Reconditioned equipment is allowed – hooray for saving some money! But it's gotta be done RIGHT, which means:

Use the right parts, dummy. No Frankenstein panels cobbled together with parts from three different manufacturers and some creative wire-nutting. Replacement parts need to be "identified" (meaning proper, legit parts) from either the original manufacturer OR designed by an engineer who actually knows what they're doing with that specific type of equipment. Not your buddy Earl who "knows his way around a circuit breaker."
Standards matter. The reconditioning has to meet applicable standards. You can't just spray some WD-40 on it and call it good.

Key Takeaways (The Stuff That Actually Matters)

1. Reconditioned Equipment IS Permitted (unless specifically prohibited elsewhere in the Code)

Yes, you can save money on used gear
No, it's not the electrical version of the Wild West

2. Parts Requirements:

Must use "identified" replacement parts
Parts from original manufacturer, OR
Parts designed by qualified engineer experienced with that equipment type
"Identified" means proper, traceable, legit parts – not generic Chinese knockoffs from sketchy websites

3. Three-Tier System Based on Listing Requirements:

TIER 1 - Equipment REQUIRED to be listed (110.20(A)):

Must be listed OR field labeled as reconditioned
Must use OEM instructions if available
This is your most restrictive category

TIER 2 - Equipment NOT required to be listed (110.20(B)):

You get options! Either:
- Listed or field labeled as reconditioned, OR
- Reconditioned per OEM instructions
A little more flexibility here

TIER 3 - When all else fails (110.20(C)):

AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction – your inspector) can approve it
Reconditioner must provide documentation of ALL changes
This is your "Hail Mary" option

4. Documentation is KING:

Keep records of what was done
Know who did the reconditioning
Have paperwork showing it meets standards

Real-World Jobsite Scenarios

SCENARIO 1: The "Too Good to Be True" Panel

Your supply house buddy calls: "Bro, I got twenty 400-amp panels, smoking deal, came from a hospital renovation..."

WRONG MOVE: Buying them, installing them, and hoping the inspector doesn't ask questions. When he asks about the listing, you mumble something about "grandfather clause" (which doesn't exist for this) and hope he has amnesia.

RIGHT MOVE: Ask for documentation. Is it listed or field labeled as reconditioned? Who did the reconditioning? What parts were replaced? Did they use OEM parts and instructions? Get it in writing BEFORE you buy. Your inspector will ask, and "I dunno, Joe at the supply house said it was cool" isn't gonna cut it.

SCENARIO 2: The Motor Control Center Resurrection

Commercial job. Customer wants to re-use their existing MCC (Motor Control Center) but half the buckets are fried and it looks like it survived a small war.

WRONG MOVE: Your helper starts mixing and matching buckets from different manufacturers: "They're all the same size, boss!" No, Tyler, no they're not. This isn't LEGO.

RIGHT MOVE: Call a qualified reconditioning company that specializes in that brand. They'll use proper OEM parts, follow manufacturer procedures, and provide documentation. If the equipment is required to be listed (which MCCs typically are), you need it listed or field labeled as reconditioned. Yeah, it costs more than Tyler's Frankenstein approach, but it's also legal and won't burn down.

SCENARIO 3: The Inspector's Nightmare

You're doing a service upgrade. Homeowner wants to reuse his old panel. It's not required to be listed for this application (let's say it's ancient and grandfathered). You open it up – it's crusty, some breakers are sketchy, but the bus looks okay.

OPTION 1: Get it reconditioned per 110.20(B)(1) – listed or field labeled OPTION 2: Follow OEM instructions for reconditioning per 110.20(B)(2) OPTION 3: If you can't do either, document EVERYTHING you do and submit to the AHJ per 110.20(C) for approval. Take pictures, write down what you replaced, what standards you followed. Make it a college thesis on panel reconditioning.

WRONG MOVE: Just throwing new breakers in and crossing your fingers. That's not reconditioning – that's wishful thinking.

SCENARIO 4: The Field Labeled Mystery

You buy equipment that's "field labeled as reconditioned." Great! But do you know what that means?

It means a qualified third-party testing lab (not "Billy's Testing Services" operating out of a van) has evaluated that specific piece of equipment and verified it meets the applicable standards as reconditioned equipment. There's a label on it proving this happened. Keep the paperwork with that label number!

What to Study (For Those Taking the Test)

If you're cramming for your journeyman or master's exam, here's what they LOVE to ask about 110.20:

1. The Three-Tier System ⭐⭐⭐ (HIGH PROBABILITY)

Know the difference between equipment that's required to be listed vs. not required
Understand when each option (110.20(A), (B), or (C)) applies
Memorize that (B) gives you TWO options while (A) is more restrictive

2. Parts Requirements ⭐⭐⭐ (HIGH PROBABILITY)

"Identified replacement parts" – know what this means
Original manufacturer vs. engineer-designed parts
This is a favorite "gotcha" question: "Can you use any compatible breaker?" NO!

3. AHJ Approval ⭐⭐ (MEDIUM PROBABILITY)

When is AHJ approval an option? (When 110.20(A) or (B) aren't available)
What documentation is required? (Changes to the product)
They love asking about documentation requirements

4. Definition of "Reconditioned" ⭐⭐ (MEDIUM PROBABILITY)

"Restored to operating condition" with proper parts and standards
Not the same as "used" or "as-is"
They might give you a scenario and ask if equipment meets the reconditioning definition

5. Listing and Field Labeling ⭐⭐ (MEDIUM PROBABILITY)

Difference between "listed" and "field labeled"
Both are acceptable for reconditioned equipment
Who can do field labeling? (Qualified testing labs)

EXAM TIP: When you see a question about reconditioned equipment, first ask yourself: "Is this equipment REQUIRED to be listed by the Code?" That determines whether you're in 110.20(A) or 110.20(B), which completely changes your options. If the question says "required to be listed," you MUST have it listed or field labeled as reconditioned – following OEM instructions alone isn't enough.

MEMORIZATION TRICK: Think "A-B-C = Always Better Certified" for equipment required to be listed, but "B for Both options" when it's not required to be listed. And "C for Can the inspector approve it?" when you're out of options.

The Inspector's Perspective

Your inspector sees this stuff all the time, and here's what makes them reach for the red tag:

❌ Mystery meat equipment with no documentation ❌ Mixed manufacturer parts creating unauthorized hybrids ❌ "Reconditioned by my uncle" without any supporting paperwork ❌ Equipment that looks "reconditioned" with a spray paint and a prayer ❌ No listing or field label when required

What makes them happy:

✅ Clear documentation of the reconditioning process ✅ Proper labels (listing mark or field label) ✅ OEM parts or properly engineered replacements ✅ Standards compliance that can be verified ✅ You asking questions BEFORE installation, not after they red-tag it

The Bottom Line (What Your Foreman Would Say)

"Look, I get it – budgets are tight, customers want to save money, and that 'like-new' panel looks pretty tempting. But reconditioned equipment isn't a shortcut, it's a different path with its own rules. Do it right: get proper documentation, use legit parts, follow the manufacturer's instructions, and make sure it's listed or field labeled if the Code requires it. When in doubt, call the inspector BEFORE you install it. A ten-minute phone call now beats a failed inspection and ripping everything back out later. And for God's sake, stop letting your apprentice build Frankenstein panels in the shop – that's not reconditioning, that's a felony."

REMEMBER: Just because something is OLD doesn't mean it's automatically RECONDITIONED. Reconditioning is a specific process with specific requirements. That rusty panel from 1973 sitting in your warehouse isn't "vintage equipment" – it's just old. Big difference, and the inspector knows it.

Now get back to work, and stop trying to pass off garage sale finds as "reconditioned equipment." This ain't 'American Pickers' – it's the National Electrical Code!

⚡ Stay safe, stay legal, and when in doubt, ask the manufacturer or the inspector. Your license is worth more than the money you'll save on sketchy used gear.