Questions tagged [circuit-breaker]
For questions generally relating to safety devices used to automatically stop the flow of electric current in the event of a fault condition. Use this tag for questions about fuses, too.
1,576
questions
2
votes
2
answers
50
views
Can I add an additional subpanel between my main panel and existing sub panel?
My main panel in on the side of my garage. It currently has 3 breakers:
Main breaker
A/C breaker
Sump pump breaker.
The main panel goes to a subpanel on the back interior wall of the garage which ...
- 183
2
votes
1
answer
80
views
What does the A stand for in the type designation for GE THQAL Breakers?
Are the (old) GE Type THQAL breakers allowed to be used in modern GE PowerMark Gold load centers?
What does the A stand for in the type designation? I noticed that it is for 60C wire. Is this the only ...
- 163
3
votes
2
answers
352
views
Troubleshooting a dryer throwing a breaker
About 5-6 years ago I bought a Samsung dryer, and at the time they installed it with a 3-conductor non-grounded power cord, because that was the kind of receptacle we had. Standard breaker, no ...
- 51
0
votes
0
answers
50
views
240Vac circuit breaker on 110Vac circuit [closed]
I'm wiring up a 110Vac circuit, and for various reasons I'd like to use a specific breaker. This breaker is rated for 240Vac circuits. Is it ok to use it for 110Vac circuits? It mentions that the 2 ...
BeB00
12
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Should a device with a non-polarized plug touching hot and ground trip a breaker?
I have the following:
a NEMA 5-20 receptable (typical 20amp grounded receptacle) mounted in an exposed work cover on a metal box fed with 12ga conductors through EMF.
a typical string of holiday ...
- 235
0
votes
1
answer
69
views
Wanting to add a 80 amp subpanel to my upstairs rooms. My house was built in the 1870's so electric was an afterthought
My house was built in the 1870's and the electric was an afterthought. Currently my 3 br upstairs is be fed by a single 20 amp breaker . I want to add an 80 amp sub to isolate the upstairs and have ...
5
votes
1
answer
60
views
Installing a new Aluminum branch circuit. Do I need to use antioxidant grease?
I am installing a new branch circuit for an electric range (current range is gas). The only difference between this and all the other electrical work I've done is this will be the first time I've ...
- 5,813
2
votes
2
answers
165
views
Which breaker controls the HVAC unit?
I want to inspect the thermostat wiring in my apartment. It's an old White Rodgers so I have to turn off the breaker before removing the thermostat housing.
My apartment has an HVAC unit that looks ...
- 173
0
votes
3
answers
49
views
Is there a minimum height for the electrical disconnect to a small sub-panel?
We built a new detached garage. As sub-panel was installed inside the garage at about 45" height. Now that its installation is completed, the inspector said the subpanel needs an electrical ...
1
vote
2
answers
113
views
Backfeeding a main breaker panel
Is the following allowed by NEC?
• A main breaker panel is used as a main panel in a house.
• The hot wires from the meter go to a breaker at an arbitrary branch location on the panel thereby ...
- 163
0
votes
2
answers
127
views
40 amp breaker needs to upgrade to 50amp, do I need to change the wiring?
I need to upgrade a 40amp to a 50amp. This 40amp supplies power to a sub panel that already has a 50amp breaker on it. How do I know if I need to change the wiring for the 40amp or if I can just ...
0
votes
3
answers
134
views
What do I do when my main panel does not have a main disconnect?
I believe this is the model number for my main panel: RC12L200C.
The breaker box is rated for 200 amp and lives under the meter, it feeds a 100 amp sub panel and three 240v circuits for appliances. ...
- 1
3
votes
1
answer
121
views
Question about my current electrical box
I just opened my electrical box for the first time and saw that the ground wire and neutral wires are connected to the same spot inside the box. Is this supposed to be this way?
I'm planning to ...
- 315
0
votes
3
answers
79
views
Breaker trips when it rains - any tips for locating?
I have a single 15A 1P breaker that trips every time it rains. This is a relatively new problem since I upgraded the main panel in my house from a very old one (that never had any breakers trip). ...
- 195
0
votes
1
answer
56
views
How to correctly wire my garage for outlets?
I am planning out some renovations to my Garage and I need some advice with what looks like really messy wiring!
I have one outlet on the left side of my garage. I want to add at least two more ...
- 183
1
vote
1
answer
77
views
30A double pole breaker has space on the panel but would only connect one circuit?
Thought I had enough space for a double breaker but then discovered that only one side is connectable? Which I’m guessing means I won’t be able to use it for a 240v dryer outlet.
This is a sub panel. ...
- 13
0
votes
1
answer
95
views
Why does my electrical panel have 2 different breakers for Dryer? [closed]
My dryer is labeled as a single 30 amp breaker and a 15 amp breaker. Is this a total of 45 amp at the outlet? Or is it 30 amp for heat and 15 for some other electrical function on the dryer?
- 1
0
votes
2
answers
91
views
Why my washing-machine trips the breaker when turned off?
My 7 year old LG washing machine seems to be tripping the breaker when turned off. Once the cycle is over, the machine turns off and then does not turn on again. I shut off the breaker 5 seconds, turn ...
2
votes
1
answer
50
views
MWBC and GE Spacesave dual-pole breaker spanning over different pole/phase
I have 3 multi-wire branch circuits. And two of the 3 set of MWBCs were each put on same phase. An oerloaded neutral has occurred on one MWBC. (It was actually the case of oxidation, not overload, ...
- 152
4
votes
1
answer
92
views
Are these Challenger Type C breakers and panel safe?
My understanding is that Challenger panels are safe, but some of their breakers may not be (or may even be recalled).
Panel
I have a family member with a Challenger SB10(20-20)CT panel that looks to ...
- 143
-1
votes
2
answers
81
views
Do I need to replace #14 wire on a 20A breaker in my garage? [duplicate]
Should I replace the 14/2 wire in my garage that powers two 15A outlets?
These junction off of a 12/2 main line that also powers outlets for garage door motor, plug in overhead LED lighting, and ...
- 1
2
votes
2
answers
86
views
Can I install a HEPD80 on a 40 amp 2-pole breaker
I bought a HEPD80 surge protector to install in an old 100A Pushmatic panel. It has 12 AWG leads and for installation as a Type 2 SPD the paper that came with it calls for a 20A 2-pole breaker; I also ...
- 123
15
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Why is the main breaker sparking in off position?
The power in several rooms has randomly gone out then comes back on seconds later. We consulted with an electrician that told us to replace the whole panel but we can’t afford $5000 to do that right ...
- 159
4
votes
4
answers
591
views
Are there advantages to running separate lighting circuits to my addition?
I'm wiring a 2-story addition to my house, each floor of the addition is a bathroom and closet.
I will be running two receptacle circuits, one for each bathroom, each protected by a GFCI receptacle, ...
- 37k
1
vote
1
answer
120
views
How do I connect a shop subpanel to the house main?
We have electrical service in the house that has a newly updated 200 A service. The service consists of GE PowerMark Gold 200 A 40/80 indoor breaker box model TM4020C80K. Service is provided into the ...
- 11
3
votes
3
answers
153
views
Use subpanel main breaker slot for outgoing circuit?
We have a small electrical subpanel with only 12 breaker slots. It's rated 125A, which is enough for all the circuits we want, but we will probably run out of slots when adding solar, induction range, ...
- 133
-2
votes
1
answer
75
views
Two switch breaker reads hot with Main power off [closed]
Reformatted question:
I have, with this same set up, and the question to still be asked, successfully (loosely termed) replaced a 2 prong 20 Amp breaker, and another seperate 2 prong 20 Amp breaker, ...
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
33
views
Thermostat to control electrical baseboard heater
I wanna install 8 electrical baseboard heaters. So I need 3 circuits so I won’t over load them. So I wanna know if there’s a way to just install one thermostat
3
votes
3
answers
154
views
Will my 125A electrical panel be sufficient for solar, heat pump, EV charger? [closed]
To my understanding, my main service panel is 125A with a breaker of 100A. My subpanel is 100A.
I'm in the design stage of installing solar but I'm planning later in the year to install a heat pump ...
- 31
3
votes
1
answer
163
views
What could have caused this failure in my main breaker?
These are photos of the inside of my main breaker. We had some power issues and have replaced the panel, which is 35 years old. This is a 200 amp breaker.
What could have caused this failure? Simply ...
- 257
27
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Why is there a jumper between these circuit breakers?
I was replacing defective/broken outlets in my folks' house this week, in preparation to sell it. So I went to the power panel and hit the appropriate breaker for the area I was working in. No problem ...
- 271
0
votes
3
answers
141
views
Upgrading panel and subpanel to have a Tesla Wall Connector charger (48amps)
I have NEMA 14-50 in my garage, and would like to install Tesla Wall Connector (TWC) using the same line. This is an upgrade in load for this line, as TWC can draw up to 48 amps and requires a 60 amp ...
- 281
1
vote
1
answer
69
views
Can I add a 14-50 outlet below this box with the available slot?
Can I add a 50amp breaker in this available slot and add a 14-50 outlet beneath the box for my EV?
0
votes
1
answer
43
views
I need to verify breaker size
I'm installing an older glasstop stovetop range.
GE model #JP960W0A1WW
I'm replacing old full stove unit w/ a 50 Amp breaker.
So w/ this glass top, do I need a 40 or 50 Amp breaker?
Thankx for your ...
- 1
9
votes
1
answer
122
views
Is my wiring plan for a bathroom with a whirlpool and macerator reasonable?
Could I get another set of eyes on this schematic? It's a standard bathroom, however I'm adding a whirlpool tub pump, a whirlpool heater, and a macerator unit for waste discharge. I've read the ...
- 151
3
votes
0
answers
83
views
Is it a violation of the Canadian Electrical Code to re-label circuits in my electrical panel?
I have an old house, and some of the labels for the circuit breakers are incorrect or extremely vague.
I have mapped out where the breakers actually go. I would like to use a label maker to print ...
- 141
8
votes
0
answers
132
views
GE Panel Tandem In Wrong Place
A relative just moved into an apartment. Much of it was recently renovated (new carpeting, new appliances, etc.) and in general the electrical seems to be in good shape, except for one receptacle with ...
3
votes
3
answers
122
views
What brand of circuit breakers can I use in my panel?
I need to replace a circuit breaker in this panel, and I've read that it's important that I get the right breaker for the panel. How do I tell what brand and type of breaker I should get? The only ...
- 705
12
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Can I run a 1300W heater on a 15amp circuit?
I have purchased a bathroom exhaust fan that also has a built-in heater.
The heater is 1300W and in the instructions manual they say to use a 20 amp circuit
However... the electrician just installed ...
- 305
7
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Load Center in Kitchen Cabinet
We just purchased a home built in 1965. The house is very small and the Federal Pacific load center is installed in a kitchen cabinet. I'm considering replacing it and moving it outside at generally ...
- 71
5
votes
2
answers
405
views
Cutler hammer breaker box installed in 79’
Would I be able to properly ground wire with this setup? Is the silver braided cable ground and how would I check it runs to a spike / water line ?
- 51
1
vote
0
answers
49
views
Samsung WF45K6500AV front load washer trips the breaker immediately when plugged in
3 year old Samsung WF45K6500AV front load washer trips the breaker immediately when plugged in - power on button isn't pushed so I have no chance to read an error code.
When connector CN11 is ...
- 11
1
vote
4
answers
219
views
can I run my sub panel from lugs in main breaker panel
I need to run a sub panel box right next to the main panel box to add am40 amp double pole breaker for a range.
I have seen where u can use say a 60 amp breaker and have the wiring coming from the ...
1
vote
3
answers
109
views
How to setup the ability to have an EV Charger in two locations for personal and guest use?
I recently saw this load-sharing product - NeoCharge that automatically shares power between something like a dryer and an EV on one outlet on one circuit. It’s really great how load management seems ...
- 117
8
votes
4
answers
797
views
20A Split Receptacles Using Tandem Breakers
I am planning on putting two 20A split receptacles in my shop, each powered by a 20A-20A tandem breaker. Can I have a split receptacle connected to one tandem breaker? Or does one one plug from each ...
- 181
0
votes
1
answer
137
views
Identifying breaker and wire size - 208-240 VAC | 11 KW | 48 amps | 1 phase
I'm wiring a steam generator for my shower and I'm not sure of what I'll need. Here are the specs:
INPUT VOLTAGE : 208-240 VAC
KW RATING : 11
AMPS : 48
PHASE : 1
Run 240V Power source to the generator
...
1
vote
2
answers
130
views
Why is my breaker tripping after replacing a light fixture?
House is circa 1920's; no knob and tube anymore but wiring with a fabric type insulation does exist in the ceilings that have not been opened up for renovation to date.
A new chandelier is being ...
- 11
0
votes
2
answers
116
views
30amp double pole breaker - safe to plug in bounce house?
Looking to rent a bounce house for our son’s birthday and it requires a 20 amp circuit. The exterior outlet we would use is on half of a double pole 30 amp breaker, the other half being our tankless ...
- 1
0
votes
3
answers
128
views
Can I replace a 30 amp double pole breaker w/ 60 double pole breaker for tankless? Breaker is tripping
I replaced 28 gallon water heater: E1F30LD035V, with a tankless: https://a.co/d/1HokO6G.
The tank was hooked up to 30 double pole breaker.. I thought that was good enough for the tankless, but it ...
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
37
views
Fused disconnect fuse size question
I am installing a steam generator. The unit draws 42 amps. I have a two pole 50 amp breaker at the service box per the instruction manual. Per the manual, The unit needs a fused disconnect at the ...
