28
votes
Accepted
Should a device with a non-polarized plug touching hot and ground trip a breaker?
A normal breaker will not notice this particular error. You aren't drawing an unreasonable amount of current, it's just being returned along the wrong path.
A GFCI will trip.
- 21.4k
7
votes
Accepted
Are these Challenger Type C breakers and panel safe?
but is this panel safe?
Challenger panels are fine. Bryant picked up the bus design in the bankruptcy auction and used it for their BR line of panels, which is now Eaton BR.
It's filled with a bunch ...
6
votes
Why my washing-machine trips the breaker when turned off?
Household breakers do not automatically reset. Therefore, since a lamp plugged in to the same outlet works without touching the breaker, your washing machine is not tripping the breaker.
The problem ...
- 20.4k
6
votes
40 amp breaker needs to upgrade to 50amp, do I need to change the wiring?
Breakers from 15A to 60A are priced the same.
Therefore, the installer certainly used the largest breaker that is possible given the wiring they installed. In house wiring this is most likely 8 AWG ...
5
votes
Breaker trips when it rains - any tips for locating?
Any tips on how I can diagnose exactly where this wiring issue is?
Perhaps water is seeping into an electrical outlet/junction box or the panel.
Open the main panel and the boxes of all outlets / ...
- 15.2k
5
votes
What do I do when my main panel does not have a main disconnect?
There is no breaker in the meter. You have a Rule of 6 panel. I double-checked in the Schneider Electric web site and the datasheet specifically says "INSTALL NO MORE THAN SIX BREAKERS", ...
5
votes
Why does my electrical panel have 2 different breakers for Dryer?
If both breakers are single pole, you may have an issue that needs to be corrected.
If the 30A breaker is a 2 pole and the 15A breaker is single pole, your house might just have a circuit for each of ...
- 5,813
5
votes
Troubleshooting a dryer throwing a breaker
Actually, with a GFCI breaker, converting to 4-prong outlet is easy.
4-prong NEMA 14-30 socket. Connect ground to nothing!
4-prong dryer cord
Install cord according to the instructions (separate ...
5
votes
Wanting to add a 80 amp subpanel to my upstairs rooms. My house was built in the 1870's so electric was an afterthought
Presuming from context that you are in the US or Canada, you put one 40A two-pole breaker in the supply, which provides 40A @ 240V (9600W) to your subpanel, and then you can supply four 20A @ 120V (...
- 166k
4
votes
Should a device with a non-polarized plug touching hot and ground trip a breaker?
It seems to be right.
One of the no-no hacks for a broken neutral is to use the non insulated ground wire to make the circuit complete.
A lousy test for a breaker is to place a piece of metal(wire) ...
- 16.8k
4
votes
Accepted
Installing a new Aluminum branch circuit. Do I need to use antioxidant grease?
If it's mandatory, UL will require the instructions say so, and I believe UL also will require the terminals come pre-packed with it.
So check the instructions, and if it already has noalox, and you ...
4
votes
Which breaker controls the HVAC unit?
In a rental unit you need permission from the landlord to do any work. Legally the landlord can make claim to any appliance you install on the building.
To place a smart thermostat, you need to ...
4
votes
Which breaker controls the HVAC unit?
5/7 is labeled heat, but heat is actually a furnace of some sort which includes an air handler. That air handler is also used by the air conditioning on 2/4. To play it safe, turn both 2/4 and 5/7 off....
4
votes
Accepted
Can I install a HEPD80 on a 40 amp 2-pole breaker
Yes, that's fine. If it is approved for a Type 1 insulation that means you could put it on a 10,000 amp breaker if you wanted to.
Actually, Pushmatic terminals are UL-listed for 2 wires per breaker ...
4
votes
Can I install a HEPD80 on a 40 amp 2-pole breaker
The Installation Manual specifically says to use a 15, 20 or 30 amp 2-pole circuit breaker. Do not use a breaker larger than 30 amp.
- 49
4
votes
Accepted
Backfeeding a main breaker panel
If it were me, I would put in a 100A main breaker, assuming one is available, save the 200A for the future and be done.
This should be OK to do as you described. Devices to hold down branch breakers ...
4
votes
Accepted
Running a NEMA 6-15 plug off double pole 20A breaker
Depends.
You know how you go into a modern kitchen, and those are 20A circuits serving the countertop receptacles. But you look, and the socket are 15A sockets. Why is that?
Because, there is an ...
3
votes
Question about my current electrical box
That is correct and normal for a main circuit breaker box.
- 166k
3
votes
Accepted
30A double pole breaker has space on the panel but would only connect one circuit?
That panel comes in either a 6-space or 8-space variety.
The person who bought this panel could've bought an 8-space. Instead, they bought a 6-space and a latté.
I hope they really enjoyed that latté ...
3
votes
Is there a minimum height for the electrical disconnect to a small sub-panel?
There's a maximum height, NEC 404.8(a) - center of the grip of the operating handle not more than 2.0 meters (6'7") above floor level, but there is no minimum height defined in NEC. Possible but ...
- 166k
3
votes
Burned Circuit Board on GE Range
That looks like it will be an expensive board. Before fitting another, I would be checking as much as possible. Opening the door may have caused some internal movement that caused a short.
Minimum ...
- 1,403
2
votes
What does the A stand for in the type designation for GE THQAL Breakers?
I contacted ABB (who now make GE breakers) and this is the reply:
Not sure what the " A" stood for, but since the THQL replaced the
THQAL, should work.
- 163
2
votes
Troubleshooting a dryer throwing a breaker
Most likely this is a ground fault causing the GFCI breaker to correctly trip.
Theoretically, a truly properly installed 3 wire dryer connection will not trip a GFCI unless there is a fault from the ...
2
votes
Backfeeding a main breaker panel
Do they even make retainers that work with branch breakers in a main breaker panel? Or are the retainers only made for main lug panels where there is more of an expectation that the panel will be ...
2
votes
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 ...
2
votes
Accepted
MWBC and GE Spacesave dual-pole breaker spanning over different pole/phase
can I position a double-pole handle-tied switch to span over different phases, using a GE Spacesaver breaker?
Actually, it's mandatory.
NEC 110.3(B) requires you follow instructions and labeling. ...
2
votes
Burned Circuit Board on GE Range
does the burned circuit board indicate that I need to get a new breaker lower than 50A? I thought the point of the breaker was to trip before something like this could happen?
No
Circuit breakers ...
- 2,485
2
votes
Burned Circuit Board on GE Range
While the primary use of breakers is to protect wiring, they also protect appliances, but only to a limited degree. Appliances are supposed to be installed on circuits that are the correct size, and ...
1
vote
40 amp breaker needs to upgrade to 50amp, do I need to change the wiring?
The only way to know for sure is to check the gauge of the wire by inspecting it. Since the wire is visible at both ends (i.e. at main and sub panel), this is easy to do. The gauge is probably ...
- 127
1
vote
What do I do when my main panel does not have a main disconnect?
Harper briefly mentioned "a 200A breaker going onward to loads," but I thought the idea deserved a little more attention.
It appears you could install an HOM2200B or HOM2200 200-amp circuit ...
- 23.5k
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