11
votes
Can a breaker for a sub-panel be located at the bottom of the main panel?
The bus bars, bus stabs, in the main panel are rated for the maximum current allowed by the main breaker so where that current comes from doesn't matter. The 100 amp breaker can be at the top or the ...
- 78.7k
9
votes
Accepted
Can I use a larger bus bar in this panel?
Whoever put this in was really trying to pinch pennies. It is an 8-space panel that, except for the shorter bus bars, could just as easily be a 12-space panel.
In fact, it looks like Square D used the ...
6
votes
Accepted
Consolidation of many circuits from breaker panel using nearby junction box
In general this sounds good. A few things to watch for:
Required Circuits
Code now requires dedicated for circuits for a bunch of things:
Bathroom receptacles - generally one per bathroom, though ...
6
votes
Accepted
Do all circuit breakers move to the offset position when they shut off the circuit?
As others have already answered, often the breaker handle won't move. There are two big reasons for this:
AFCI, GFCI - Breakers with additional modes beyond overcurrent tripping will turn off in way ...
6
votes
240V Four Prong Outlet - Inconsistent Behavior
As I read your description, and this may just be an omission, I don't see you checking the torque on the receptacle wire connecting screws; I also don't see mention of using a torque driver on the ...
- 201k
6
votes
Can a breaker for a sub-panel be located at the bottom of the main panel?
Nope, that'll make you "zig" when you should've "zagged".
I heard one time that if you put large draw items on the bottom it can cause excessive heat to the buss bar and lead to ...
5
votes
Can I use grey PVC to go from breaker panel to underground run to hot tub?
In most jurisdictions the "down the wall outside" part needs to be schedule 80 as being "exposed to damage." So does the "up to the disconnect box" part. In-between, ...
- 201k
4
votes
Can I safely add a 50A EV charge circuit breaker to a 90A panel?
It seems like everyone who buys an EV gets handed a particular pack of misconceptions by the dealer and by people on the Internet. They almost never think about what you thought about, which is called ...
4
votes
Can I safely add a 50A EV charge circuit breaker to a 90A panel?
There are five issues here:
8/3 Romex for a 50A Circuit
Look at an ampacity table and you will find that 8 AWG Romex (a.k.a., NM-B) is only rated for 40A. You can use it with a 14-50 receptacle, but ...
4
votes
Can I safely add a 50A EV charge circuit breaker to a 90A panel?
Instead of using a "dumb" plug-in EV charger you can upgrade to a smart EVSE which has current probes you can put on the feed of your panel. That will let the EVSE throttle down the car's ...
- 11.6k
4
votes
240V Four Prong Outlet - Inconsistent Behavior
Pull and replace the breaker, they're cheap. Use the proper breaker for your panel, the types are not interchangeable, e.g. a BR, THQL or QP does not belong in a HOM panel.
I'm not at all happy with ...
4
votes
Accepted
Off Grid Solar System - 250 amps of Inverter capacity - What load center do I use?
Your options are...limited
Normally, at the 400A mark, one is dealing with commercial work, and thus is using a full commercial panelboard instead of a residential-style loadcenter; hence, 400A ...
- 81.7k
4
votes
Electrical Upgraded Wiring to Detached Garage? Future Proofing
Basically two separate issues:
Feed Circuit Size
This is determined by wire size. 90A is a common value because 2 AWG aluminum has a maximum capacity of 90A when used as a subpanel feeder. If you ...
4
votes
Accepted
Cause of lights flickering in one room, running dryer causes momentary power outage?
Possible Lost Neutral
In the US, power comes in to most houses on 3 wires - two hots and neutral. The voltage is 240V between the hots (well, sometimes 208V) and 120V between each hot and neutral. If ...
4
votes
Why can't I find a plug for inside a breaker box
North America answer.
In an oversized equipment or control cabinet, if work is performed within the cabinet often enough to make this worthwhile, you can assemble an outlet in a junction box within it ...
- 34.3k
4
votes
Can I use a 6AWG ground wire for a 100A feeder that has a section SER 1-1-1-3 and a section THHN?
Note ThreePhaseEel's comment about SER/ TC-ER dual rated cable,good to run without conduit inside a house, and also inside a conduit outdoors.
Any issues with using a 6 AWG Aluminum ground?
That's ...
3
votes
Can I safely remove the handle tie from a 2-pole breaker?
TL;DR Get 2 x THQP115 instead of 1 x THQP215
Half-size breakers are usually purchased in pairs. After all, you are usually getting them to put more stuff in your panel, and no one can eat use just one....
3
votes
How to Split 240v 50A circuit into 2x 120V circuits
The correct method for almost all conceivable uses of 50A at 120V is to use a sub-panel to power a number of 15 and/or 20 or in a few rare cases 30A single-pole breakers to supply the 120V loads on ...
- 201k
3
votes
Off Grid Solar System - 250 amps of Inverter capacity - What load center do I use?
Option 1: Get a 400A meter pan
Wire it exactly like a bog-standard 400A residential service, where the meter pan has double lugs for dual 250 kcmil wire, which then has double output lugs to split to ...
2
votes
Connecting 4/0 feed wires to a 200A Challenger Main Panel: Can I use these lugs?
No, you may not freelance feed-through lugs. You must use parts specifically listed or classified for your panel.
4/0 aluminum wire isn't rated for 200A at 75˚C terminations (the max terminal rating ...
- 5,773
2
votes
Panel Ground Wire Routing
Learn to use a pair of pliers to actually bend the end of the wire neatly into a 90 degree bend that doesn't take a trip around Robin Hood's Barn to get there.
That would, I suppose, fall under "...
- 201k
2
votes
Why can't I find a plug for inside a breaker box
If your breaker panel uses a DIN rail system (common in Europe) then you can easily find outlet that will fit on there.
In the american-style busbar design the convenience outlet is usually put in ...
- 11.6k
2
votes
Accepted
Max *possible* breaker height
Depends exactly where it is. The maximum height is "to the center of the handle in its highest position" - but if you don't use it, it's not there, so that is an option (but you might write ...
- 201k
2
votes
No power to circuit and breaker not tripped
no electricians available for a week
So plan "A" is to turn off the circuit breaker and wait a week.
In the meantime...
I was hoping someone with more electric repair experience
There's ...
- 3,730
2
votes
Correct wire size for main panel after automatic transfer switch install
Services to homes follow their own table
Services and feeders feeding an entire home ("dwelling unit" in Code-ese) use Table 310.12(A) in the NEC, which permits a 150A service to be run ...
- 81.7k
2
votes
Accepted
Is my new electric/subpanel plan correct?
It looks solid. The only thing I would suggest is a generator interlock in the new panel. Then you do one of two things. Either (with AHJ permission) use the generator interlock breaker temporarily ...
2
votes
How does arcing in an electrical panel cause fires?
or some kind of plastic that melts or chars but doesn't burn.
plastic burns
just look at all the pictures of burned plastic: https://www.electrical-forensics.com/CircuitBreakers/CircuitBreakers.html
- 775
1
vote
What conduits/nipples/bushings do I need to connect a 400a meter base to dual disconnects to dual 200a panels?
I'd use PVC here, provided the utility is OK with it of course
I personally would use 2" PVC for these nipples; this removes the need to bond the nipple at each end, and also removes a "...
- 81.7k
1
vote
applying duct seal inside electrical pvc conduit
There are a number of situations in which sealing of electrical and communications conduits may be required. These are usually focused on preventing liquids or gases from transiting through the ...
- 27.8k
1
vote
How to Split 240v 50A circuit into 2x 120V circuits
I am leaving this answer here because it applies to what I thought was the question - something like "I have an old 50A range circuit and I put in a gas range so now I don't need it but I'd like ...
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