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Do you need arc fault breakers if you put in a new panel in a old house?
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
If your jurisdiction is using a version of the NEC that requires arc fault breakers, then yes. Call your local building and planning department to see what revision of the code they are using.
The exception to this is that you cannot use arc fault breakers if the circuits in question are wired as multiwire circuits (two or more individual circuits sharing a common neutral) because the arc fault breaker won't work in that arrangement. You're not required to replace the entire electrical system just to change a load center, so in this circumstance you wouldn't need them.
If you're using the 2005 NEC, you only need arc fault breakers in the bedrooms. If you're using the 2008 NEC, you'll need them just about everywhere that isn't covered by ground fault breakers.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
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How many 20 amp double pole breakers can go into a 100 amp panel?
The provisioning of the breakers in a panel has a physical limitation regarding how many breakers will fit and a load calculation based on what devices the panel has to support. Your question really applies to both types of breakers. There are rules of thumb for sizing and populating the panel. This information is in the National Electric Code. If you have an existing panel and a new application requiring additional breakers for 220 Volt applications, the current draw in panel can be measured by an electrician and you will know what additional load you can support. If breakers fit physically in the panel, but connected devices exceed the total current capacity you will trip the main panel breaker. At this point you would need to get an electrician involved.
What size breaker do I need on the main panel to run a 2-60 amp breakers and 2-40 amp breakers on a sub panel?
You need to calculate how much the total current is likely to be at any moment. It's probable that the total load will be less than the sum of the individual breakers, 200 amps, but how much less depends on local conditions.
How do you add a circuit when panel is full?
That depends on the manufacturer of the breaker panel. Some manufacturers sell dual breakers that can be plugged in where one of your single breakers are now. You can also do an audit of current panel, ideally by a qualified electrician. You may have unused or underused circuits. For example if you had two 15A circuits that had a maximum aggregate usage of 5A, you could splice those circuits external to the main panel in a junction box (and wire to one breaker) and use the leftover breaker for your new circuit. In any solution you need to ensure that your panel service is compatible with the loads in your house. In some cases you may need to increase the size of your panel. Consult an electrician and ask for a free estimate.
How do you hook up a 15 amp breaker to a 60 amp box?
If by "60 amp box" you mean a 60-amp service panel (circuit breakers or fuses), you would generally get a 60-A panel that has several slots designed to accept a variety of compatible breakers, from 15A to 60A. If you have a "box" with no breakers, you would need another "subpanel", with wires from the 60A box to the new subpanel, and install one or more 15A breakers in the subpanel. If you don't need more than one breaker, you might also simply use a 15A disconnect panel with a single breaker in it.
Any problems with shared neutral for for 4 15 amp breakers each on dedicated circuits?
Yes. If it a residential home then you can only have two breakers per neutral and they need to be on opposite legs of your panel. If it is a commercial 3phase panel then you can only put 3 breakers on a shared neutral. Here's why. In your panel assuming its residential you have two power wires and one neutral and these power wires are called legs. If you attach two breakers on the same leg that is across from each other on opposite sides of the panel or skipping a space between breakers on the same side at 15A apiece you return on the neutral will not be balanced and you will have the possibility of 30A coming back to your panel on the neutral which will fry a 14 Awg or even 12 Awg for that matter and cause a fire. Now if the breakers are in tandem that is they have the breaker tie that connects two breakers together they will be on separate legs and then only will your breakers/circuits be balanced and it will be safe to share a neutral on. If two tandem breakers are connected to a single neutral and they are all 15A breakers your return would be 30A again because although your tandem breakers are balanced now you have two tandem breakers returning a potential 15A per two breakers and that adds up to 30A. The next problem you have is when you share a neutral as per the National Electric Code if one breaker trips the other breaker also sharing that neutral must trip so that when the power is off any current that could possibly return through the neutral wire will be cut off. So now this creates another problem with 4 breakers sharing the same neutral is now there is no way to get all four to trip at the same time if there was a ground fault (a short) or an overload. and someone could get nailed by any current coming back on the shared neutral. All the same applies for 3phase except there are 3 power wires and you can use 3 breakers with a 3 breaker tie instead of just two. You either need to run one neutral per tandem breaker or four neutrals for four circuits/breakers. Tandem breakers controlling two separate circuits are a pain because when one breaker trips they trip the other circuit also. Tandems are mostly used for two circuits going to the same appliance so that no power on either leg reaches the appliance when it needs to be off.
What should you do if your 200A breaker panel is full and you need to add three forty amp two pole singal throw breakers?
First you need to determine if addition of the new breakers will exceed the 200A service under normal operating conditions. If so you will need to go to power company and increase service and put in a larger main panel. If you have the capacity for the extra current you can add a sub-panel and add the breakers there as well as the breakers you will remove from main panel to accommodate the sub-panel breaker. Another way depends on what breakers are in current panel. There are some breakers that can be duplexed in the same space as a single breaker.
Should circuit breakers receive routine maintenance?
Breakers do not need routine maintenance. If the distribution panel is in an environment that allows dust or dirt to build up on the breaker faces, wipe the breakers with a dry cloth. If the distribution panel has a door on the panel face keep it closed.
Why does the main circuit breaker trip but not the smaller branch circuit breakers?
If the main breaker has ground fault detection, and the fault is a ground fault, then only the main may trip. Also if the fault is a direct short, the fault current may be several thousand amps, much greater than the trip point of both breakers. Breakers have an I^2T curve (current squared-time), which is an indication of how fast the breaker will trip at a given overload. When both breakers are overloaded, the breaker with the faster I^2T rating at that current level will trip first. This would be an indication that the breakers are improperly specified or adjusted.
What is the formula the breakers in panel?
There is no formula used to fill a distribution panel. The panel is loaded according to the circuits that are to be connected to it. After you have determining what breakers are needed always buy a distribution panel that has more slots than you need. The extra cost of buying a panel with more slots in it will pay for itself in the future if additional circuits need to be added.
Have existing a 125 amp main need more breakers spaces?
You can swap a single breaker for two mini breakers or you can add a sub-panel. If you only need a couple of extra circuits then just add mini-breakers.
How many 20 amp double pole breakers can go into a 100 amp panel?
The provisioning of the breakers in a panel has a physical limitation regarding how many breakers will fit and a load calculation based on what devices the panel has to support. Your question really applies to both types of breakers. There are rules of thumb for sizing and populating the panel. This information is in the National Electric Code. If you have an existing panel and a new application requiring additional breakers for 220 Volt applications, the current draw in panel can be measured by an electrician and you will know what additional load you can support. If breakers fit physically in the panel, but connected devices exceed the total current capacity you will trip the main panel breaker. At this point you would need to get an electrician involved.
What size breaker do I need on the main panel to run a 2-60 amp breakers and 2-40 amp breakers on a sub panel?
You need to calculate how much the total current is likely to be at any moment. It's probable that the total load will be less than the sum of the individual breakers, 200 amps, but how much less depends on local conditions.
Do you need a main disconnect on the feeder wires running to a detached garage running from the box in the house?
Yes you do. The detached garage will either be fed with a single circuit or a sub panel. The wire feeding the garage will need to be protected and that is the purpose of the breaker (disconnect). The breaker size will be determined by the size of the wire that is used on this circuit.
What type of wire do you need to run a 60 amp sub panel with 3 20 amp single breakers in the panel?
I would use 4 AWG copper to be safe.
How do you add a circuit when panel is full?
That depends on the manufacturer of the breaker panel. Some manufacturers sell dual breakers that can be plugged in where one of your single breakers are now. You can also do an audit of current panel, ideally by a qualified electrician. You may have unused or underused circuits. For example if you had two 15A circuits that had a maximum aggregate usage of 5A, you could splice those circuits external to the main panel in a junction box (and wire to one breaker) and use the leftover breaker for your new circuit. In any solution you need to ensure that your panel service is compatible with the loads in your house. In some cases you may need to increase the size of your panel. Consult an electrician and ask for a free estimate.
How do you hook up a 15 amp breaker to a 60 amp box?
If by "60 amp box" you mean a 60-amp service panel (circuit breakers or fuses), you would generally get a 60-A panel that has several slots designed to accept a variety of compatible breakers, from 15A to 60A. If you have a "box" with no breakers, you would need another "subpanel", with wires from the 60A box to the new subpanel, and install one or more 15A breakers in the subpanel. If you don't need more than one breaker, you might also simply use a 15A disconnect panel with a single breaker in it.
How many of the new split breakers are allowed in a two hundred amp panel?
Sizing what goes into a 200 amp panel whether it be split breakers or normal size breakers is based on the amperage values expected under normal use of the devices connected to the panel. For example if you could look at a continuous curve of usage you would see it vary throughout the day. This is because under normal living conditions you use you lights and appliances at different time. If you started to trip the main 200 amp breaker and the other breakers weren't tripping then you would need to increase your service from power company and add a new main panel. So giving you a count isn't possible. You could call in an electrician to measure your usage or just add the breakers you need and see if the main breaker trips.
