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If you have a 200A service panel is it true that you actually have 400A because you have two legs because your breakers add up to more than 200A?
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
The short answer to your question, is "yes" if you are talking about 120 volts. The panel is rated 200A @ 240v. In reality, service panels should be rated in watts (or kilowatts) We are charged by watts and we use electricity in different combinations of volts and amps, but watts remains a constant. (hence the reason we are charged by that value) So, as you noted, there are two legs, that each pass through a pair of interconnected 200 amp breakers. With 240v appliances, power is tapped from each leg, so at no time can 200 amps be exceeded. But with 120v appliances, power is tapped from one leg and terminated to the neutral leg. It is possible to draw a total of 400 amps from both legs, to the neutral. (actually, it's more complicated than that, as the neutral would never see more than 200 amps, and power is actually being routed in series between loads of each leg, so in reality it's still only a max 200A at 240v)
So, for further clarification, let's get back to the watts thing. Watts can be calculated mathematically. Watts = volts X amps. So 240v times 200A equals 48,000 watts. That is your service panel's rated wattage. Now, the math can be reversed. 48,000 watts divided by 120v equals 400A.
A simple way to present the question would be, "Could you have twenty 20 amp single pole circuit breakers at full load in a 200A service panel?" The answer would be, "yes."
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∙ 15y ago
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If you have a 240V dryer and installed 30A breakers on both sides of the line reads 120 and 120 how do you get 240 and you have a receptacle that reads 30A 125250 and still does not work?
you do NOT put two 110v breakers in. you put 1 two pole breaker in. the panel is designed to give you 220v off one side OR the other side if you use a 2 pole breaker on one side or the other side. If you look at both 120V lines on an oscilloscope you will notice that they are both 120V to the neutral, but they are 180 degrees out of phase. This means that when one hot is at +120V the other is at -120V. So between the two you have 240V. If you put your meter across both hots you should see 240V. If you do not see 240V across both hots you (or an unlicenced electrician) has wired the outlet without using a proper 220V breaker. You do not see 240V because the hots are in phase, to the voltage differential is 0V, not 240V. 220V breakers cannot do this, unless forcebly installed in the wrong type panel. More than likely someone tried to wire it with 110V breakers.
If you change out a 60amp meter with a new 100amp meter would the wiring still be big enought to carry the 100amp?
No, on a service change all the wires have to be able to carry the current of the highest rated device. There are tow cables associated with your question. The one from the pole to the meter and the one from the meter to the main electric panel. The one to the meter is the responsibility of the power company and may well be large enough. Since it is in free air its current carrying capacity is not de-rated in the same way as the cable from the meter to your main panel. Since you will have to likely upgrade your main panel it is a good idea to replace the service entry cable to 100 A rating.
Where can i find thund'r blast it is a cleaning product?
You can help possibly get Thunde'r Blast back on the shelves of your local Dollar General Stores by emailing them from their website at www.dollargeneral.com. From their homepage go to Our Stores on panel at left, then customer service, then frequently asked questions and there you will find an email link to customer service. You really have to look for it so don't give up. Blast 'em. You can help possibly get Thunde'r Blast back on the shelves of your local Dollar General Stores by emailing them from their website at www.dollargeneral.com. From their homepage go to Our Stores on panel at left, then customer service, then frequently asked questions and there you will find an email link to customer service. You really have to look for it so don't give up. Blast 'em.
What is the abbreviation for MCC?
motor control centre panel
Where can one purchase a Panel meter?
One can purchase a good panel meter from eBay or they can also purchase it from Amazon. Also, they can be purchased from an electronic store such as Radio Shack.
Can you use mini breakers instead of regular breakers?
Yes, but only use them if absolutely necessary and I would never install more than one set of min-breakers in a service panel. Otherwise you can overload the panel.
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.
Must arc fault breakers be used in a reconstruction project?
Yes, if you are replacing the service panel.
What is a branching circuit?
Each of the circuit breakers in the service panel controls electricity on a branch circuit. A branch circuit is typically a loop of wire that runs from the service panel, out to receptacles, light fixtures, appliances, etc. and back again.
Electrician said that he would add 2 new circuits so that the breakers wouldn't trip. How do I know he actually did that if there wasn't any new circuit breakers installed in the panel?
He may have installed Tandem breakers. Tandem breakers allow you to fit 2 breakers into one standard breaker slot. They are slimmer in design to allow for this.
Should an electrical outlet box protrude or be recessed relative to the wall?
Are you talking about recepticale boxes that you plug a device into or service panel that the breakers are in?
Name of the legend identifying the breakers inside an electrical panel?
The panel schedule.
Will GE breakers fit a Murray panel?
No, they will not work. Use only Murray breakers for safety.
Will siemens breakers pass inspection on gould panel box?
As long as the breakers are made to fit the box, there shouldn't be a problem. you can only use breakers listed for the panel, there should be a label on the panel door. It will list all of the breakers approved for use in that panel. If you don't see the breaker by manufacturer name listed, then it should not be used. Lots of brands will interchange, but they have to be listed to be approved.
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.
Will zinsco and gte circuit breakers interchange?
To my knowledge Zinsco/Sylvania breakers are the only breakers that will fit in a Zinsco panel. My recommendation as a journeyman electrician is to have your panel changed out. Those panels are old and outdated, not to mention replacement breakers are expensive. Most newer panels, and breakers are the cost of about 2 replacements.
How are quad circuit breakers used?
This would typically be seen in older residential installations where the service was of such a high amperage that the mains required larger breakers than were available (for that panel). Placing two breakers in parallel allowing sharing of the load. Two breakers per (split) phase would total four breakers. Two breakers of 50 amp rating each (in parallel) provide (generally) 100 amps of protection. Two sets of two would provide mains protection for a 200 amp service.
