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A sub-panel is always fed from a main panel. The main panel is situated where the electrical service wiring first enters the main structure on a dwelling plot or building site.

A sub-panel can be situated within the same building as the main panel or it can be in a subsidiary building or structure (such as a garage, garden shed or workshop) that is separate from the main building.

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A sub-panel is another name for a secondary breaker box, just as "the main panel" is another name for "the main breaker-box".

"Breaker-box" and/or "panel" are just alternative short names that are used instead of the full name "circuit breaker box".

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It's an electrical component box, separate from the main, that could contain anything from more breakers or fuses to switches, relays, timers etc.

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16y ago
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Q: What is a sub panel?
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How do you make floating ground in 100 amp sub panel Sub panel 30' from main panel and is grded to 2nd 10' rod wired to 1st 10' rod at the main panel. GFCI bkrs are nuisance tripping in bsmt location?

If the sub panel is in the same building remove the bonding screw that bonds the neutral bar to the panels enclosure. Remove the ground from the second ground rod. The sub panel is grounded by the ground wire from the sub panel's feeder. If the panel is separate from the main building treat the sub panel as a separate service. It will need its own ground rods and ground wire from the rods to the neutral bar of the sub panel. Leave the bonding screw in. There will be no ground wire in the conduit between the two services.


What size breaker do you use for a 100 amp sub panel?

A 100-A sub-panel would be fed from a 100-A breaker.


How do you connect 200amp from main panel to sub panel to the lug of the min panel to lug of sub panel?

Not exactly sure what your question is and you need to make sure you are in compliance with electrical code for your jurisdiction. But, generally speaking you install a large breaker (let's say 100A 2 pole breaker to power the sub panel) just as you would install any other breaker in the presently used (hot) panel, and the proper sized cable then goes from old to new and terminates on the main lugs of the new panel. Ground and neutral are usually isolated from each other in the sub panel but depends on other factors as to location of the sub panel, etc.


When would you want to upgrade the main electrical panel vs just adding a sub-panel?

Depending on how many breakers you have in your exisiting panel if you only have a old 6 or 8 circuit panel then I would suggest a new panel, In the newer building world where you have a 20 or 30 circuit panel then I would suggest a sub panel.


Can you put a 60amp breaker and a 50amp breaker on a 60amp subpanel just as long as they are not being used at the same time?

You can. Using these size breakers in a 60 amp sub panel might be pushing the limit for breaking the sub panels feeder breaker. The breaker feeding the sub panel will have to be no bigger than 60 amps because of the main bus bar capacity of the sub panel. It would be better to install a 100 amp sub panel and then there would be a bit of a buffer and you will have the ability to add additional small load circuits.