Some local electrical codes don't allow mini breakers, so check with local codes before you install them. As a general rule the total load of all breakers should not exceed the supply load of the main. As a general rule the total load of all breakers should not exceed the supply load of the main.
This is not a true statement . You will find that if you add up all the breakers, in most cases the total will exceed the main breaker total. On a 42 circuit board at 15 amp breakers the total will come to 630 amps. The way code looks at it is that not all circuits will be on at once and not all at full load. The main breaker only protects the service entrance wires. If the amperage of the main service wires becomes greater than that of the wire rating then the main breaker will trip.
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The maximum number of circuit breakers in a breaker box depends on the size and capacity of the box. Standard residential breaker boxes typically accommodate between 20 to 40 circuit breakers. Specialty or commercial boxes can have more, up to 80 or even 100 breakers.
It sounds like the panel-board is a CDP. A three phase central distribution panel can be filled up with three pole breakers. These types of boards are usually use for motor feeders to individual motor loads through out a commercial building.
No, you cannot add a 20 amp breaker to a main breaker if the total breaker amperage already exceeds the main breaker's capacity. In this case, your main breaker can only support up to four 150 amp breakers, which equals 600 amps, exceeding the 320 amp capacity. You would need to reconfigure the existing breakers to stay within the main breaker's capacity.
No, it is not advisable to use a 50 amp breaker with a 40 amp-rated appliance like a range. You should match the breaker size to the appliance requirements. In this case, you should use a 40 amp breaker, 8-3 NM wire, and a 40 amp range cord for the 40 amp max load range.
A continuous load on a breaker refers to a consistent electrical draw at or near the maximum capacity of the circuit over an extended period of time. This differs from intermittent or fluctuating loads, which have varying power demands. It is important to properly size breakers for continuous loads to prevent overheating and potential fire hazards.
No, using 10-3 wire with 30 amp breakers is not suitable for running a 225 amp arc welder. The wire size and breaker amperage should be appropriately matched to the current requirements of the welder to ensure safety and prevent overheating of the wire. In this case, a larger wire size and breaker amperage would be needed to support the 225 amp maximum draw of the welder.
If you plug a 30 amp appliance into a 50 amp breaker, the breaker will still function to protect the circuit from overheating due to excess current. However, the appliance may not draw enough current to trip the breaker in case of a fault, potentially causing damage to the appliance. It is generally recommended to match the amperage of the appliance to the appropriate breaker size.