I am having a debate with myself as to whether or not to replace my main panel with larger one, or to add a subpanel and relocate some circuits or some other option.
Here’s the deal – I have a full 30 space CH main w/ 200A service. Off of that I have 2 100A subpanels in series – so 1st sub feeds a few circuits in my finished basement, and then feeds another 100A sub in my detacted woodshop (hobby). Anyhow, I am doing a full house (18 yo house) remodel which entails quite a bit of electrical work that I am doing myself (everything gets inspected). House has oil heat & HW, so I am not overloaded service wise, just contrained with space AFAIK.
Much of the remodel is moving kitchen from one part of the house to the other, which is a lot of circuits. Plus 1989 electical code leaves something to be desired when it comes to 2006. How difficult is it to swap a main service panel with a new, larger 40 space panel? Can I pull the meter myself, or do I have to get the POCO to do it? Or, since I likely have to tear up the drywall surrounded in the main panel anyhow, would I be better off adding another sub off the main and moving some circuits around? My other option would be to pull a few more circuits from the main and move to the existing basement sub, but the location would require a whole lot of work to do that.
Advice?
Replies
depending on the panel you might be able to get narrow breakers. there skinny or have 2 circuits in the place of 1. check with your electrical dist.
Tmaxxx
Urban Workshop Ltd
Vancouver B.C.
cheers. Ill buy.
check with your local electrical inspector before you go with half-height/doubled up breakers. mine will only allow those in a repair situation, and would probably ask you to pull out your calculator and the NEC to find if you should have put in a whole new service so that you can handle the additional load of the kitchen.
Like I said, I have 200A service, and my load calc (which I just did for giggles) is only 125, and thats including a hot tub that I don't even have yet. So, I have plenty of capacity, just low on space.
After thinking about the situation a bit more, I think I am going to relocate some of the new kitchen circuits to the basement sub since it is close physically to the kitchen and has about 12 or so free spaces.
As to the twin breakers, I generally avoid them if possible.
One thing I forgot - here is a link to a good resource for doing a quick load calc:
http://www.taunton.com/finehomebuilding/pdf/Service_Feeder_Calculations.pdf
Edited 6/8/2006 2:05 pm ET by Tbakes
Twins? or 1/2" if the panel accepts them why would you not want to use them?
Look a little closer and you'll find the 1/2" are acceptable, especially with the excess power you say you have.
I would turn everything on and check the load. Carefully inspect the lines for overheating. Feel the main to see if it is hot and check the drop across the main, bus and lugs. If the panel has issues, like the main, feed, lugs or busses being shot or overloaded, it would shift the balance toward replacemnt. If I could easily isolate circuits to guage use I might look to see if any circuits could be combined. Sometimes there are rooms that have more amperage than they need. If there is no sign of overload or heating I would likely install a tandem breaker and have done with it. If this was just a singular occurrence it would get you by in good order. If there was reason to believe that several more circuits will be needed in a short time or the circuit being added was a large draw I would be tempted to go with a sub-panel.If the existing panel was tight, old or in poor condition replacement and/or and upgrade might be the way to go. How practical and/or expensive this might be is a matter of distances between the panel and the meter and access mostly.
My first choice is to use the twin breakers. A lot of 200 amp panels have 30 spaces but room for 40 breakers. Pull of a couple of breakers from the top and bottom of the panel. The bus will look slightly different (have a small notch in the center) to allow the twin breakers. It should also state on the cover some place.
If it is a 30 space/30 breaker panel you may be able to get a 30/40 panel and just swap the guts. This would be my second choice if drywall repair is involved. Look up the CH web site.
My last choice would be to install a new sub panel.
If you're dead set against twin breakers then you'll have to install a new panel of some sort or move you're circuits to a different panel.
Tim
I think it is a 30/30 - I can't find it on the Eaton / CH website since it is 19 years old. The model is CH30B200JJ. That indicates 30 circuits. I pulled a few breakers, and I couldn't see a difference.
I think I am ok with putting a few of the new circuits on the basement sub and that way have room on the main panel to install a whole-panel surge protector. I need to open up the drywall for the new wall oven wiring anyhow since current code calls for 3 wire + ground instead of the old 2+g SEU that I have from the previous electric range.
I do appreciate all the advice though!