Any issues with half height circuit breakers? The previous owner of the house I have, pulled out a dual 30amp 220 breaker that was previously used for an electric dryer and replaced it with 4 15amp half height breakers for various things.
Thanks in advance!
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Replies
Assuming they are in a panel (and section of the panel) that accepts them, and they are the right kind for the model of panel, no problem.
No reps are given regarding the quality of the circuits added by an amateur, of course.
With my mouth I will give great thanks to the Lord; I will praise Him in the midst of the throng. For He stands at the right hand of the needy, to save them from those who would condemn them to death.
- Psalms 109:30-31
Thanks rjw! I dont know who did the work in adding the breakers and the additional circuits. So far the electrical looks okay. I ran into a few outlets where the wires were inserted into the tab holes in back instead of using the screw terminals.
Right now I am trying to figure out which breaker controls what. There is a little chicken scratch on the panel label to provide a little direction but not much detail.
There is a theoretical limit to how many total breakers can be installed, sometimes listed on the label. Also, there may be obscure (and theoretical) restrictions on placing the half-height breakers adjacent to high-current breakers.
So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin
In addition to what DanH and others have said, look at the label on the door of the panel box. Most will have a drawing showing where on the buss mini breakers are allowed. They are generally limited to the bottom 4 to 6 spaces at the bottom of the buss. If they are not there, you may be over the limit of breakers for your panel size (buss capacity).
Might be time fore a panel or service upgrade.
Dave
They took out 60 A worth of breakers (2x30) and put in 60 A worth, (4x15), so is definetly OK.
Probably would not work if they had been replaced with 4ea 20 A breakers............
Just helping break in Plum72, a relatively new guy <G> and wanted to see what type responses this would generate.