Replies

1. 
   brownbagg | Sep 21, 2002 07:44pm | #1

   buy a bigger box

2. 
   ahneedhelp | Sep 21, 2002 09:14pm | #2

   Swapping out the panel may be the easiest route.

   Homeline is the less expensive line of Square-D.

   Buy a 200amp 40/40 panel in their QO line, which gives you a full 40 spaces.

   If you look to the left of the Homeline display, you will see the QO models. (Assuming you bought it at Home Dump or Lowes.)

   You will need to buy the QO breakers as well as the breakers are not interchangeable.

   You may have to splice some of the ciruit wires when switching the panels.

   I have no advice on what to do with the Homeline panel and breakers....

3. 
   rjw | Sep 21, 2002 09:29pm | #3

   Can anyone suggest an idea to meet code.

   Listen to the electrician

4. 
   Gunner | Sep 22, 2002 01:49am | #4

   Dang hind sight being 20/20 and all, you shoulda counted your circuits ehh. The easist thing to do would be like suggested. Buy the right sized panel and trade em out.
1. 
   4Lorn1 | Sep 23, 2002 02:59am | #5

   Get a panel with a larger number of spaces. QO is a good choice. Take the Homeline back to the big box and see if they will put the refund on the new panel. No harm in trying. If they don't you will have a dandy panel for the barn.

   If the cables fed by the panel are not long enough to get the jacket into a connector on the new panel you will need to mount a junction box in an accessible location and run a new cable from the box to the panel. Any individual wires that are too short to reach their termination points should be spliced as needed. A new piece of wire in the same color and gauge spliced on with a good wirenut will do.

   The feeders will need replacing if you cannot get them into the new panel by at least 6" or so. Locating the new panel, if done with a bit of skill, should avoid this problem. If long enough to get in the panel insulated splice blocks would be my choice for extending the feeders. Check with the AHJ if they will allow splicing of the feeders.

1. 
   bubblehog | Sep 23, 2002 05:50am | #6

   Since you considered a sub panel, I assume there is space for it reasonably close to the main.  You may be able to use the sub-panel by pulling the "extra" cables out of the main panel to acessible junction boxes near the panel and splicing new wire to reach the sub panel- similar to what 4lorn1 suggested to ensure the circuits reach inside a new main panel.  For example, if the main panel is in a garage or basement and the wires all come from above, the junction boxes could go in a garage attic or between floor joists.  If you go this route, several circuits can be spliced inside a junction box-  just make sure the number of wires and connections is within the limits for the cubic inches in the box.

5. 
   JohnSprung | Sep 24, 2002 02:29am | #7

   Short of swapping out the box, the only other thing to do is go thru the entire electrical system and see exactly what loads you have on each circuit.  Then see if you can combine circuits, or cut some circuits into pieces that can be patched onto other circuits.  Get it all traced out and figured out on paper, both the as-is and the possible re-balanced version.  Then show it to your electrician for a code and reality check.  BTW, how big is the house?  Unless it's a monster, a 200 amp panel should be enough. 

   -- J.S.

   
   

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   Edited 9/25/2002 6:48:51 PM ET by JOHN_SPRUNG