Hello all,
Had the electrician over the other day to check out my upstairs and give me an estimate on the job. He recommends going with a subpanel upstairs. I like the idea as it should make doing the job easier.
Any advice on the specs or code for where to place the panel upstairs? How about the number of circuits or amps? Any advice would be appreciated.
PS Would you recommend getting a GFI circuit breaker for the bathroom, namely for the Jacuzzi, or would you just use regular GFI outlets.
Thanks Turtle Boy
Edited 6/4/2003 11:59:27 PM ET by turtle
Replies
GFI for the bathroom and jacuzzi (where ever it is located) is code.
Do it right, or do it twice.
GFCI function is required by code, but the acutal device can either be in the sub-pannel for any other "accessible" place.
And while a GFCI in a closet is OK by code it often causes lots of problems when it trips and no one knows where it is.
My though is that a GFCI should be near the load and with reasonable access. If that is not practical then a breaker GFCI at the pannel.
The electrican would be the one best know the size of pannel that you should have, but allow for some expansion.
The only problem with an upstairs pannel is finding a place for it. It can NOT(edit) be in the bathroom or in a clothes closet. And it needs certain side and front clearnace. Probably the best location would be someplace where you have a door that is normally kept open and put the pannel behind the door.
Edited 6/8/2003 1:19:55 AM ET by Bill Hartmann
I interpreted the question as to the need for gfi protection, not the location of the protector. Hey, it was late at night :)
Do it right, or do it twice.
Re: "The only problem with an upstairs pannel is finding a place for it. It can be in the bathroom or in a clothes closet. "
Unless I completely misunderstand it the NEC specifically prohibits placing overcurrent devices, breakers in this case, in either bathrooms or closets.
2002 NEC. Article 240, Overcurrent protection. Article 240.24 , Location in or on premisis.(D) "Not in vicinity of easily ignitible material. Overcurrent devices shall not be located in the vicinity of easily ignitible material, such as in clothes closets.(E) "Overcurrent devices, other than supplementary overcurrent protection, shall not be located in bathrooms as defined in Article 100."
Then again it seems more likely that you just left a "not" out of your original post. A simple communication problem. Maybe you hadn't gotten your second cup of coffee.
I would think that, discounting any outstanding or planned future needs or requirements, that a 60A panel would easily do it.
I agree that the GFI is required for the Jacuzzi. NEC Article 680.71.
Thanks for catching that.
I seem to have a problem where I think out the sentence and am on the next one while my fingers are still typing and I seem to loose words sometimes.
I really didn't think there was any real confusion on your part and only added the citations to make sure that other, less well informed people, understood both the rules and common sense logic behind them.