need some help

[superman09]

Electrical is not my thing, I can do it but just have had a whole lot of experience. My main thing is needing help identifying a few things. When I bought the house I was told I had a blank 230V wired into the attic that wasn't going anywhere or otherwise being used. I assume this would be separate from the electric range and dryer (dumb me didn't ask). What I need help with is identifying which breaker would it be tied to. Also once I identify the breaker would I be safe just throwing it off and wiring it into the garage for a compressor or should I just be ultimately safe and kill the whole panel? Here is picture of the panel, I can take another/better picture tomorrow when its light outside (couldn't get my flash to work). Thanks for the help. Hope to start a garage build thread soon.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Those four at the top of the panel are the 240v breakers, the ones with a tie bar connecting two poles together. The range is most likely the 40 amp one, and the dryer will be one of the 30 amp ones.

If two are for the range and dryer, and one is supposedly a spare, what's the fourth one for?

 

[pattenp]

Can you identify the wire in the attic? Does it dead end in a box? That 20A may be it? Not sure though. You need a test light or meter to check the circuit for current after you flip off the breakers. Once you ID the right breaker you don't need to kill the whole panel to extend it into the garage.

 

[superman09]

One of the two unknown ones may be for the A/C does that sound right? I'm in Texas if that helps any

sent from my campfire using smoke signals

 

[mypov]

Pay an electrician . . . If you're like me, you hate paying people to do something you can fumble through on your own. However, Electrical is one area where if I am absolutely not 100 percent confident in what I'm doing; I pay the guy who knows. Or, if you know one, I'd buy him some beer and ask him to come over.

Best of luck.,

 

[pattenp]

I believe one of the 30A is for the A/C. This is a central A/C unit, right?

 

[superman09]

Correct central air. So consensus is 40A for range 30A's for dryer and Air. That would leave the 20A as the supposed spare. Is 20A enough for an IR SS3L3? The specs I can find rate it 22A. Could I just swap in a 30A breaker if 20A isn't enough or is there more involved?

sent from my campfire using smoke signals

 

[Speedy Petey]

There is ABSOLUTELY no way for anyone to tell from just the outside of the panel.
Guessing at which breaker does what is silly. Is there a panel directory?

If the wires are terminated on a breaker then there is still now way even seeing inside. You'd need to go to the attic and check the wire for voltage and identify it.

If the wire is not terminated then it would be pretty obvious which is the spare.

I have to say, I am with mypov. Just because you know how to physically turn a screw driver or replace a device does NOT mean you can do electrical work. ANYONE who knows how to use tools can do electrical work. The physical part is almost irrelevant. The technical and troubleshooting part is what's important.
If you are asking us to identify the spare wire in your attic by looking at a covered panel, and especially some of the comments in post #7, I do not get a good feeling. Sorry.

 

[RECox286]

Even though Speedy is a bit terse and acidic in his commentary, he is basically

giving you some of the best advise. There is no way to honestly give you any

correct information by looking at the outside or inside of the panel. You will have to

trace out what goes where by seeing what does and doesn't work while turning the

breakers off and on systematically, just like a real electrician would do. You can

guess all you want, I can guess all I want, but you have to be there doing it physically

if you want to know fer sure. I'm also guessing that if you have central air, there may

just be an air handler in the attic. Of course, I'm in NJ...

If you are not all that comfortable with electricity, then please find someone who is.

Uncle Bob

 

[pattenp]

If it takes 22A then it should be on a 30A circuit. And no, you can't swap out the 20A breaker with a 30A breaker. The wire on the 20A breaker is most likely #12 and is only rated for 20A (this is just a silly guess). For 30A you need #10 wire.

Correct central air. So consensus is 40A for range 30A's for dryer and Air. That would leave the 20A as the supposed spare. Is 20A enough for an IR SS3L3? The specs I can find rate it 22A. Could I just swap in a 30A breaker if 20A isn't enough or is there more involved?

sent from my campfire using smoke signals

 

[Speedy Petey]

Even though Speedy is a bit terse and acidic in his commentary, he is basically

giving you some of the best advise.

I have been called a lot of things, but I don't remember ever being called these things.

 

[superman09]

I have been called a lot of things, but I don't remember ever being called these things.

You weren't that bad I didn't take it personal. Mostly I was looking for confirmation of my suspicions. I know you can't identify a spare wire by an external panel but you can confirm my thoughts that it is probably tied to either one of the 30A's or the big 20A. Its my fault for not being more specific I will try and make things clearer next time. I know how to read wiring diagrams and to diagnose electrical problems its just been awhile and I wanted to confirm a few things first. And being new to this forum I didn't know if there was say a master electrician around who would step in and offer advice. I really appreciate everybody's responses and help.

sent from my campfire using smoke signals

 

[Speedy Petey]

Oh, no problem. And your description was pretty much spot on. That's why I put the smiley face.

Like I said, it is impossible to tell. When I run a spare I typically label it on both ends but I do NOT make it up on a breaker. It is impossible to tell how it is going to be used later, unless of course it is specified.
I think when you open up the panel it will probably be pretty clear.

 

[kenfath]

Now would be a great time to start identifying and labelling the breakers.

 

[nehog]

Those four at the top of the panel are the 240v breakers, the ones with a tie bar connecting two poles together. The range is most likely the 40 amp one, and the dryer will be one of the 30 amp ones.

If two are for the range and dryer, and one is supposedly a spare, what's the fourth one for?

Water heater? Open the cover (carefully) and see if anything is connected to it...

 

[superman09]

Water heater is gas. I was at work all day today and will be ******* most of the day tomorrow but plan to get to the bottom of this Tue/Wed (my weekend) cause I should be picking up an IR SS3L3 later this week.

sent from my campfire using smoke signals

 

[superman09]

Good news yall can all sleep easy tonight. My former neighbor, who is a journeymen lineman finally called back(3 weeks later) and will be helping me out with my wiring.

sent from my campfire using smoke signals

 

[zuk123]

I'm with Speedy and the others on this one. Go with the pro.

The installing electrician should have labeled the panel. If he cut that corner, who knows what other corners he cut. Assumptions about electrical can kill you, blind you, maim you, burn you, burn your house, and all sorts of other bad things

Do it wrong (or just in a way that 'looks' wrong) and you might be fine, but come time to sell, the home inspector might catch it, and then you'll have to fix it anyway.

Better to do it right.

zuk

 

[superman09]

Yeah that's why I am super glad my neighbor called back. I have been shocked by 220 before (life changing experience) so with his help and knowledge I'm confident this will get done correctly and professionally and will pass any future inspections.

 

[Toolman12]

Glad you are going with the pro i hate the smell of hair burning