Skool me on breaker boxes

[plow]

http://shreveport.craigslist.org/mat/4743112800.html



Ad says 100 amp box...........Why are there a couple dozen or so breaker spots??? If you put half a dozen 15 amp breakers on the low end you're maxed out.

I realize you wouldn't be runnin all of them at the same time.

What am I missing?

 

[sberry]

I realize you wouldn't be runnin all of them at the same time.

This.

 

[plow]

Thanks.

 

[Norcal]

Good quality panel. Not like the cheaply built, overpriced SQ D that the Kool Aide drinkers like.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

Good quality panel. Not like the cheaply built, overpriced SQ D that the Kool Aide drinkers like.

Now that's funny,I don't care who ya is!

 

[Zeke]

http://shreveport.craigslist.org/mat/4743112800.html



Ad says 100 amp box...........Why are there a couple dozen or so breaker spots??? If you put half a dozen 15 amp breakers on the low end you're maxed out.

I realize you wouldn't be runnin all of them at the same time.

What am I missing?

You do need some skoolin'. Six 15 A breakers is nothing in a 100 A panel. You could run a small factory's lighting on that. I've got 100 A service at my entrance and have a 30 A breaker for a 2.5 ton AC and a 40 A breaker for the range. You'd think with only 30 amps left that I couldn't even begin to run a whole house.

Never tripped the main.

 

[Syberia]

I've got a 50A hot tub in mine and will be adding a 60A garage panel shortly. Shouldn't those two breakers just being there trip the main instantly?

Can't forget the 30A A/C breaker, which for some reason has #6 wire coming off of it.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I've got a 50A hot tub in mine and will be adding a 60A garage panel shortly. Shouldn't those two breakers just being there trip the main instantly?

Can't forget the 30A A/C breaker, which for some reason has #6 wire coming off of it.

No, that doesnt make sense because breakers arent a load so breakers merely being in a panel with no load connected means theres no current flow. Also the subpanel and the hot tub would have to be pulling max which they very rarely do. That breaker is oversized to accomadate 125% rule for continous loads...

 

[Syberia]

That post was sarcasm, sorry if it wasn't clear. As for the #6, I'm sure its just whatever was already there, as the A/C was just replaced before we moved in.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

That post was sarcasm, sorry if it wasn't clear. As for the #6, I'm sure its just whatever was already there, as the A/C was just replaced before we moved in.

O ok got it. U just never know. Lots of folks post on here with absolutely zero electrical knowledge.

Yeah #6 is a little overkill for that!

 

[sberry]

We were doing a load calc and my bud ha added all th breakers and I had to point out that one of the loads was a 15 run even though it was on a 30. Its really hard to overload a 100.

 

[plow]

You do need some skoolin'. Six 15 A breakers is nothing in a 100 A panel. You could run a small factory's lighting on that. I've got 100 A service at my entrance and have a 30 A breaker for a 2.5 ton AC and a 40 A breaker for the range. You'd think with only 30 amps left that I couldn't even begin to run a whole house.

Never tripped the main.

I paid extra for a 300 Amp panel when building my house in case I ever got a pool. Now you have me thinking bout a sub panel for the future shop instead of another meter. I've not done load calcs on my current shop, but I didn't think I could do it with a 100 Amps. That's good to know.


btw, I scored a bigazz breaker panel with breakers last year. If I recall, it's bigger than the 300 Amp on my house. I don't have pics of it, But what are your thoughts on using it as a sub?

 

[RickP]

I paid extra for a 300 Amp panel when building my house in case I ever got a pool. Now you have me thinking bout a sub panel for the future shop instead of another meter. I've not done load calcs on my current shop, but I didn't think I could do it with a 100 Amps. That's good to know.

I looked at adding a second meter, but it can be really expensive because some power companies will charge you commercial rates on the second meter. For me, it would be cheaper to add a subpanel.

You can use a big panel for a subpanel, but you have to make sure it has a main breaker shutoff if you have more than 6 circuits.

 

[Moose364]

I looked at adding a second meter, but it can be really expensive because some power companies will charge you commercial rates on the second meter. For me, it would be cheaper to add a subpanel.

You can use a big panel for a subpanel, but you have to make sure it has a main breaker shutoff if you have more than 6 circuits.

AT mine in order to save me from the high cost AEP just split the feed between my house and the transformer to my shop. so they didn't have to set the second transformer, I get 2 electric bills but having the 200amp service is well worth it, my shop bill so far has only been $40.00 at the highest, last months was $17.00

 

[RickP]

AT mine in order to save me from the high cost AEP just split the feed between my house and the transformer to my shop. so they didn't have to set the second transformer, I get 2 electric bills but having the 200amp service is well worth it, my shop bill so far has only been $40.00 at the highest, last months was $17.00

The issue for me was that the monthly electric bill would never be less than about $17 (because of the monthly PoCo admin fee for commercial accounts). So not only are the commercial rates higher, the initial hookup is more, and there's a monthly minimum charge. YMMV of course, but it would definitely be cheaper for me to run a subpanel here in Maryland.