Easiest way to add 2-20 amp breakers?

[weatherby460]

What's the easiest way to add 2-20 Amp breakers for new outlets to my existing panel?

Thanks

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Youre maxed out.

Only option is tandems which may not be an option for your panel.

Check the listing on the label.

 

[weatherby460]

It's a square d QO panel.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Yes i see that.

But you need to read the panel label to find out the max # of circuits the panel can have.

 

[Bad Habit]

It will be something like QO30-40 if it will take tandems. There will also only be certain spaces that will accept them. There will be a slot in the rail in the positions where you can use them.

 

[weatherby460]

Ok thank you!

 

[u2slow]

These are the modern QO tandems... come in 15A and 20A.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

yeah OP needs to first verify how many circuits the panel can have and whether the panel can take tandems as well as the spaces they can go in

 

[u2slow]

Take the cover off the panel. On the interior side of the panel tub is a decal saying how many circuits it is rated for. My QO 100A 32-space panel of similar vintage says 54 circuits.

OTOH, if its this 30-space panel, it is limited to 30 circuits also.
https://www.schneider-electric.us/en/product/QO130M200/load-center-qo-mb-240v-200a-1ph-30sp/

Then the right way to expand is with a sub-panel.

 

[theoldwizard1]

yeah OP needs to first verify how many circuits the panel can have and whether the panel can take tandems as well as the spaces they can go.

I got burned a couple of years ago doing a kitchen remodel of a house built in 1946. Besides no ground wires to most of the house, the QO panel was full and I needed 4 new circuits. Only the bottom 4 spaces allowed tandems so I thought I was in !

FAIL !

Older QO boxes (1980s ?) can not use the current QO tandems and Square D no longer makes the old ones ! Luckily I got the part number from the guy on the Square D hot line and 5 minutes of Googling I found NOS breakers at a very reasonable price.