Add dedicated line for refrigerator?

[wyliesdiesels]

Norcal- refresh my memory. Which challenger panels were a fire hazard? The zinsco style ones or? The OP has the other style...

 

[coleman10]

Norcal- refresh my memory. Which challenger panels were a fire hazard? The zinsco style ones or? The OP has the other style...

Zinsco.

http://www.ismypanelsafe.com/zinsco.aspx

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Zinsco.

http://www.ismypanelsafe.com/zinsco.aspx

Thats not what i was looking for. I know that Zinsco brand panels are bad. What I was asking is which challenger panels are bad...

 

[Norcal]

Norcal- refresh my memory. Which challenger panels were a fire hazard? The zinsco style ones or? The OP has the other style...

By the time GTE sold their Electrical Equipment Group which became Challenger, the infamous Zinsco design Sylvania panels were discontinued in favor of the breaker design that the OP has, although the 150,175, & 200A main breakers were Zinsco in 2 & 3 pole varieties, another company using a Zinsco design was Unicorn Electrical Products, of Anaheim, CA which Milbank later bought & still makes a version of the Unicorn breakers, I am not sure of any major problems w/ Challenger panels other then their aluminum bus, the "inspect-NY" website owner has his own agenda, which is the most likely place people will be directed to, by a search engine when looking for FPE, or Zinsco problems.

I don't like any of the above makes IMO they are all scrap metal but there is still a huge installed base out there.

 

[C96]

The Zinsco style Challenger products had the same problems as the original Zinsco panels / breakers. Basically they were re-branded Zinsco products. Challenger kept producing the same flawed design but with their name on it. Supposedly at some point the problem design had been corrected, but…

 

[Vandals909]

Glad I did not buy the breaker I first had a link. Appears I need model # BD1520.
It has current limiting and has independent trip (assuming this means the 20amp will still have power if the 15amp trips).

Can someone confirm this is the exact breaker I need.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Eaton-Ty...147012-_-11210757&cj=true#product_description


Overview:

Also, BD duplex circuit breakers are UL approved genuine replacement breakers for load centers made by Westinghouse, Challenger, and Bryant.

All 15 and 20 ampere single poles are switch-duty rated
BR Duplex circuit breakers have independent trip
BD Duplex circuit breakers have the rejection tab feature
BD circuit breakers are current limiting
Requires one 1 in. space
BD Duplex circuit breakers carry listing for HACR (heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration) applications
BD Duplex circuit breakers conform to section 384-15 of the latest national electrical code

******C96 looking at my panel, it appears to be the non hazardous one right?

 

[C96]

******C96 looking at my panel, it appears to be the non hazardous one right?

Correct

It was more of a flawed breaker design, not the panel itself.

 

[Vandals909]

What is the best and what is in code for running a new line from the breaker to the refrigerator? My garage walls have drywall but the roof does not. The current electrical wiring for the lights is exposed and stapled to the top of the 2x6's that run across the roof.

Should I take the new line from the panel across the garage in the same manner, leaving it exposed? Also with putting in the new outlet since the walls finished should I mount the outlet box on the outside of the wall? Or should I cut the drywall and fish the new line down the wall? The wall the wire will have to come down is a exterior wall and I'm sure it will have fire blocking ��

 

[LifeLongWNYer]

The only time I would run a dedicated circuit for a refrigerator is when it will be filled with beer!





.

 

[Vandals909]

Good point. 75% of it will be filled with drinks for parties, that why it's in the garage!

Thinking it would cleaner if I pulled the wire and put the outlet in the wall. I'm just not good with drywall repair!

 

[C96]

Thinking it would cleaner if I pulled the wire and put the outlet in the wall. I'm just not good with drywall repair!

If done carefully, no drywall repair is needed. As long as you can drill down through the top plate and fish the cable your good to go.

There is no need to install the new outlet box low on the wall, keep it up high above where any fire blocking would be as long as the refrigerator cord will reach. This will make it much easier to fish the cable down to where you install the cut-in box.

Basically, you pick an area between studs where you want the new receptacle. Drill down through the top plate between the studs. Cut a hole in the drywall the size of the box you are using making sure to be above any blocking and between studs. Fish the cable down to the hole and install the box.

↓↓ This box is made for the installation of receptacles in finished walls.

 

[CNGsaves]

^ ^ Yes, look for "Old Work" boxes . . they have tabs to hold onto sheetrock.

 

[Vandals909]

Again thanks for all the help. Should I run Romex in conduit or just leave it bare? It need to run across the top of the garage roof which has no sheet rock

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Its really your preference. Running it bare aboe the rafters will work just fine as long as its not subject to damage...

 

[afbrian13]

Wyliesdiesels- Its been a royal pain to say the least! I need to make my own thread with pictures of the **** I've found. Copper spliced off au in the attic with electrical tape, wiring laying in the kitchen soffets, etc.

I agree withe the dedicated line based on voltage drop. At work we have blowers on the acft that have been tracked to lower service time when voltage or frequency has been running low. I sure dont want years less time on my stuff either.