I consider myself pretty decent with electrical work but don't quite understand code around main panels. I live in northern California in PG&E territory. My house was build in 2002 and has a 200 amp service. The main panel has room for 6 double pole breakers of which originally there was a 100 amp to feed to main subpanel and a 50 amp to feed to AC. The piece that confuses me is there is no main breaker between the meter and these 6 breaker slots. I doubt I would ever use more than 200 amps at a given time but how is my service protected from not going over 200 amps and causing a problem. Does the utility have a 200 amp breaker upstream protecting the service or are all 6 of these breakers not supposed to add up to more than 200 amps? The reason I ask is my garage/shop is right now wired into the main sub panel but I am thinking of putting in a dedicated one now with a disconnect since I have two young kids and would like to be able to lockout the shop when I am not in there. I am also thinking of adding solar in the near future and trying to understand how that affects or not affects the main panel breaker sizing, etc. any pointers is appreciated. Thanks
Main panel question
- Thread starter chicken12
- Start date
alfredeneuman
Well-known member
The reason it doesn't have a main breaker is because you're allowed 6 "throws of the hand", which means that no more than 6 handles to shut the entire service down.
There is no breaker in between the service and the transformer. It does have fuses on the High Voltage Primary side, which will supply much more than 200 Amps.
The deciding factor on whether it's overloaded has to do with the actual load on the service, not whether the breakers add up to more than 200 Amps. A service panel can have a 200 amp rating and have 400 or more amps worth added up of breakers, without being considered overloaded.
There is no breaker in between the service and the transformer. It does have fuses on the High Voltage Primary side, which will supply much more than 200 Amps.
The deciding factor on whether it's overloaded has to do with the actual load on the service, not whether the breakers add up to more than 200 Amps. A service panel can have a 200 amp rating and have 400 or more amps worth added up of breakers, without being considered overloaded.
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
^^U need to do load calcs to make sure your demand is not over 200a...
Zeke
Well-known member
And the addition of solar won't change your distribution. All you will need to tie in is one of those 6 spaces.
Speedy Petey
Well-known member
There is not a main breaker, there are up to six main breakers. It's the exact same thing, only times six.
sberry
Banned
If it aint smoking and you can hold your hand on the panel you are not overloaded.
sberry
Banned
Its a calculated load. The installer is sposed to do calc that limits the amount of probably load.
sberry
Banned
I got 3 kids and don't lock it out. It probably seems like a better idea than it is. If its all working then leave it alone, if its old and unsafe or really overloaded then it needs attn. Put some gfci on outlets, number 1 thing a homebody can do to improve user end safety.