To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Square D Tandem Breaker

6768rogues

Banned
Joined
Nov 28, 2007
Messages
4,524
Location
Western NY
I need to install two tandem breakers in my Square D QO panel. I have found two, one has a hook with a snap connector and the other has two snap connectors. The hook type will not work as my panel has no slots in the bar. The tandem with two snaps appears to be the right one, but its packaging says it is for panels manufactured before 1967. My panel was new in 1982.
I checked the breaker slots indicated on the panel directory with dashed lines and they do not have slots. I can find no slots in the attachment bars.

Here are my questions:
Is there a third type of tandem breaker for my panel?
Should I buy the double snap type and hope it works?

Thank you.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Greatbear

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 17, 2008
Messages
1,702
Location
Columbia/Fulton, MD
The "two snaps" breaker will fit into late model QO panels, but it's technically illegal to do so, as you'll be adding more branch circuits than the panel is rated for. CTL= circuit limiting. QO panels that have metal support pans with the slots generally are no more than 30 circuits. That being said, I have a couple non-CTL tandems in my QO panels since I had run out of space in one, and another I wanted to split up two low powered branch circuits. You can use these things safely, but a savvy inspector will gig you on it.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

ishiboo

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 27, 2010
Messages
9,481
Location
Oshkosh, WI
The "two snaps" breaker will fit into late model QO panels, but it's technically illegal to do so, as you'll be adding more branch circuits than the panel is rated for. CTL= circuit limiting. QO panels that have metal support pans with the slots generally are no more than 30 circuits. That being said, I have a couple non-CTL tandems in my QO panels since I had run out of space in one, and another I wanted to split up two low powered branch circuits. You can use these things safely, but a savvy inspector will gig you on it.

Couldn't have said it better myself.
 
OP
6

6768rogues

Banned
Joined
Nov 28, 2007
Messages
4,524
Location
Western NY
Thank you, the information you provided makes sense. I have a lot of 15 Amp circuits that do not have much load, so I am confident that I can add a couple of tandems without overtaxing the panel.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom