I have a 200 Amp 30space Homeline panel. I need to add a couple of breakers and to do that I need to free up a couple of spaces by using tandem breakers. Well, it seems that in the lower spaces on the panel where I need to double up, take a different kind of breaker that I can't find as a tandem. The difference is the way the breaker connects to the power buss bar. I know they were made since I have one but I need a couple more. If that is a dead end what do I do, put in a sub panel?
Tandem Breakers in a Square D box
- Thread starter Afinch7
- Start date
Tandems might not be useable in that panel? I know newer SQ D QO panels will only accept tandems in a certain spot on the buss. So it might fit higher up on the buss?? if you want to be legal a panel will tell you how many breakers can be legally put in the panel just FYI
zmaxmotorsports
Well-known member
Whats the model number of the box?
ishiboo
Well-known member
Panels manufactured these days are CTL, which means only a certain # of spots MAY accept tandems. You'll need to check the panel to see which spots can, if any. The lower spaces are not designed for tandems if a tandem will not fit. IIRC there are not non-CTL breakers for Homeline as they are much newer than QO, so never existed prior to CTL.
Unfortunately, if the panel does not have spaces for tandems, a sub panel or combining some circuits are your basic options.
A hack would install a non-CTL BR tandem, which is against code for several reasons.
Unfortunately, if the panel does not have spaces for tandems, a sub panel or combining some circuits are your basic options.
A hack would install a non-CTL BR tandem, which is against code for several reasons.
Charles (in GA)
Well-known member
The diagram on the inside of the door will show you what spaces are designed to accept tandem breakers. It will have the number sequence of the breakers, odd down the left, even down the right, and the spaces designed to accept the tandems will have an A and a B printed by the number.
Charles
Charles
Mustang51js
Well-known member
Usually it's only the bottom couple that will fit in there. You could also get a Murray tandom and that will fit, just need to make sure the slot is long and not the short slot with the metal peice. It's not legal cause of the name but will work fine with no problems.you could also see what the breakers do and double up a couple of them if there on things that don't draw much, last option is installing a sub panel or replace with a new 40 space panel
Mustang51js
Well-known member
Why would it be a hack installing a different brand name when the breaker is exactly the same with a different name on it. Homeline, ch br,Murray and seimans are the same breaker with different names on them. Besides a blame game to use I don't see an issue using them. Basically saying that using firestone tires on a car that says to use cooper is being a hack mechanic.
Charles (in GA)
Well-known member
This is a display in the local Home Depot, the glare is the plexiglass that covers the panel.
First one is the lower stabs, with notches in them, to accept tandem breakers. The second pic is the same panel, further up, with solid stabs that will not accept tandems, because with no notch, they will not push all the way down. Yes, they do make tandems that install in panels without the notches, the breakers are only legal in panels manufactured before a certain date, somewhere around 1986 if I recall. After that, you have panels with notches, and you are not allowed to willy nilly install the old type breakers in the later panels.
Third pic is of Siemens tandem breakers. One on the left will not install on a stab unless it has the notch. The Bakelite extends too far down for it to fit a normal stab. Breaker on the right is the same breaker, but without the Bakelite blocking the slot. It is a NON-CTL type breaker for older panels.
Charles
First one is the lower stabs, with notches in them, to accept tandem breakers. The second pic is the same panel, further up, with solid stabs that will not accept tandems, because with no notch, they will not push all the way down. Yes, they do make tandems that install in panels without the notches, the breakers are only legal in panels manufactured before a certain date, somewhere around 1986 if I recall. After that, you have panels with notches, and you are not allowed to willy nilly install the old type breakers in the later panels.
Third pic is of Siemens tandem breakers. One on the left will not install on a stab unless it has the notch. The Bakelite extends too far down for it to fit a normal stab. Breaker on the right is the same breaker, but without the Bakelite blocking the slot. It is a NON-CTL type breaker for older panels.
Charles