Think I need another Panel in the House

[Spudland_Dave]

Was just thinking about my Heat Pump/Mini-Split install at lunch... Going from memory, I know I'm running low on free space, so the thought crossed my mind, maybe I should install another panel now while I can.

The topic of adding a sub has been beat to death when they are located in another building (seperate ground rods, dont bond chassis...same when adding a sub panel to a sub panel)...but are there any differences when your adding a panel RIGHT next to the main? Plastic Conduit OK? Must use Metal? bond or dont bond?

 

[sberry]

You can use plastic, if you do its a 4 wire feed. If you are hooking it all together with metal then its essentially all one unit, it will be bonded at the main essentially bonding both panels, might as well install the bond screw.

 

[alfredeneuman]

The neutral is only supposed to be grounded in 1 location. To put the additional screw in would be 2 locations.

It would be necessary to install a ground bar for the equipment grounds, and isolate the neutral in the new panel.

 

[sberry]

With panels this close and metal connections its pretty much homogenous.
I ran across on a while back installed by the handyman, they used 6/3 wg but landed both the n and the g on the neutral, no bond. Left the can of the sub ungrounded. Then a different installer added a panel to the garage, did it the same way as he seen in the house,,, ha.

 

[alfredeneuman]

It's an additional panel, the same thing no matter how short the ****** is.

NEC 250 A(5)
Load-Side Grounding Connections

A grounded conductor shall not be connected to normally non–current carrying metal parts of equipment, to equipment grounding conductor(s), or be reconnected to ground on the load side of the service disconnecting means except as otherwise permitted in this article.

Informational Note: See 250.30 for separately derived systems,
250.32 for connections at separate buildings or structures,
and 250.142 for use of the grounded circuit conductor
for grounding equipment.

 

[sberry]

This is kind of splitting hairs scenario, the idea is to put both panels at the same potential and to have a pathway for a fault. Its so simple to do it in plastic its probably the thing to do and eliminates the concern about bond bushings etc. Simple is to run a 6 wire between G bar in sub and to N bar in main, kind of a cant miss.

 

[alfredeneuman]

Or to not install the screw in the first place.
The metal connection is the equipment ground

 

[Spudland_Dave]

The neutral is only supposed to be grounded in 1 location. To put the additional screw in would be 2 locations.

It would be necessary to install a ground bar for the equipment grounds, and isolate the neutral in the new panel.

Exactly what I needed to know! I've got all kinds of scrap wire leftover from doing my shop...got some #6 THHN, some #4 THHN, and some NM6-3

might just use the #4 and a 60A...just counted the breakers available in my 42 place panel, I have 8 open...so don't think i'll need to add the panel this weekend.

I assume people just add one when they are officially "OUT" of space? As you can imagine, the main is getting kinda full

 

[sberry]

8 spaces is a lot.