![]() ![]() would be a 60A subpanel (likely barely adequate) but a 75A or 100A subpanel with at least a few more spare circuits than your worst case envisioned need so as to account for future growth is much more desirable and future proof - keeping in mind that every 240V circuit will use two slots (and which add up fast if you figure heating/AC, dust collector, air compressor, plus one or more additional circuits for your 240V tools to share, etc.). Additionally, depending upon your particular circumstances and the opinion of your local inspector you may well discover that your present circuit breakers do not meet Code and that you may be required to use AFCI breakers instead (for example in which case avoid the Eaton brand wherever possible as they are known to exhibit serious reliability issues in the presence of certain radio signals, even the revised versions) - you will want to make that determination both before settling on a panel and installing the circuit breakers.Ī minimum subpanel for a workshop in which you intend to run high load devices like electric heating, large air compressors, dust collectors, etc. Also, reusing used circuit breakers is highly discouraged despite the opportunity for savings because circuit breakers can and do fail with age and you likely do not know the complete history of such breakers (e.g. On the other hand, if the main panel is immediately adjacent to the workshop then a subpanel may be more of a convenience than a source of savings (but may well still be desirable for future flexibility).Īs mentioned above, if reusing old panels and breakers you really have to do some research to determine that nothing has been recalled as replacing a panel after the fact is very time consuming and replacing a bunch if circuit breakers very annoying. The reasons being namely two-fold: 1) if the distance is at all significant it is often both cheaper and easier, and will incur less voltage drop, to run a single set of heavy gauge feeder wires between the main panel and a subpanel installed in your workshop which yields savings in copper (you are buying circuit breakers either way) and 2) it is both easy and convenient to add and reconfigure circuits in your workshop if you have a suitably sized subpanel already located in your workshop (and no tearing up walls in your home after the fact to make such changes). I'm going to respectfully disagree with the first point *if* the workshop is any significant distance from the existing main panel. ![]() Thanks for any thoughts you ,may and feel free to identify additional pictures that would be useful also - I can get additional pictures if it would be helpful (for example pull out all of the breakers). I don't plan on wiring the sub panel into the main panel myself but all branch circuits will be done by me. The last breaker on the left side is similar except the two screws are side by side - again I think this is a space saving tandem breaker controlling two separate circuitsįinally - I always assumed the neutral and ground bars were the same and that it didn't matter where the ground wire was attached or where the neutral (white on a 110 circuit) was attached - is that correct?īTW - this is a 125 max amp rated box with copper wire. I'm think this is a special breaker that saves space by allowing two 110 circuits on one breaker? If this is true - then all of the breakers (except the top two) are 110 however there are three on the top right that have two connection screws and are marked "R" for the lower screw. My very limited understanding is that a 220 breaker connects to both bars and a 110 connects only to one side. The top left breaker is 50 amp 2 pole and I think was functioning as a 220 volt branch circuit breaker - however, the box label indicates the top right breaker controls only half of of the branch circuits which would make me believe the top left controlled the other half but I don't see how? I want to use this as a sub panel box and really don't need main breakers in it if they can be disconnected. I "think" this was functioning as a main. I believe this was previously used as a main panel - the top right breaker is a 60 amp 2 pole (connects to both conductor bars) and has a heavy gauge wire going to each of the two bars under the breakers. I know just enough about this to make me dangerous. Now for the questions - I was given an older (think 1970's) Square D QOBW load center full of breakers I want to add a sub panel for the shop - the sub panel will be essentially right next to the main panel The sub panel will be controlled by a 100 amp breaker in the main. I currently have a 200 amp service for the house.
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