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  1. #1
    TIM LEMPE's Avatar
    TIM LEMPE Guest

    Default too many breakers?

    does this seem over loaded

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  2. #2
    Join Date
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    Default Re: too many breakers?

    Quote Originally Posted by TIM LEMPE View Post
    does this seem over loaded
    .
    No, ( I'm guessing your refering to the number of throws to de-energizer the panel.)

    The Breaker Marked Main does cut the power to the panel ?

    It Might have Choked Artie But it ain't gone'a choke Stymie! Our Gang " The Pooch " (1932)
    Billy J. Stephens HI Service Memphis TN.

  3. #3
    James Duffin's Avatar
    James Duffin Guest

    Default Re: too many breakers?

    Quote Originally Posted by TIM LEMPE View Post
    does this seem over loaded
    Not from the picture if doesn't.


  4. #4
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    Default Re: too many breakers?

    What does the panel label say? It's prob. OK but I see a Bryant main breaker & most of the breakers are Crouse-Hinds + 1- I-T-E/Seimens & 1 other unknown but may be a T&B classified interchangable breaker. The other makes are a issue.


    Edit: the "unknown" breaker is a Challenger & is double lugged....


  5. #5
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    Default Re: too many breakers?

    Not your job to do load calculations.


  6. #6
    Bob Winchester's Avatar
    Bob Winchester Guest

    Default Re: too many breakers?

    Read the label for the panel and see how many spaces there are and how many circuits are allowed. There is a main breaker so that limits the ampacity of the panel to 100 amps but there may be too many circuits since there are tandem breakers installed in the panel. Post the model number of the panel and it should be obvious from that


  7. #7
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    Default Re: too many breakers?

    Quote Originally Posted by Bob Winchester View Post
    Read the label for the panel and see how many spaces there are and how many circuits are allowed. There is a main breaker so that limits the ampacity of the panel to 100 amps but there may be too many circuits since there are tandem breakers installed in the panel. Post the model number of the panel and it should be obvious from that
    The main breaker is 150/175/200 ampere, I cannot see the rating in the picture, but it's not a 100A breaker.


  8. #8
    Bob Winchester's Avatar
    Bob Winchester Guest

    Default Re: too many breakers?

    And if the panel label says it's a 125 amp rated panel then what? The panel label explains the rating of the panel and the ampacity is physically limited by the main breaker that is installed. Read the panel label. Make sure it is installed according to the label, make sure there are NO TANDEM breakers if it is not listed for tandem breakers. Make sure the main breaker is properly sized. All of this information is available on the label. If it is used as service equipment it must say "suitable for use as service equipment" on the label. With any service always read the label. That is your guideline for installation.


  9. #9
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    Default Re: too many breakers?

    Quote Originally Posted by Bob Winchester View Post
    And if the panel label says it's a 125 amp rated panel then what? The panel label explains the rating of the panel and the ampacity is physically limited by the main breaker that is installed. Read the panel label. Make sure it is installed according to the label, make sure there are NO TANDEM breakers if it is not listed for tandem breakers. Make sure the main breaker is properly sized. All of this information is available on the label. If it is used as service equipment it must say "suitable for use as service equipment" on the label. With any service always read the label. That is your guideline for installation.

    That panel is a "all-in-one" they are suitable for service equipment only as the neutral is perm. bonded to the can. The main is factory installed, BTW & the notches on the bus stabs should be visible if present because of the single row construction* of the panel which will verify if allowed to use twin breakers or not if the label is no longer present.

    *Single row of circuit breakers.


  10. #10
    Lou Romano's Avatar
    Lou Romano Guest

    Default Re: too many breakers?

    This meter main breaker panel combo looks to be either Siemens or GE and both come from the factory with 4-pole main breakers. Check to be sure but somebody may have taken out the factory main and installed the Bryant to gain 2 spaces.

    Would be nice to see a cleaner picture!


  11. #11
    Bob Winchester's Avatar
    Bob Winchester Guest

    Default Re: too many breakers?

    Read the label. Look up the panel specs. Without this information it fails my inspection. We don't guess or speculate in code enforcement. We get the facts and proceed.


  12. #12
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    Default Re: too many breakers?

    Quote Originally Posted by Lou Romano View Post
    This meter main breaker panel combo looks to be either Siemens or GE and both come from the factory with 4-pole main breakers. Check to be sure but somebody may have taken out the factory main and installed the Bryant to gain 2 spaces.

    Would be nice to see a cleaner picture!
    It's a Bryant (later branded as Westinghouse & now Cutler-Hammer BR) panel. If it was a GE those twin breakers would not work due to the pecular GE design & it's not a I-T-E / Siemens.

    One note on GE loadcenters GE twin breakers will only fit a GE panel & other makes of twins will not fit unless they are the Non-CTL type for pre 1968 loadcenters.


  13. #13
    James Duffin's Avatar
    James Duffin Guest

    Default Re: too many breakers?

    Are you saying that if a panel is missing the label you make it a repair item and say that the panel needs to be replaced because the label is missing?


  14. #14
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    Default Re: too many breakers?

    Quote Originally Posted by Bob Winchester View Post
    Read the label for the panel and see how many spaces there are and how many circuits are allowed. There is a main breaker so that limits the ampacity of the panel ...
    Correct on that part. The main breaker is what prevents the panel from overloaded (it will trip off is overloaded) as well as protecting the service entrance conductors (in this case those would be bus bars).

    ... but there may be too many circuits since there are tandem breakers installed in the panel.

    That part we do not know as the half-size breakers (they are not "tandem" breakers) may actually be allowed, and may actually be allowed where they are.

    Looking at the label is the only way to know if half-size/tandem/dual/quad breakers are allowed and where in the panel they are allowed (if allowed).

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  15. #15
    Lou Romano's Avatar
    Lou Romano Guest

    Default Re: too many breakers?

    It's a Bryant (later branded as Westinghouse & now Cutler-Hammer BR) panel. If it was a GE those twin breakers would not work due to the pecular GE design & it's not a I-T-E / Siemens.

    Thank you Rollie, Bryant has never been big around her and I wasn't even aware they made these meter panel combos.


  16. #16
    Alexei Chaviano's Avatar
    Alexei Chaviano Guest

    Default Re: too many breakers?

    Turn counterclockwise the picture and all the cuestions will have answers.


  17. #17
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
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    Default Re: too many breakers?

    Keep in mind that even when a panel is listed for for "tandem" breakers some AHJs (my hometown of Evanston, IL for example) prohibit them because of concerns over problems on multi-wire circuits, etc.

    Michael Thomas
    Paragon Property Services Inc., Chicago IL
    http://paragoninspects.com

  18. #18
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    Default Re: too many breakers?

    Quote Originally Posted by Michael Thomas View Post
    Keep in mind that even when a panel is listed for for "tandem" breakers some AHJs (my hometown of Evanston, IL for example) prohibit them because of concerns over problems on multi-wire circuits, etc.

    Wow. Bans UL listed breakers in panels designed for them. I'd have them in court just for the fun of it.

    Pray tell, if the issue is miswired multiwire branch circuits, how do full width breakers eliminate the idiot problem?

    I've seen more panels with multi wire branch circuits landed on the wrong hot leg with full width breakers than with tandems. Sounds like more ego at work stuff. A few of these boys need blanket parties.


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