How is the main breaker different?
 

Hi,

This is just a theoretical question to satisfy my curiosity.

A panel can be back-fed through a regular breaker. How is a main
breaker, then, different from a regular breaker? Or is it just a breaker
that doesn't give you an option of not having it?

Thanks,

Aaron

How is the main breaker different?
 

In a typical house electric panel, electrically, a main breaker is the same
as a regular breaker. That is if too much amperage is being used, it will
trip and shut off the electricity.

Mechanically, a main breaker is pretty much designed to be a part of the
panel itself. Not designed to be easily switched out with a different value
breaker. Whereas with the other breakers in the panel, these along with
their slots are designed to easily install different types and amperages of
breakers as needed for particular circuits.



"Aaron Fude" wrote in message
Hi,

This is just a theoretical question to satisfy my curiosity.

A panel can be back-fed through a regular breaker. How is a main breaker,
then, different from a regular breaker? Or is it just a breaker that
doesn't give you an option of not having it?

Thanks,

Aaron

How is the main breaker different?
 

"Aaron Fude" wrote in message
...
Hi,

This is just a theoretical question to satisfy my curiosity.

A panel can be back-fed through a regular breaker. How is a main breaker,
then, different from a regular breaker? Or is it just a breaker that
doesn't give you an option of not having it?

Thanks,

Aaron

"Main breaker" is defining it's usage, not necessarily how it's built. The
same thing with a breaker used as a service disconnect. The breaker is not
necessarily different from a similar type breaker used in the same panel,
however when used as a service disconnect, it requires a hold down method

How is the main breaker different?
 

RBM wrote:
"Aaron Fude" wrote in message
...
Hi,

This is just a theoretical question to satisfy my curiosity.

A panel can be back-fed through a regular breaker. How is a main breaker,
then, different from a regular breaker? Or is it just a breaker that
doesn't give you an option of not having it?

Thanks,

Aaron

"Main breaker" is defining it's usage, not necessarily how it's built. The
same thing with a breaker used as a service disconnect. The breaker is not
necessarily different from a similar type breaker used in the same panel,
however when used as a service disconnect, it requires a hold down method


Thank you.

How is the main breaker different?
 

RBM wrote:
"Aaron Fude" wrote in message
...
Hi,

This is just a theoretical question to satisfy my curiosity.

A panel can be back-fed through a regular breaker. How is a main breaker,
then, different from a regular breaker? Or is it just a breaker that
doesn't give you an option of not having it?

Thanks,

Aaron

"Main breaker" is defining it's usage, not necessarily how it's built. The
same thing with a breaker used as a service disconnect. The breaker is not
necessarily different from a similar type breaker used in the same panel,
however when used as a service disconnect, it requires a hold down method



Is there a technical reason why electrical panels with a main are so
much more expensive (at least at HD) than main lugs?

How is the main breaker different?
 

Aaron Fude wrote:
RBM wrote:
"Aaron Fude" wrote in message
...
Hi,

This is just a theoretical question to satisfy my curiosity.

A panel can be back-fed through a regular breaker. How is a main
breaker, then, different from a regular breaker? Or is it just a
breaker that doesn't give you an option of not having it?

Thanks,

Aaron

"Main breaker" is defining it's usage, not necessarily how it's built.
The same thing with a breaker used as a service disconnect. The
breaker is not necessarily different from a similar type breaker used
in the same panel, however when used as a service disconnect, it
requires a hold down method


Is there a technical reason why electrical panels with a main are so
much more expensive (at least at HD) than main lugs?

Yeah, that's how the catalog is printed... :)

In reality doesn't seem there should be as much differential as there
typically is other than that a 100 or 200A main is probably somewhat
more expensive to manufacture than the typical 50/60A I've seen in the
smaller subpanels.

(Maybe its my age and that we don't have any of the BORGs locally so
don't know what they're carrying but I haven't seen a full-blown 200A
panel w/o a traditional main--maybe they've started for the cheap/mass
market and I've just not paid attention, though, granted).

--

How is the main breaker different?
 

On Sep 21, 9:01*am, dpb wrote:
Aaron Fude wrote:
RBM wrote:
"Aaron Fude" wrote in message
...
Hi,

This is just a theoretical question to satisfy my curiosity.

A panel can be back-fed through a regular breaker. How is a main
breaker, then, different from a regular breaker? Or is it just a
breaker that doesn't give you an option of not having it?

Thanks,

Aaron

"Main breaker" is defining it's usage, not necessarily how it's built.
The same thing with a breaker used as a service disconnect. The
breaker is not necessarily different from a similar type breaker used
in the same panel, however when used as a service disconnect, it
requires a hold down method

Is there a technical reason why electrical panels with a main are so
much more expensive (at least at HD) than main lugs?

Yeah, that's how the catalog is printed... :)

In reality doesn't seem there should be as much differential as there
typically is other than that a 100 or 200A main is probably somewhat
more expensive to manufacture than the typical 50/60A I've seen in the
smaller subpanels.

(Maybe its my age and that we don't have any of the BORGs locally so
don't know what they're carrying but I haven't seen a full-blown 200A
panel w/o a traditional main--maybe they've started for the cheap/mass
market and I've just not paid attention, though, granted).

I would think that the main breaker would have a higher interrupt
current rating than a branch circuit breaker, just in case things go
really pear-shaped. (that is, if there's a *serious* issue, the main
breaker will provide protection in cases of overvoltages/dead shorts
that would just arc over an open branch circuit breaker.)

Now whether it works like that in practice, I don't know (IANAE)

nate

How is the main breaker different?
 

Aaron Fude wrote:
Hi,

This is just a theoretical question to satisfy my curiosity.

A panel can be back-fed through a regular breaker. How is a main
breaker, then, different from a regular breaker? Or is it just a breaker
that doesn't give you an option of not having it?

Thanks,

Aaron



It's bolted in place. (you can use a regular breaker as a main, but
it's supposed to be bolted in -- there's an inexpensive kit for doing that)

Bob

How is the main breaker different?
 

RBM wrote:

"Main breaker" is defining it's usage, not necessarily how it's built. The
same thing with a breaker used as a service disconnect. The breaker is not
necessarily different from a similar type breaker used in the same panel,
however when used as a service disconnect, it requires a hold down method

Another difference between the main and regular breakers is that on the
main, the power is fed from the source to the terminal lugs, then to the
busbar. A regular breaker gets the power in from the busbar and out
through the terminal(s). Can breakers handle power feeds in either
direction?

How is the main breaker different?
 

"Bob" wrote in message
...
RBM wrote:

"Main breaker" is defining it's usage, not necessarily how it's built.
The same thing with a breaker used as a service disconnect. The breaker
is not necessarily different from a similar type breaker used in the same
panel, however when used as a service disconnect, it requires a hold down
method

Another difference between the main and regular breakers is that on the
main, the power is fed from the source to the terminal lugs, then to the
busbar. A regular breaker gets the power in from the busbar and out
through the terminal(s). Can breakers handle power feeds in either
direction?

Yes, they can

How is the main breaker different?
 

Yes, I've seen it. One house I worked on the panel, they had
a double 100 breaker feeding power in, and then the various
breakers going out.

The house had problems with lights dimming, now and again.
The HO and I switched the double 100 off, and pulled that
breaker. Sanded the buss bar where the breaker fit on. Some
anti oxidant on the buss, and into the end of the breaker.
Put it all back together, and everything was fine.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"Bob" wrote in message
...

Another difference between the main and regular breakers is
that on the
main, the power is fed from the source to the terminal lugs,
then to the
busbar. A regular breaker gets the power in from the busbar
and out
through the terminal(s). Can breakers handle power feeds in
either
direction?