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#1
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Legal number of tandem circuit breakers in a panel
Last night I had a double-tapped breaker fail. Turns out the former
owner put most of the overhead lighting, and the living room outlets, on these two taps. It's a Cutler-Hammer box so the double-tap was legal. The basement overheads started flickering as I was working, and soon went out. When I got to the panel, I could smell something was wrong, so I started feeling breakers for heat. Found a warm one that sizzled when I touched it. Luckily I had purchased a tandem breaker (two separate circuits that fits in a single breaker slot) back when I took possession of the house. Is there a limit on how many tandem breakers can be installed in a breaker panel? There are two now, and at least one other double-tapped circuit in the house. |
#2
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Legal number of tandem circuit breakers in a panel
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#3
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Legal number of tandem circuit breakers in a panel
wrote in message ... Last night I had a double-tapped breaker fail. Turns out the former owner put most of the overhead lighting, and the living room outlets, on these two taps. It's a Cutler-Hammer box so the double-tap was legal. The basement overheads started flickering as I was working, and soon went out. When I got to the panel, I could smell something was wrong, so I started feeling breakers for heat. Found a warm one that sizzled when I touched it. Luckily I had purchased a tandem breaker (two separate circuits that fits in a single breaker slot) back when I took possession of the house. Is there a limit on how many tandem breakers can be installed in a breaker panel? There are two now, and at least one other double-tapped circuit in the house. I'm glad you posted this question. I had a new box installed 2 weeks ago. Siemens made in Canada Box with Siemens made in USA breakers. I have 7 tandem breakers (thereby 14 circuits) on one side of the box. Siemens refers to this box as a 32/64 thereby implying that this box can handle 32 tandems i.e. 64 circuits. The electrician's works was inspected and approved by the Electrical Safety Authority in Ontario. Now these 7 tandems breakers are located on the side side of the panel as the following Electric dryer, electric stove, 230 V pool pump and central air circuit. I'm not concerned about the stove and dryer because we use gas but I throw that out there to see what people would think about all tandems and high draw circuits on one side of the box. |
#4
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Legal number of tandem circuit breakers in a panel
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#5
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Legal number of tandem circuit breakers in a panel
On 10/11/2010 4:18 PM, The Henchman wrote:
wrote in message ... Last night I had a double-tapped breaker fail. Turns out the former owner put most of the overhead lighting, and the living room outlets, on these two taps. It's a Cutler-Hammer box so the double-tap was legal. The basement overheads started flickering as I was working, and soon went out. When I got to the panel, I could smell something was wrong, so I started feeling breakers for heat. Found a warm one that sizzled when I touched it. Luckily I had purchased a tandem breaker (two separate circuits that fits in a single breaker slot) back when I took possession of the house. Is there a limit on how many tandem breakers can be installed in a breaker panel? There are two now, and at least one other double-tapped circuit in the house. I'm glad you posted this question. I had a new box installed 2 weeks ago. Siemens made in Canada Box with Siemens made in USA breakers. I have 7 tandem breakers (thereby 14 circuits) on one side of the box. Siemens refers to this box as a 32/64 thereby implying that this box can handle 32 tandems i.e. 64 circuits. The electrician's works was inspected and approved by the Electrical Safety Authority in Ontario. Now these 7 tandems breakers are located on the side side of the panel as the following Electric dryer, electric stove, 230 V pool pump and central air circuit. I'm not concerned about the stove and dryer because we use gas but I throw that out there to see what people would think about all tandems and high draw circuits on one side of the box. i think the OP was referring to what i've heard called "minis". Two breakers that fit a single spot. A "tandem" is two breakers in one that fit in two spots. OP can correct as needed. -- Steve Barker remove the "not" from my address to email |
#6
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Legal number of tandem circuit breakers in a panel
"The Henchman" wrote in message ... wrote in message ... Last night I had a double-tapped breaker fail. Turns out the former owner put most of the overhead lighting, and the living room outlets, on these two taps. It's a Cutler-Hammer box so the double-tap was legal. The basement overheads started flickering as I was working, and soon went out. When I got to the panel, I could smell something was wrong, so I started feeling breakers for heat. Found a warm one that sizzled when I touched it. Luckily I had purchased a tandem breaker (two separate circuits that fits in a single breaker slot) back when I took possession of the house. Is there a limit on how many tandem breakers can be installed in a breaker panel? There are two now, and at least one other double-tapped circuit in the house. I'm glad you posted this question. I had a new box installed 2 weeks ago. Siemens made in Canada Box with Siemens made in USA breakers. I have 7 tandem breakers (thereby 14 circuits) on one side of the box. Siemens refers to this box as a 32/64 thereby implying that this box can handle 32 tandems i.e. 64 circuits. The electrician's works was inspected and approved by the Electrical Safety Authority in Ontario. Now these 7 tandems breakers are located on the side side of the panel as the following Electric dryer, electric stove, 230 V pool pump and central air circuit. I'm not concerned about the stove and dryer because we use gas but I throw that out there to see what people would think about all tandems and high draw circuits on one side of the box. The panel buss alternates both legs all the way down and on both sides, so it doesn't matter unless you installed them every other space, in which case they'd be on the same leg. |
#7
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Legal number of tandem circuit breakers in a panel
The Henchman wrote:
wrote in message ... Last night I had a double-tapped breaker fail. Turns out the former owner put most of the overhead lighting, and the living room outlets, on these two taps. It's a Cutler-Hammer box so the double-tap was legal. The basement overheads started flickering as I was working, and soon went out. When I got to the panel, I could smell something was wrong, so I started feeling breakers for heat. Found a warm one that sizzled when I touched it. Luckily I had purchased a tandem breaker (two separate circuits that fits in a single breaker slot) back when I took possession of the house. Is there a limit on how many tandem breakers can be installed in a breaker panel? There are two now, and at least one other double-tapped circuit in the house. I'm glad you posted this question. I had a new box installed 2 weeks ago. Siemens made in Canada Box with Siemens made in USA breakers. I have 7 tandem breakers (thereby 14 circuits) on one side of the box. Siemens refers to this box as a 32/64 thereby implying that this box can handle 32 tandems i.e. 64 circuits. The electrician's works was inspected and approved by the Electrical Safety Authority in Ontario. Now these 7 tandems breakers are located on the side side of the panel as the following Electric dryer, electric stove, 230 V pool pump and central air circuit. I'm not concerned about the stove and dryer because we use gas but I throw that out there to see what people would think about all tandems and high draw circuits on one side of the box. Nice description. Parts may be specific to the US. A panel will have a limit on the number of 'poles' that are allowed - in the case above it is 64. It is the number of poles with which the panel was tested for listing. As several people have said, the label contains the information. The NEC (and UL) require that tandem devices have a 'feature' that only allows them to be installed in panel positions where the manufacturer has a corresponding 'feature'. These are called class CTL panels and breakers (circuit limiting). For SquareD, the 'feature' on the breaker is a bar that has to fit into a slot in the mounting rail. In a 32/64 panel all the positions would have the 'feature'. Tandem breakers are also made for old (non-CTL) panels and do not have the 'feature', so they fit in any position. I am sure no one would use them in a class CTL panel. -- bud-- |
#8
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Legal number of tandem circuit breakers in a panel
In article , Steve Barker wrote:
i think the OP was referring to what i've heard called "minis". Two breakers that fit a single spot. IOW, a tandem breaker. A "tandem" is two breakers in one that fit in two spots. No, it's not. That's a double-pole breaker. |
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