Hi All,
My main panel is rated 100 amps with 6 15A breakers, 2 20A, 1 30A, 1
50A. I've mapped it all out and found that some of the 15As have over
1500 watts on them (assuming 1.5 amps for each outlet)

The 50A used to power an electric stove, which has been removed. Any
reason I can't remove the 50A breaker and install 3 15As and
distribute the loads better? There's plenty of room in the box.

Why not add up what you actualy use before changing anything

Why not add up what you actualy use before changing anything

Hi,
Well, I did add it up and found that some of the 15s have too much on
them. So, it would be fairly easy to add another couple breakers and
redistribute the loads. Any reason why I can't add a few 15A
breakers to a panel if I'm removing a 50A?

TrueWest wrote:
Hi All,
My main panel is rated 100 amps with 6 15A breakers, 2 20A, 1 30A, 1
50A. I've mapped it all out and found that some of the 15As have over
1500 watts on them (assuming 1.5 amps for each outlet)

The 50A used to power an electric stove, which has been removed. Any
reason I can't remove the 50A breaker and install 3 15As and
distribute the loads better? There's plenty of room in the box.




If there's "plenty of room", you can add circuits without removing the
50A breaker.

BTW, there is no need to split up the old circuits if you are not
tripping the breakers. There is no limit to the number of electric
outlets you can have on a branch circuit -- especially the convenience
outlets in the bedrooms. There is a limit to the number of lights you
can have because it is assumed the lights will sometimes all be on at
the same time.

Bob

Bob is correct, although there is a limit to the number of outlets you can
install on a 15 amp branch circuit and it is 10 figured at 1.5 amps per
outlet as per NEC, however if your not tripping any breakers there's
probably no need to split circuits. If you intend to install airconditioners
on some, then by all means split um up
"TrueWest" wrote in message
...
Hi All,
My main panel is rated 100 amps with 6 15A breakers, 2 20A, 1 30A, 1
50A. I've mapped it all out and found that some of the 15As have over
1500 watts on them (assuming 1.5 amps for each outlet)

The 50A used to power an electric stove, which has been removed. Any
reason I can't remove the 50A breaker and install 3 15As and
distribute the loads better? There's plenty of room in the box.

Check for shared neutrals before rearranging any single pole breakers.

TrueWest wrote:
Hi All,
My main panel is rated 100 amps with 6 15A breakers, 2 20A, 1 30A, 1
50A. I've mapped it all out and found that some of the 15As have over
1500 watts on them (assuming 1.5 amps for each outlet)

The 50A used to power an electric stove, which has been removed. Any
reason I can't remove the 50A breaker and install 3 15As and
distribute the loads better? There's plenty of room in the box.

From: "Roy Mottola"


Bob is correct, although there is a limit to the number of outlets you can
install on a 15 amp branch circuit and it is 10 figured at 1.5 amps per
outlet as per NEC,

This is incorrect. The NEC does not limit the number of convenience receptacles
on a circuit. What the NEC requires is there be a minimum of 3 watts per sq.
ft.

The 1.5 amps per, or 180 watts per, is a calculation used in commercial spaces
only, not residential.

Outlets do not use any power.

however if your not tripping any breakers there's
probably no need to split circuits. If you intend to install airconditioners
on some, then by all means split um up
"TrueWest" wrote in message
.. .
Hi All,
My main panel is rated 100 amps with 6 15A breakers, 2 20A, 1 30A, 1
50A. I've mapped it all out and found that some of the 15As have over
1500 watts on them (assuming 1.5 amps for each outlet)

The 50A used to power an electric stove, which has been removed. Any
reason I can't remove the 50A breaker and install 3 15As and
distribute the loads better? There's plenty of room in the box.

You do not know what you are talking about -- READ your code book
"HA HA Budys Here" wrote in message
...
From: "Roy Mottola"


Bob is correct, although there is a limit to the number of outlets you can
install on a 15 amp branch circuit and it is 10 figured at 1.5 amps per
outlet as per NEC,

This is incorrect. The NEC does not limit the number of convenience
receptacles
on a circuit. What the NEC requires is there be a minimum of 3 watts per
sq.
ft.

The 1.5 amps per, or 180 watts per, is a calculation used in commercial
spaces
only, not residential.

Outlets do not use any power.

however if your not tripping any breakers there's
probably no need to split circuits. If you intend to install
airconditioners
on some, then by all means split um up
"TrueWest" wrote in message
. ..
Hi All,
My main panel is rated 100 amps with 6 15A breakers, 2 20A, 1 30A, 1
50A. I've mapped it all out and found that some of the 15As have over
1500 watts on them (assuming 1.5 amps for each outlet)

The 50A used to power an electric stove, which has been removed. Any
reason I can't remove the 50A breaker and install 3 15As and
distribute the loads better? There's plenty of room in the box.

If total draw on the circuit is well below 15a , and the circuit breaker
is not warm to the touch, and you are not blowing fuses then you should
be safe.

From: "Roy Mottola"

I'm afraid you're mistaken.

(b) Load Evenly Proportioned Among Branch Circuits. Where the load is computed
on a volt-amperes/square foot (0.093 m2) basis, the wiring system up to and
including the branch-circuit panelboard(s) shall be provided to serve not less
than the calculated load. This load shall be evenly proportioned among
multioutlet branch circuits within the panelboard(s). Branch-circuit
overcurrent devices and circuits need only be installed to serve the connected
load.



You do not know what you are talking about -- READ your code book
"HA HA Budys Here" wrote in message
...
From: "Roy Mottola"


Bob is correct, although there is a limit to the number of outlets you can
install on a 15 amp branch circuit and it is 10 figured at 1.5 amps per
outlet as per NEC,

This is incorrect. The NEC does not limit the number of convenience
receptacles
on a circuit. What the NEC requires is there be a minimum of 3 watts per
sq.
ft.

The 1.5 amps per, or 180 watts per, is a calculation used in commercial
spaces
only, not residential.

Outlets do not use any power.

however if your not tripping any breakers there's
probably no need to split circuits. If you intend to install
airconditioners
on some, then by all means split um up
"TrueWest" wrote in message
...
Hi All,
My main panel is rated 100 amps with 6 15A breakers, 2 20A, 1 30A, 1
50A. I've mapped it all out and found that some of the 15As have over
1500 watts on them (assuming 1.5 amps for each outlet)

The 50A used to power an electric stove, which has been removed. Any
reason I can't remove the 50A breaker and install 3 15As and
distribute the loads better? There's plenty of room in the box.

New one on me. Three pole stove breaker?

Figuring it's a double, You can pull the double 50 out and put in a couple
single 20's, and run some 12-2, or put in a couple 15's and run some 14
gage.

Hey, it isn't really honest to just figure 1.5 amps per socket. A branch
with a window AC at 9 amps (or the coffee maker at 15, toaster at 7, hair
dryer at 12) might be more load than the circuit with 10 outlets. If the 10
outlets are a clock, night light, computer, and clock radio.

--

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
www.mormons.com


"TrueWest" wrote in message
...
Hi All,
My main panel is rated 100 amps with 6 15A breakers, 2 20A, 1 30A, 1
50A. I've mapped it all out and found that some of the 15As have over
1500 watts on them (assuming 1.5 amps for each outlet)

The 50A used to power an electric stove, which has been removed. Any
reason I can't remove the 50A breaker and install 3 15As and
distribute the loads better? There's plenty of room in the box.

Works for me. Pull the double 50, and put in a couple single 15's.

--

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
www.mormons.com


"TrueWest" wrote in message
...
Why not add up what you actualy use before changing anything

Hi,
Well, I did add it up and found that some of the 15s have too much on
them. So, it would be fairly easy to add another couple breakers and
redistribute the loads. Any reason why I can't add a few 15A
breakers to a panel if I'm removing a 50A?

Stormin Mormon wrote:
Works for me. Pull the double 50, and put in a couple single 15's.



Why would he pull out the 50A? He said there's plenty of room in the
panel. If he pulls out the 50A, he's gotta do something with the wires.
And someday someone might want to put an electric stove back in.

Just use an unused slot or two for new circuits. Leave as much alone as
you can.

Bob

On Mon, 15 Nov 2004 03:03:22 GMT, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote:

New one on me. Three pole stove breaker?

Figuring it's a double, You can pull the double 50 out and put in a couple
single 20's, and run some 12-2, or put in a couple 15's and run some 14
gage.

Or since he has space, why not leave the double 50 unused where it is
and put in a few 15's as he suggested?

According to TrueWest :
Hi All,
My main panel is rated 100 amps with 6 15A breakers, 2 20A, 1 30A, 1
50A. I've mapped it all out and found that some of the 15As have over
1500 watts on them (assuming 1.5 amps for each outlet)

As others said:

It's probably _not_ worth adding breakers if you're not actually tripping
them. the 1.5A/outlet is sort of a rule-of-thumb for how many outlets
to have on a circuit and gets enforced for "new work", but there's no
particular need to split 'em up in "old work". Unless you're tripping
them.

The 50A used to power an electric stove, which has been removed. Any
reason I can't remove the 50A breaker and install 3 15As and
distribute the loads better? There's plenty of room in the box.

As others said:

If you have the room for more breakers, no reason to remove the stove breaker.

_Further_, in some locales removing an existing stove circuit may be
code illegal. In _most_ locales it can be a resale problem if the
prospective home buyer prefers electric.

So, if you don't _have_ to pull it, don't.
--
Chris Lewis, Una confibula non set est
It's not just anyone who gets a Starship Cruiser class named after them.

You make a LOT of sense. Well said.

--

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
www.mormons.com


"zxcvbob" wrote in message
...
Stormin Mormon wrote:
Works for me. Pull the double 50, and put in a couple single 15's.



Why would he pull out the 50A? He said there's plenty of room in the
panel. If he pulls out the 50A, he's gotta do something with the wires.
And someday someone might want to put an electric stove back in.

Just use an unused slot or two for new circuits. Leave as much alone as
you can.

Bob

You make a LOT of sense. Well said.

The reason I was thinking about pulling the 50A is that I figured you
don't want too many circuits in the panel. I assumed If we sell down
the road and someone re-installs an electric stove after I've put in 3
additional 15A, that's very bad. Is that not true?

I guess I don't understand what it means to be rated at 100 amps. Our
breakers add up to much more than 100, but I figured that the 100A
figure was probably a certain % of max. True....or do I just know
enough to be dangerous?

On Tue, 16 Nov 2004 19:53:36 -0500, TrueWest
wrote:

You make a LOT of sense. Well said.

The reason I was thinking about pulling the 50A is that I figured you
don't want too many circuits in the panel. I assumed If we sell down
the road and someone re-installs an electric stove after I've put in 3
additional 15A, that's very bad. Is that not true?

I guess I don't understand what it means to be rated at 100 amps. Our
breakers add up to much more than 100, but I figured that the 100A
figure was probably a certain % of max. True....or do I just know
enough to be dangerous?

All of the breakers in my 100 amp panel add up to 750 amps and I will
be adding more breakers for a couple of basement rooms without enough
receptacles. The point is you're not using very many of them at any
one time and in your case the total amps used at any one time will be
the same with or without the extra circuits. If the panel could
sustain an electric stove before, the only thing that would prevent
that with extra circuits is plugging in and using simultaneously more
high amp devices than you have now.

I guess I don't understand what it means to be rated at 100 amps. Our
breakers add up to much more than 100, but I figured that the 100A
figure was probably a certain % of max. True....or do I just know
enough to be dangerous?

Except that you've probably got a double-pull breaker, which
blows if EITHER leg exceeds 100 amps, not if the SUM exceeds
100 amps. SO you've got 100 amps of 240V service, or
200 amps of 120V service, or any combination of the two.

I wouldn't worry too much about building too many branch
circuts, anyway, other than not annoying the inspector.
Either the things you want to do in your house end up
drawing less than 200A at any time, in which case, you're
fine, or they don't, in which case you need to upgrade the
panel and service drop anyway. By the time I'm done
with my house, I expect to have 4 separate electric stove
runs, a dryer, an arc-welder circut, and electric
hot water. But I don't expect to be running more than
the water heater and any two of the others at the same
time.

--Goedjn

default posted for all of us....

Except that you've probably got a double-pull breaker, which
blows if EITHER leg exceeds 100 amps, not if the SUM exceeds
100 amps. SO you've got 100 amps of 240V service, or
200 amps of 120V service, or any combination of the two.

No you don't
--
Tekkie

TrueWest posted for all of us....

Hi All,
My main panel is rated 100 amps with 6 15A breakers, 2 20A, 1 30A, 1
50A. I've mapped it all out and found that some of the 15As have over
1500 watts on them (assuming 1.5 amps for each outlet)

The 50A used to power an electric stove, which has been removed. Any
reason I can't remove the 50A breaker and install 3 15As and
distribute the loads better? There's plenty of room in the box.



Why do you want to change something that working to begin with?

Why did no one ask where these wires are coming from to put in the "new"
breakers. Can't use stove wires, they terminate there. Are you running new
circuits to split out some outlets, didn't say that... there's $$$
--
Tekkie

If your "mains" are 100 amps, then they are figuring you won't have
everything turned on at the same time. I think the stove is a big draw, but
only during Thanksgiving when the range, broiler, and all four burners are
going.

--

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
www.mormons.com


"TrueWest" wrote in message
...
You make a LOT of sense. Well said.

The reason I was thinking about pulling the 50A is that I figured you
don't want too many circuits in the panel. I assumed If we sell down
the road and someone re-installs an electric stove after I've put in 3
additional 15A, that's very bad. Is that not true?

I guess I don't understand what it means to be rated at 100 amps. Our
breakers add up to much more than 100, but I figured that the 100A
figure was probably a certain % of max. True....or do I just know
enough to be dangerous?