Number of Handles in an Old Panel

[jtester]

I'm working on a remodel and have two old GE panels, one labeled 18 circuit, the other labeled 30 circuit. My question is If the panel is rated for wafer breakers, can the total number of handles exceed the label which is either 18 or 30? The 30 circuit panel has 35 and the 18 circuit has 30.

I've looked through the GE site, and can't seem to find any info. What experience do you have?

Thanks in advance for all your help.

Jim Tester

 

[zappy]

I always thought if it says say fifteen/thirty circuits or whatever, thats all that would fit. some places on the panel wont accept slim breakers.

 

[480sparky]

Half-size GE breakers need a specific bus bar in order to be installed. If the little 'wings' of the bus bar are present, then the skinnies are allowed.

 

[Cavie]

18 ckts 18 handles same thing. 30 ckts 30 handles same thing. a two pole breaker is two ckts two handles.

 

[raider1]

a two pole breaker is two ckts two handles.

Depends on what context were are talking about.

A 2 pole breaker would be a single handle for the purposes of 230.71.

Chris

 

[LarryFine]

Jim, most panel labels state "X spaces, X circuits", the first indicating the number of full-size 1p breaker spaces, and the second the greatest number of circuits using tandems where allowed.

I agree with 480's comment about the cross-bars on GE stabs.

 

[kbsparky]

GE panels are designed to accept a maximum number of breakers. You might think that there is "room" to install more than the design, but those extra circuits won't work.

The side tabs on the bus bars are only present in limited areas.

 

[augie47]

GE panels are designed to accept a maximum number of breakers. You might think that there is "room" to install more than the design, but those extra circuits won't work.

The side tabs on the bus bars are only present in limited areas.

agree. If your panel has the side tabs, they will be limited so that the total number of breakers will be 40.

 

[Cavie]

Depends on what context were are talking about.

A 2 pole breaker would be a single handle for the purposes of 230.71.

Chris

Yea, yea, yea. the OP was talking about # of circuits in the panel not number of throws of the hand