jmellc
Senior Member
- Location
- Durham, NC
- Occupation
- Facility Maintenance Tech. Licensed Electrician
I'm sure others fall in this trap too; I forget and have to get refresher courses. Nothing can be taken for granted any more. Customer called the other day for me to install a water heater ckt. I'd worked for her before and assured her a 100 A subpanel was more than adequate for WH. I made sure I had my 10-2 and 30 A DP breaker. Got there and she had a monstrosity of a tankless WH. Used 3 40A DP ckts. I'd done a few before that used 40, 60 or 80 A ckts. She'd never mentioned tankless before and had indicated that any new stuff was just for the basement area. WH was for whole house. I fed it from main panel, close by, and moved some ckts around for it. Normal load was 60 A total, full load was 112. Of course, I had to go out for more stuff too.
I now plan 8-3 and 40A breaker for any drop in or double oven too. 30 A use to be fine for nearly all of those, but now more of them specify 40 A. I ran a 30A ckt recently where oven was not yet bought. Sure enough, it got there and needed 40A. Might have done ok, but I replaced at my expense. Didn't want nuisance tripping or hazards if cable/breaker overheated with heavy use. A former boss had same situation and left on 30A, inspector didn't refuse it. I now start with assuming 40A and also try my best to find out what specific appliance they are getting. Never know when something will be different. There are probably some 50 or 60's out there somewhere.
Also, both these appliances were made by Bosch. High quality, but every Bosch item I've seen made me hunt and peck all over to find nameplate info. Wtr htr had specific guidelines in the owner's manual but almost nothing on the eqpmt itself. Eqpmt also did not have model # that I could find, had to look on box. Manual referred to #on box. Do this for model x, that for model y, etc. Oven had tiny sticker about 3/4 inch long, size of single line correction tape. Could barely read even with bifocals.
I will redouble my efforts to inquire ahead and keep any Bosch container until work is done.
I now plan 8-3 and 40A breaker for any drop in or double oven too. 30 A use to be fine for nearly all of those, but now more of them specify 40 A. I ran a 30A ckt recently where oven was not yet bought. Sure enough, it got there and needed 40A. Might have done ok, but I replaced at my expense. Didn't want nuisance tripping or hazards if cable/breaker overheated with heavy use. A former boss had same situation and left on 30A, inspector didn't refuse it. I now start with assuming 40A and also try my best to find out what specific appliance they are getting. Never know when something will be different. There are probably some 50 or 60's out there somewhere.
Also, both these appliances were made by Bosch. High quality, but every Bosch item I've seen made me hunt and peck all over to find nameplate info. Wtr htr had specific guidelines in the owner's manual but almost nothing on the eqpmt itself. Eqpmt also did not have model # that I could find, had to look on box. Manual referred to #on box. Do this for model x, that for model y, etc. Oven had tiny sticker about 3/4 inch long, size of single line correction tape. Could barely read even with bifocals.
I will redouble my efforts to inquire ahead and keep any Bosch container until work is done.
