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Helpmeplease

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Location
Tx
I have a 225amp MCB. panel. I am going to add at least 10-3pole 30 amp breakers and 10-1pole 20 amp breakers. The load is continuous. How do I calculate to see if this is too much load?

FYI its for a data center.
 

iwire

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Massachusetts
I have a 225amp MCB. panel. I am going to add at least 10-3pole 30 amp breakers and 10-1pole 20 amp breakers. The load is continuous. How do I calculate to see if this is too much load?

FYI its for a data center.

The numbers on the breaker handles are meaningless for this.

You need a list of all the loads you are connecting.

Can I assume this a is a three phase 208 volt panelboard?
 

Helpmeplease

Member
Location
Tx
The numbers on the breaker handles are meaningless for this.

You need a list of all the loads you are connecting.

Can I assume this a is a three phase 208 volt panelboard?


I do not know the specs on the loads. I know its computers equip. Yes its is a 3 phase 208v panel board.
 

Sahib

Senior Member
Location
India
I have a 225amp MCB. panel. I am going to add at least 10-3pole 30 amp breakers and 10-1pole 20 amp breakers. The load is continuous. How do I calculate to see if this is too much load?

FYI its for a data center.
If breakers are continuous rated, load+25% may equal breaker rating. In that case, maximum load on one phase= (10*30)+(10*20)=500A. The 225A breaker would trip.
If the breaker is 80% rated, maximum load is limited to 500*0.8=400A. The 225A breaker would still trip.
 

ActionDave

Chief Moderator
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Location
Durango, CO, 10 h 20 min from the winged horses.
Occupation
Licensed Electrician
If breakers are continuous rated, load+25% may equal breaker rating. In that case, maximum load on one phase= (10*30)+(10*20)=500A. The 225A breaker would trip.
If the breaker is 80% rated, maximum load is limited to 500*0.8=400A. The 225A breaker would still trip.
So you are saying that a 500A load will trip a 225A breaker and even if you reduce the load to 400A it will still trip? What a piece of junk.
 

mwm1752

Senior Member
Location
Aspen, Colo
I have a 225amp MCB. panel. I am going to add at least 10-3pole 30 amp breakers and 10-1pole 20 amp breakers. The load is continuous. How do I calculate to see if this is too much load?

FYI its for a data center.

for exact calculations - Each branch circuit supplys a load -- you have at least 20 loads to specify -- Loads that draw current for a time period of min 3hours are considered continuous -- for each of the continuous load multiply by 125% -- add all continuous loads & non continuous loads together --- KW/ (E x 1.72) = I - 3 phase --- under 225 ur good -- you said add so do the same for existing loads if they exist, include in calculations. 400 amps is quite a load of ----

Code lets you figure loads for feeders & services in the NEC articles -- follow the code sections
 

augie47

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Tennessee
Occupation
State Electrical Inspector (Retired)
Real world analogy, take a look at your house panel. Add up the all the breaker ratings and you will get a number 2 to 3 times greater than the panel rating.
As other have stated you must have the actual loads and the diversity to come close. A lot of IT rooms I see will have a ton of 20 amp circuits with less than 5 amps on each.
 
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