1"Brekers and !/2" Breakers

Status
Not open for further replies.
K

kripton

Member
In a single phase 120/208 volt 12 circuit panel with 1" plugin type breakers, suplying power for a 3 bedroom apartment, can I replace the circuit breakers for the 1/2" breaker type in order to gain more circuits?.
Is there a code violation?

[ May 22, 2003, 10:04 PM: Message edited by: kripton ]
 
J

jro

Senior Member
Re: 1"Brekers and !/2" Breakers

All panels have a specific rating and a diagram on the cover, in most cases, that will tell you where thin breakers can be installed, as well as the # of thick and thin breakers that panel is good for, also look at how much more load will be added to the exsisting service NEC 2002 Art. 220.3 (C) (1) (2), if the panel is a MLO will I still be within code, NEC 2002 Art. 230.71(A)
 
K

kripton

Member
Re: 1"Brekers and !/2" Breakers

The additional load is minimum, I am just complying with circuitry code compliance.
In this particular Cutler Hamer panel I did not find an indication, that the thick breker culd be exchange with the thin type breaker.
 
B

bennie

Esteemed Member
Re: 1"Brekers and !/2" Breakers

With 12 full size spaces you should be able to install 24 1/2 inch breakers.
 
B

bennie

Esteemed Member
Re: 1"Brekers and !/2" Breakers

You are correct Don. I should have stated; If the panel is identified as a 12-24 the 1/2 inch breakers can be installed.
 
B

bennie

Esteemed Member
Re: 1"Brekers and !/2" Breakers

NEMA Standard for marking number of spaces, and poles, in a loadcenter are;

The first number is the amount of spaces for full size breakers. The second number is the poles available for circuits, by installing the 1/2 size breakers.

When there is only one number, the 1/2 size will be rejected.
 
F

frenchelectrican

Senior Member
Location
Nord'est Wisconsin et Paris France
Re: 1"Brekers and !/2" Breakers

yes don you are right but what if the label is missing the only way is to check the bus bar itself and useally have some label on it but there is a fine line for older boxes what can be use and can't use it. i ran into alot of them kinda of pain in the rearend. anyway most box will have model number then type then numbers of breaker somecase have double numbers like 2030 that mean 20 full breaker or 30 combations of half and full brekaers but some case they will leave the digram where it will be connete(size of breakers)some sisuations i see boxes that are not approved to use duplex breakers in place of full one then i have to check on the connections i know one manufacter is very easy to it but rest of other is little tougher to use it but have specal way to clip the specal breakers there

merci marc

ps i will get the manfacters listing as my time perments then i will post it somehow
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top