120V Subpanel?

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Re: 120V Subpanel?

Originally posted by davedottcom:
you could just use a single pole breaker on the A Phase and run a jumper from the breaker to the feed the B phase lug!
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That's true. It would probably wind up being a 2-pole with one phase not in use, in this case. I don't believe I've run across a 1 pole 50 amp breaker. :D
 
Re: 120V Subpanel?

With a #6 feeder, 60a, a single-pole 30 should be able to carry half the panel okay.
 
Re: 120V Subpanel?

Dave,
That's easy enough, and if it's not possible for some reason you could just use a single pole breaker on the A Phase and run a jumper from the breaker to the feed the B phase lug!
That's NOT back feeding!
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Why is that not backfeeding? The feed would be landed on the breaker and the breaker snapped onto the bus.
Don
 
Re: 120V Subpanel?

Don, it just isn't!
The single SE ungrounded conductor would be terminated to the A phase lug energizing all of the A phase bars. The breaker would be attached to the A phase just like all the other breakers. A "jumper" wire would run from the breaker "load" terminal to the main "line" lug of phase B. When you would turn on that breaker it would energize the main B lug and the rest of the B phase bar. Same 120 volt feed into both phases. The single pole breaker in the main panel would control both A & B phases in the sub panel.

In short, the breaker would be energized from the phase bar not the screw terminal, therefore it's not getting back-fed.
 
Re: 120V Subpanel?

Originally posted by benaround:
Well, I guess that install is up to code!!! I wonder how that makes you feel?

frank
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mixed feelings I guess...

5% :(


Yep, that pretty much sums it up!
 
Re: 120V Subpanel?

Somebody sounds a little impatient... :p

I'm meeting the homeowner tomorrow at 3:00 pm to size up the situation. I'll be sure to report back afterward and let you all know what I found.
 
Re: 120V Subpanel?

Originally posted by davedottcom:
mixed feelings I guess...
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You forgot one other constituency:

baldguy.gif
1%
 
Re: 120V Subpanel?

Just post a label 120 volt sub panel only,if they go to hook up a 240 welder well they are csrpenters doing brain surgery :eek:
 
Re: 120V Subpanel?

I went and looked at it today. It was pretty much what I expected -- DIY hack job. Someone thought protecting a 12/3 cable with a 30A breaker was a good idea. Lots of NM is also stapled up very poorly on wall surfaces.

In the basement of the duplex (two separate services) I found an interesting multiwire circuit. One leg of the circuit was fed from a breaker in one main panel, and the other leg was fed from a breaker in the other main panel. For some reason, the hot from the circuit in panel #1 was connected to an outgoing hot in panel #2 via a length of 12/2 between the two panels. The neutrals in the NM were not used. I have no idea why anyone would wire something up like that. I didn't have my DMM with me, so I don't know if the two circuits were on opposite phases.

All in all, it's not a job I really want, so I'm going to bid it high.
 
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