Combining Circuits

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mstrlucky74

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Not sure I quite understand what they mean or what would be involved when they say consolidate extg. branch circuits. So take multiple extg. circuits and make them one circuit based on amprobe readings. Thanks.
 

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I would assume it means to take amperage readings. To what end do you have to combine existing circuits? How much space needs to be made in the existing panels for new circuits?

I would think that most of the lighting circuits are already at capacity and thus not good candidates to be combined.
 
Amprobe is the brand name of a company that makes measurement equipment. You can't take ampere readings after you disconnect the circuit breaker. So my interpretation is that you are being asked to verify which circuit supplies power to which loads.
 
It appears to me that they are asking you to get the load current for each circuit and consolidate circuits to free up panel space. The issue with that is that you are only getting "snapshot" load information and would not really be a suitable method of determining if circuits could be consolidated unless steps were take to ensure that all possible loads were on at the time of the "snapshot" current reading.
 
charlie b said:
Amprobe is the brand name of a company that makes measurement equipment. You can't take ampere readings after you disconnect the circuit breaker. So my interpretation is that you are being asked to verify which circuit supplies power to which loads.
Click to expand...

So circuit tracing?
 
don_resqcapt19 said:
It appears to me that they are asking you to get the load current for each circuit and consolidate circuits to free up panel space. The issue with that is that you are only getting "snapshot" load information and would not really be a suitable method of determining if circuits could be consolidated unless steps were take to ensure that all possible loads were on at the time of the "snapshot" current reading.
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So when you say "free up" panel space you mean have some spare breakers? Can you provide a little more detail as to why you're only getting a snapshot? Thanks
 
mstrlucky74 said:
So when you say "free up" panel space you mean have some spare breakers? Can you provide a little more detail as to why you're only getting a snapshot? Thanks
Click to expand...

Go to my house on a Sunday afternoon and mesure the amp load on my bathroom recept circuits and you'll get nothing. Measure on a Friday afternoon when my daughter is getting ready to go out and the same circuits will be at max load because of all the curling irons running.
 
ActionDave said:
Go to my house on a Sunday afternoon and mesure the amp load on my bathroom recept circuits and you'll get nothing. Measure on a Friday afternoon when my daughter is getting ready to go out and the same circuits will be at max load because of all the curling irons running.
Click to expand...

Got it....thanks.
 
I think they are wanting you to take some lightly loaded circuits and combine some of them to free up spaces in the panel for loads you need to add.

Thing is as the designer they should have taken these measurements and specified which circuits to combine IMO.
 
mstrlucky74 said:
. Isnt a load calc and amp probe reading?
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Load calc is a calculation that considers equipment ratings and may include demand factors - though demand factors usually apply to service or feeders more so then branch circuits.

Amp probe reading is nothing more then an instantaneous value at the time the reading is taken, it may be at high peak demand, low peak demand or anywhere in between. Depending on load characteristics, such reading may be the only reading you will see when the load is in operation though.
 
don_resqcapt19 said:
It appears to me that they are asking you to get the load current for each circuit and consolidate circuits to free up panel space.
Click to expand...


That's what I think they want and I don't like it. That's assuming a lot. There may be circuits in an old panel that are not even being used anymore but you can't count on it.

Sometime there may be circuits that can be consolidated or eliminated an other times there are not.

I'll bet they did this on another job and it worked out and they just assume that this building will be the same.

What kind of professional requires you to "amprobe" a circuit?
 
I also find it sort of curious the replacement of the circuit breakers... almost sounds like the engineer wants you to put those combined circuits on larger newer Breakers or something... RFI for sure
 
mstrlucky74 said:
Not sure I quite understand what they mean or what would be involved when they say consolidate extg. branch circuits. So take multiple extg. circuits and make them one circuit based on amprobe readings. Thanks.
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Was or is a walk through available, go to it.
Sounds like lazy do my work for me, what do the panel schedules show?
Like others said most of the circuits would already be maxed, you would need the old as-builts and guess/hope they are true or add lots of trouble shooting time to calculate loads, again their job, unless this is a design build.
Remove change add breakers what the heck is that? Can the panel hold the calculated load, right they were supposed to determine that.
Not too late to no bid!
I would rfi this big time, or move on to a better bid that won't end up in court, if you can find one!
 
sameguy said:
Was or is a walk through available, go to it.
Sounds like lazy do my work for me, what do the panel schedules show?
Like others said most of the circuits would already be maxed, you would need the old as-builts and guess/hope they are true or add lots of trouble shooting time to calculate loads, again their job, unless this is a design build.
Remove change add breakers what the heck is that? Can the panel hold the calculated load, right they were supposed to determine that.
Not too late to no bid!
I would rfi this big time, or move on to a better bid that won't end up in court, if you can find one!
Click to expand...
Need to do that task would be more understood with design build, but with design build you won't have plans and specifications to estimate off of. You might have original or as built to work with and use to help come up with new design.
 
without the dwg hard to say
first, the ckt i should be amp'ed BEFORE removing the cb's lol

sounds like the dwgs show ckts combined in the field
they want each of those ckts fully energized, measured and the new cb sized based on the sum of the 2 ckts

sounds iffy imo
 
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