Installing Breakers

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Joshgreene

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Ely, Iowa, United States
When a residential electrician wires up the breaker, why do they not install open breakers if there is room for them to do so? I have a about four slots where breakers can be installed but I am wondering why the electricians just didn't do that in the first place. It just seems more dangerous to have to go back and do that once my house was complete.
 
This is not a code issue or a safety issue. It's a money issue. More breakers would cost more money. If that is what you want, tell the electrician to do it, and pay the extra.
 
Joshgreene said:
When a residential electrician wires up the breaker, why do they not install open breakers if there is room for them to do so? I have a about four slots where breakers can be installed but I am wondering why the electricians just didn't do that in the first place. It just seems more dangerous to have to go back and do that once my house was complete.
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PHP:


I agree with Charlie, Plus we have no idea what you will use those spaces for. Perhaps you'll install a two pole 50 amp hot tub, Perhaps you'll need a single AFCI $40 breaker, maybe a Single pole RV 30 amp breaker.
That comes down to "if" , if you do this or if you do that.
 
When you buy a panel board from the supply house you usually get a large discount on the breakers. That's why you order them with all the spaces filled with spares. This doesn't make sense with residential load centers because the breakers are very cheap to begin with. And they've also already made the point that you don't know what the future needs are going to be so the chances are those 20 amp Breakers you put in will be connected with 14 gauge wire by the homeowner in the future

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DrSparks said:
When you buy a panel board from the supply house you usually get a large discount on the breakers. That's why you order them with all the spaces filled with spares. This doesn't make sense with residential load centers because the breakers are very cheap to begin with. And they've also already made the point that you don't know what the future needs are going to be so the chances are those 20 amp Breakers you put in will be connected with 14 gauge wire by the homeowner in the future

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I take that back. The afci breakers are obviously not cheap.

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DrSparks said:
When you buy a panel board from the supply house you usually get a large discount on the breakers. That's why you order them with all the spaces filled with spares. This doesn't make sense with residential load centers because the breakers are very cheap to begin with. And they've also already made the point that you don't know what the future needs are going to be so the chances are those 20 amp Breakers you put in will be connected with 14 gauge wire by the homeowner in the future

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We never ordered panels with all the spaces filled.

It's way cheaper to just leave the metal cover tabs in place. Even if no AFCI breakers are to be installed. I have installed many services, and not once did I work for a contractor that filled all the spaces with spares for any reason, so it must not be cheaper to do. We don't use AFCI breakers in Michigan for one and two family dwellings, so I speak from experience.
 
We don't know what you are going to add. As already mentioned - a hot tub - pretty common to need a 50 amp 2 pole GFCI. But not always.

Miniature breakers like used in dwellings are low enough cost you typically just add what is needed when it is needed.
 
K8MHZ said:
We never ordered panels with all the spaces filled.

It's way cheaper to just leave the metal cover tabs in place. Even if no AFCI breakers are to be installed. I have installed many services, and not once did I work for a contractor that filled all the spaces with spares for any reason, so it must not be cheaper to do. We don't use AFCI breakers in Michigan for one and two family dwellings, so I speak from experience.
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That plus the fact that when you remove the breaker from a pre-built panelboard it becomes a used product and not easily exchangeable for another breaker that you might actually need.

JAP>
 
Welcome to The Forum

I may install an extra 15 and 20 amp breaker and run a multiwire branch circuit up to the attic and basement just to save myself a really difficult panel fish, however I rarely install extra Breakers. cost is one issue the main one, it takes time to knock The Knockouts out of the panel, to label them as spare,etc.

I also have a pet theory that many if not most electricians enjoy making the job as difficult as possible for the next man.:lol:

The truth of the matter is most modern homes have enough circuits as it is anyway.

Try living in the average 1950s built home with half the house on one 15 amp circuit breaker I did it for 30 some years.

Also, homeowner is not supposed to be in the panel unless he's licensed electrician.
 
DrSparks said:
When you buy a panel board from the supply house you usually get a large discount on the breakers. That's why you order them with all the spaces filled with spares.
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Mostly with bolt-in commercial panels where the plans/specs call for specific breakers in specific spaces. And they're welcome to bolt them in and can do it faster than we can.
 
roger said:
Where do you get that from?

Roger
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I get that from The Forum rules, and the innumerable one post locked topics started by homeowners, such as the original poster. There is no 2018 code cycle... See his profile.

No offense intended to the original poster however I do not believe he has the necessary qualifications to even open a dead front if I am an error I do apologize in advance.
 
JFletcher said:
No offense intended to the original poster however I do not believe he has the necessary qualifications to even open a dead front if I am an error I do apologize in advance.
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Well, he admits it's dangerous:

It just seems more dangerous to have to go back and do that once my house was complete.
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-Hal
 
DrSparks said:
When you buy a panel board from the supply house you usually get a large discount on the breakers. That's why you order them with all the spaces filled with spares. This doesn't make sense with residential load centers because the breakers are very cheap to begin with. And they've also already made the point that you don't know what the future needs are going to be so the chances are those 20 amp Breakers you put in will be connected with 14 gauge wire by the homeowner in the future

Sent from my A574BL using Tapatalk
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LarryFine said:
Mostly with bolt-in commercial panels where the plans/specs call for specific breakers in specific spaces. And they're welcome to bolt them in and can do it faster than we can.
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I have only gotten factory assembled/installed breakers once that I can recall. All the other times we got majority of needed components from supply house stock with occasional need to wait for a component or two to arrive from the manufacturer. This usually means a 400 amp panelboard arrives as a cabinet, the panelboard assembly, main breaker kit and main breaker (if you needed main breaker), feed through lug kit, and breakers individually boxed, or for small breakers maybe boxes of up to 10. All needs field assembled, but you have less wait time when ordered that way.
 
JFletcher said:
I get that from The Forum rules, and the innumerable one post locked topics started by homeowners, such as the original poster. There is no 2018 code cycle... See his profile.
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The OP is not asking a "DIY" or "How To" question, he is inquiring as to why something is done a particular way.

JFletcher said:
No offense intended to the original poster however I do not believe he has the necessary qualifications to even open a dead front if I am an error I do apologize in advance.
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AFAIK, a homeowner can legally work in their home in most all states but you are correct, we can not help them.

Roger
 
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