Making Room For The Backfeed Breaker

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PistolPete

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Northern Colorado
Hello All,

I was told the breaker panel was full but wasn't told it was full of tandem breakers already (attached).

I would like to get a 20A backfeed breaker in there. Looking for guidance on the best option. It is a meter/panel combo so upgrading the panel is extra work and coordination.

Sub panel?

ThanksIMG_1689.jpg
 
PistolPete said:
Hello All,

I was told the breaker panel was full but wasn't told it was full of tandem breakers already (attached).

I would like to get a 20A backfeed breaker in there. Looking for guidance on the best option. It is a meter/panel combo so upgrading the panel is extra work and coordination.

Sub panel?

ThanksView attachment 16697
Click to expand...
Install and backfeed a subpanel. The breaker feeding the sub will have to connect to the opposite end of the MDP bus from the main breaker, and you'll have to move some loads to the sub.
 
electrofelon said:
I would just combine a few of those circuits. I'll bet a lot of them don't need to be "dedicated"
Click to expand...


Another solution is that you can pop out a few existing circuits, provide a branch breaker in their place that is equal to their sum, and locate the existing breakers in an adjacent subpanel.

Then you can make yourself some physical space in the existing main panel, both for the breaker that feeds the subpanel, and the interconnection breaker.
 
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Carultch said:
Another solution is that you can pop out a few existing circuits, provide a branch breaker in their place that is equal to their sum, and locate the existing breakers in an adjacent subpanel.

Then you can make yourself some physical space in the existing main panel, both for the breaker that feeds the subpanel, and the interconnection breaker.
Click to expand...

No doubt. One of these solutions takes 5 minutes and 2 wire nuts ;)
 
electrofelon said:
No doubt. One of these solutions takes 5 minutes and 2 wire nuts ;)
Click to expand...

Right. It depends on whether or not there is any value or requirement to maintain the existing dedicated circuits. Chances are, a lot of your 15A and 20A circuits are underutilized and can be combined. But if you encounter 30A+ circuits, they probably are that size for a reason and have to be dedicated circuits. Some small circuits may have to be dedicated as well.
 
This is what happens when the lowest bidder is selected at the initial install - you get as little as possible and everything pushed to it's limits.
 
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