Renovation work, panel is full.

[jeff48356]

I'm sure most of you have run into this problem a time or two. The customer (homeowner) wants to have renovation work done that involves adding a new circuit or two, but the panel is completely full. Other than walking away from the job, how would you deal with the issue? Suppose a new panel upgrade would be beyond their budget for the project, so the existing one would need to remain.

 

[roger]

Tandem breakers?

Roger

 

[LarryFine]

Several small circuits moved to a sub-panel. New large circuits in the main panel, new small circuits in the sub.

The smaller the circuits in the sub-panel, the smaller its feeder can be. So, start with moving the 15a circuits.

 

[James L]

Depending on the age of the house, size of panel, etc....sometimes you can find dedicated circuits that don't need to be, and pigtail a couple or three to make space.

For instance, I've seen where someone added a circuit to a gfci receptacle for a fountain, also had a dedicated circuit to a receptacle under the panel, and dedicated circuit for a defunct alarm.

Pigtailed all three to one breaker and freed up 2 spaces

 

[BillyMac59]

Appears your choices are either upgrading to a bigger panel, adding a subpanel and relocating some existing loads or adding tandem breakers. The last option is probably quickest and cheapest. Determining if the panel manufacturer has such breakers for the panel is the big factor. Personally, I'd want a subpanel installed. There may be a few "Oh, yeah" moments in the near future.

 

[Little Bill]

As was mentioned, sometimes small loads are on a dedicated circuit such as bedroom lights, outside light(s), seldom used receptacles in a garage or basement, etc. Combine them and free up some space. That and tandem breakers if a subpanel is not an option.

Sidenote: sometimes you have to add a neutral bar, and/or a ground bar if the main ones are full.