Looking to consolidate an old Challenger 20/40 panel load center plus a Challenger 16/24 sub (mounted right next to the 20/40) into a single panel as part of a basement remodel. Main is full - 36 breakers plus the feeds to the sub. Sub only has 4 single pole 20's and a dual pole for the AC. All this was from the builder/previous owner. Most of the current circuits are actually shared neutral 12/3 lines, wired two dual pole breakers. In the main panel, I have 15 dual poles (30 slots). Generally, these feed circuits in adjacent areas (example: master bedroom plugs, then master bedroom lights). A few of them are dual poles because they're 220 lines as well. I'll be adding a number of additional circuits with the basement remodel and addition of a home theater.
The challenge is that Homeline doesn't offer a tandem 2-pole breaker standalone, and their quad breakers contain a 2-pole in the middle and singles on either side. So in my situation, where what I have today is mostly dual poles, if I want tandems, I need to buy 2 single poles for each tandem dual in quad format.
So my (probably dumb) question: are there any issues with installing quads, but not (immediately) using some number of single-pole breakers on the quads? For example, if I buy 10 quads and fill out the 20 available tandem slots on the 40/60, and use the 10 dual poles on the quads for existing circuits, is there any issue with not using/connecting all 20 of the attached single-pole breakers initally? If I do my migration ahead of my remodel? Or could some of the singles installed on the quads be safely left unattached/dorment until they're needed after the basement remodel?
Any help would be greatly appreciated. I won't be doing the actual work myself, but want to understand what equipment options I have. I'm also considering just going with the (more expensive) QO 40/60 unit, which has more tandem flexibility.
The challenge is that Homeline doesn't offer a tandem 2-pole breaker standalone, and their quad breakers contain a 2-pole in the middle and singles on either side. So in my situation, where what I have today is mostly dual poles, if I want tandems, I need to buy 2 single poles for each tandem dual in quad format.
So my (probably dumb) question: are there any issues with installing quads, but not (immediately) using some number of single-pole breakers on the quads? For example, if I buy 10 quads and fill out the 20 available tandem slots on the 40/60, and use the 10 dual poles on the quads for existing circuits, is there any issue with not using/connecting all 20 of the attached single-pole breakers initally? If I do my migration ahead of my remodel? Or could some of the singles installed on the quads be safely left unattached/dorment until they're needed after the basement remodel?
Any help would be greatly appreciated. I won't be doing the actual work myself, but want to understand what equipment options I have. I'm also considering just going with the (more expensive) QO 40/60 unit, which has more tandem flexibility.
