Sub panel

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guschash

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Is there anything wrong with having a 60 amp breaker feeding a sub panel that has 100amp main. Not if sure if I can get the 100 amp breaker out of sub panel to put in 60 amp. I had the 100 amp panel and thought I could use it.
 
guschash said:
Is there anything wrong with having a 60 amp breaker feeding a sub panel that has 100amp main. Not if sure if I can get the 100 amp breaker out of sub panel to put in 60 amp. I had the 100 amp panel and thought I could use it.
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100% ok- done all the time. Just make sure your main breaker will handle the subfeed wire size. They will say somewhere like 4-1/0 or 6-2/0 ect.
 
guschash said:
Is there anything wrong with having a 60 amp breaker feeding a sub panel that has 100amp main.
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As above, not at all. The 100a main in the sub-panel will merely act as a disconnect switch, which is at most all it need be there to do. (Sub-panels require a main disco only in certain circumstances.)
 
ptonsparky said:
??

The grounded conductor needs to be isolated from the can and an equipment ground included in the feeder. Easy enough on most panels. Are some listed for use as Service Equipment Only?

Increase the size of the wire from the 60 to the 100 if the latter's range is not adequate.
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Most catalogs and every load center I've seen has a min/max wire range for the main.


http://pdf.lowes.com/useandcareguides/783164085679_use.pdf


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mbrooke,
You're blowing this way out of proportion and heading away from what the OP asked.

OP said this:

guschash said:
Is there anything wrong with having a 60 amp breaker feeding a sub panel that has 100amp main.
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Then you said this:

mbrooke said:
100% ok- done all the time. Just make sure your main breaker will handle the subfeed wire size. They will say somewhere like 4-1/0 or 6-2/0 ect.
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I asked this:

Little Bill said:
And why wouldn't 60A wire fit in a 100A breaker (main)?
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To which you replied:

mbrooke said:
Usage and listing.
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Then this

mbrooke said:
Most catalogs and every load center I've seen has a min/max wire range for the main.


My point/question was if the OP was already using a 60A breaker to feed the 100A main breaker panel, common reasoning would be that he was planning on using wire rated for 60A, probably #6 to feed the panel. I was asking/pointing out that the lugs/breaker terminals on a 100A would certainly be large enough for 60A (#6) wire. Even if he used wire rated at 100A it would fit since the panel/breaker is 100A as well.
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Little Bill said:
My point/question was if the OP was already using a 60A breaker to feed the 100A main breaker panel, common reasoning would be that he was planning on using wire rated for 60A, probably #6 to feed the panel. I was asking/pointing out that the lugs/breaker terminals on a 100A would certainly be large enough for 60A (#6) wire. Even if he used wire rated at 100A it would fit since the panel/breaker is 100A as well.
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They would be large enough, but if his 100amp main is listed say 4-1/0, #6 would be to small. I doubt it would be an issue in reality, however it would technically be a violation of the code. Just something I wanted the OP to be aware of should it come up.
 
Little Bill said:
And why wouldn't 60A wire fit in a 100A breaker (main)?
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I guess he already mentioned it by now, but need to make sure it isn't too small for the terminal. 100 amp breaker is likely able to accept 60 amp conductor. Get into 200 amp frame size breakers and you might be too small with a 60 amp conductor in some cases and need to adapt somehow to terminate properly.
 
Little Bill said:
I was asking/pointing out that the lugs/breaker terminals on a 100A would certainly be large enough for 60A (#6) wire.
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Methinks the concern was that the 100a breaker terminals are small enough for the 60a conductors.

Added Didn't see the above posts.
 
Yes and Yes- I've seen plenty of subpanels fed by #6 NM with the main breaker not listed for #6. Even done it myself. Did it physical fit? Yes Did the wire pull out? No? But its technically a violation that some inspector may call out if he doesn't like you.
 
mbrooke said:
Yes and Yes- I've seen plenty of subpanels fed by #6 NM with the main breaker not listed for #6. Even done it myself. Did it physical fit? Yes Did the wire pull out? No? But its technically a violation that some inspector may call out if he doesn't like you.
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Even if he does like you he has justification to fail it.;)
 
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