Tandem breakers in cutler hammer load center.

[Rivahtech]

Hello everyone. I've recently looked at a job that has a cutler hammer ch type panel and this is residential. It has 40 spaces and the issue is there are 6 breakers that are double tapped. The only numbers I found in panel were ch40km200. The info I can find is that this panel isn't capable of having tandems by its model number. Home is for sale so these items need to be fixed but they don't want to spend much on it. I'm just looking to protect myself and make it manufacturer and code compliant. There's other issues to like no romex connectors and such. It's more or less a rats nest. Any help would be appreciated thanks.

 

[Little Bill]

Since they're looking for "cheap", I would take the double tapped breakers and pigtail the two conductors with one lead to the breaker. If it hasn't overloaded the breaker being double tapped you should be fine pigtailing them. It's also legal!

 

[jhawkbb]

Still a newbie but I believe some Cutler CH breakers are rated for two conductors so it might be ok. If not then we would pigtail the two into one and call it a day.

 

[peter d]

Since they're looking for "cheap", I would take the double tapped breakers and pigtail the two conductors with one lead to the breaker. If it hasn't overloaded the breaker being double tapped you should be fine pigtailing them. It's also legal!

I agree. :thumbsup:

 

[Smart $]

Ummm... :slaphead:

...while the preceding recommendations are fine and dandy, there is a big IF attached... and that is, you must ascertain the calculated load of the combined circuits does not exceed the circuit rating after combined. You can't just combine circuits willy nilly without regard for such. "Should be fine" is not the prescribed method for making that determination.

 

[JFletcher]

Welcome.

Still a newbie but I believe some Cutler CH breakers are rated for two conductors so it might be ok. If not then we would pigtail the two into one and call it a day.

Smaller CH CH (tan handles) breakers are rated for two conductors of the same size. There is no code violation unless those conductors are going to the same load (paralleled).

 

[Little Bill]

Ummm... :slaphead:

...while the preceding recommendations are fine and dandy, there is a big IF attached... and that is, you must ascertain the calculated load of the combined circuits does not exceed the circuit rating after combined. You can't just combine circuits willy nilly without regard for such. "Should be fine" is not the prescribed method for making that determination.

Load calculations are proven by the fact the double tapped breaker hasn't tripped!
Remember, they are looking for "cheap"!:roll:

 

[ActionDave]

I just went and looked in my truck, CH breakers allow double taps.

 

[norcal]

Just a note, twin breakers only fit type CH loadcenters that have the nibs as shown on the lower part of the rail in the photo below.





There is a huge installed base of C-H loadcenters that were never designed to use twin breakers, without that nib, they fit, but flop around.

 

[Smart $]

Load calculations are proven by the fact the double tapped breaker hasn't tripped!
Remember, they are looking for "cheap"!:roll:

:blink:

Please provide Code reference.

 

[jumper]

I just went and looked in my truck, CH breakers allow double taps.

Sq D QO also.

 

[peter d]

CH-CH breakers rated for more than one wire per terminal? Say it aint so.

 

[peter d]

Sq D QO also.

And Homeline, they have the same double lug as QO.

 

[jumper]

CH-CH breakers rated for more than one wire per terminal? .

yep.

 

[jumper]

And Homeline, they have the same double lug as QO.

Cool. Never worked with Homeline yet.

 

[peter d]

Cool. Never worked with Homeline yet.

Same "guts" as QO and therefore same trip curves, minus the trip indicator.

 

[Smart $]

Just a note, twin breakers only fit type CH loadcenters that have the nibs...

There is a huge installed base of C-H loadcenters that were never designed to use twin breakers, without that nib, they fit, but flop around.

Eaton/CH makes Non-CTL Plug-On Replacement Circuit Breakers
15/15, 15/20, and 20/20 combinations.

See page 24 of 30 in this catalog:
http://www.eaton.com/ecm/groups/public/@pub/@electrical/documents/content/vol12_tab05.pdf

 

[norcal]

Eaton/CH makes Non-CTL Plug-On Replacement Circuit Breakers
15/15, 15/20, and 20/20 combinations.

See page 24 of 30 in this catalog:
http://www.eaton.com/ecm/groups/public/@pub/@electrical/documents/content/vol12_tab05.pdf

The non-CTL style is intended for loadcenters built prior to 1968.

 

[Smart $]

The non-CTL style is intended for loadcenters built prior to 1968.

But that does not prevent them from being installed in post-1968 panelboards.

 

[norcal]

But that does not prevent them from being installed in post-1968 panelboards.

Does the fact that they fit make it OK? I can make a SQ D QO fit too. :lol: