Tandem breakers on new install.

[James L]

I have mentioned this before, but I'm all about the sub panel for most houses now. Nothing more tedious and annoying then making up a 40 space full/mostly full panel with mostly AFCI's. Kill self

I'm not sure what you're accomplishing, unless a subpanel makes some of your circuits disappear 🫣

 

[infinity]

I have mentioned this before, but I'm all about the sub panel for most houses now.

I like sub-panels too. For a multi-story house that often is easier than running all of the circuits from the basement or garage. In my house everything came from a single panel in the basement. A sub for the second floor would have been much easier. I ended up adding a sub-panel in the garage because the garage circuit was only 15 amps and my compressor would trip the breaker about every third or fourth time it started.

 

[electrofelon]

I'm not sure what you're accomplishing, unless a subpanel makes some of your circuits disappear 🫣

That's exactly what it does.

 

[James L]

That's exactly what it does.

Can I ask how?

I've never installed a subpanel and started thinking I could run four lighting circuits instead of five

 

[electrofelon]

Can I ask how?

I've never installed a subpanel and started thinking I could run four lighting circuits instead of five

I don't know. All I know is I mention the word sub panel and a bunch of the branch circuits disappear

 

[James L]

I don't know. All I know is I mention the word sub panel and a bunch of the branch circuits disappear

It sounds like you're saying if you use only one 40 space panel you need 42 spaces. But if you put in a subpanel now you only need 26 spaces altogether 🫣

 

[Fred B]

I don't know. All I know is I mention the word sub panel and a bunch of the branch circuits disappear

ah a cost factor makes HO or GC rethink adding all those circuits

After I installed it a 2 pole generator interlock, 2 pole irrigation pump, and a 2 pole cook top were added to the job.

Instantly 6 openings disappeared.

I like the 2 pole tandem for a lot of these. Get a 30/50 for a dryer/range, a 20/30 for a pump/Water Heater, a 20/50 for a pump and EV and 6 becomes 3.

 

[VirutalElectrician]

I like sub-panels too. For a multi-story house that often is easier than running all of the circuits from the basement or garage. In my house everything came from a single panel in the basement. A sub for the second floor would have been much easier. I ended up adding a sub-panel in the garage because the garage circuit was only 15 amps and my compressor would trip the breaker about every third or fourth time it started.

This. #2 SER AL is $1.71/ft. 12/2 NM-B is .40/foot. When you start hitting 5 or 6 home runs to the same area, a sub panel starts making sense.
Also saves you from having to run down 2 flights of stairs when the teenage daughters try and run multiple hair appliances at the same time.

When you start looking at kitchens, with an electric range and all the signle circuit appliances, #1 or 1/0 SER is cheaper than just the 6/3 copper for the electric range alone.

 

[infinity]

When you start looking at kitchens, with an electric range and all the signle circuit appliances, #1 or 1/0 SER is cheaper than just the 6/3 copper for the electric range alone.

I used 75' #1/0 Al SER for my garage sub-panel I think it was about $1/ft.

 

[VirutalElectrician]

I used 75' #1/0 Al SER for my garage sub-panel I think it was about $1/ft.

It's $2.72./ft at the supply house today. AL wire has been jumping up in price lately, almost 20% in the last few months. Interestingly copper jumped up, but then came back down.

 

[electrofelon]

It sounds like you're saying if you use only one 40 space panel you need 42 spaces. But if you put in a subpanel now you only need 26 spaces altogether 🫣

Yes, you add a sub panel, and the TOTAL number of branch circuits in the house goes down. Why is this so hard to understand??

 

[ramsy]

Yes, you add a sub panel, and the TOTAL number of branch circuits in the house goes down. Why is this so hard to understand??

Contractors used to following plans & permits, can’t fathom SNAFU, SWAG & OTF wiring.

 

[LarryFine]

Yes, you add a sub panel, and the TOTAL number of branch circuits in the house goes down. Why is this so hard to understand??

I must confess that I don't get it. What changes besides possibly some circuit lengths?

 

[infinity]

Yes, you add a sub panel, and the TOTAL number of branch circuits in the house goes down. Why is this so hard to understand??

Humor me I don't understand.

 

[ramsy]

Humor me I don't understand.

SNAFU - Sub-Panel Demand Factor?
SWAG - Simple Wild-Ass Guess
OTF - On-The-Fly

 

[electrofelon]

I guess I need to say I'm joking guys. We were talking about tandems, AFCI, not being able to use tandems etc. I said I like to add a sub to reduce the #, of circuits. Yes that's the number of circuits in the main

 

[LarryFine]

I guess I need to say I'm joking guys.

Yes that's the number of circuits in the main

"Miyagi have hope for you!"

 

[ramsy]

Yes that's the number of circuits in the main

Should have see that coming. Please disregard dark humor

 

[Little Bill]

I guess I need to say I'm joking guys. We were talking about tandems, AFCI, not being able to use tandems etc. I said I like to add a sub to reduce the #, of circuits. Yes that's the number of circuits in the main

I was seriously concerned about your mental health there for a moment!

 

[James L]

I guess I need to say I'm joking guys. We were talking about tandems, AFCI, not being able to use tandems etc. I said I like to add a sub to reduce the #, of circuits. Yes that's the number of circuits in the main

I've wired some that I wish I would have added a sub because I maxed out the one panel.

My own house, for one. It's only 1,000 square feet and had a 20 space panel when I moved in, but change is a-comin'

It's a 30/60 and it's got about 15 tandems in it. So far I have only 7 dual function breakers in it, for 2 lighting circuits and 5 kitchen circuits. Everything else is with existing, or it's outside and garage