Darren Posted February 3, 2015 Report Posted February 3, 2015 I know its a mess- Two questions 1) is a 'pony' breaker considered 1 breaker or 2? 2) is this panel 'overloaded'? Thanks Click to Enlarge 69.7 KB Click to Enlarge 139.75 KB
palmettoinspect Posted February 3, 2015 Report Posted February 3, 2015 What's a 'Pony' breaker? Marc I believe he's referring to a double "wafer" or "tandem" single pole breaker.
Marc Posted February 3, 2015 Report Posted February 3, 2015 Panel is CTL rated and diagram indicates 40 circuits permitted. There's more than 40 circuits installed so that specification is exceeded. Whether the panel is overloaded is a separate question and can be determined only by completing a load analysis on the house. Marc
Marc Posted February 3, 2015 Report Posted February 3, 2015 What is CTL rated? Circuit Total Limitation. It limits the number of circuits you can source from a single panel. Marc
Charlie R Posted February 3, 2015 Report Posted February 3, 2015 Tandem breakers count as two breakers. The diagram in the photo indicates a maximum of 40 breakers and I'm counting more than 40 breakers in the panel so the panel is in violation of the manufacturer's instruction. "Hire a licensed electrician to - - - "
Marc Posted February 3, 2015 Report Posted February 3, 2015 The electrical panel has more breakers than the manufacturer intended. If they're there because you've added more rooms or appliances to the house then you should ask an electrician to completed a load analysis to make sure the panel isn't overloaded. Otherwise, I wouldn't worry about it. Marc
Charlie R Posted February 4, 2015 Report Posted February 4, 2015 Here is a good explanation on inspecting panels with tandem breakers installed - http://www.structuretech1.com/2012/02/t ... -breakers/
palmettoinspect Posted February 4, 2015 Report Posted February 4, 2015 Here is a good explanation on inspecting panels with tandem breakers installed - http://www.structuretech1.com/2012/02/t ... -breakers/ Great read! Although I hate thinking about all those previous panels I've seen before with tandem breakers and wondering if they were allowed. Just ran into this tandem breaker installed that was not seated correctly. I called it out, but looking back I'm glad I did as I'm thinking its was probably altered to fit the panel. Click to Enlarge 49.58 KB Click to Enlarge 72.75 KB
Neal Lewis Posted February 6, 2015 Report Posted February 6, 2015 Just ran into this tandem breaker installed that was not seated correctly. I called it out, but looking back I'm glad I did as I'm thinking its was probably altered to fit the panel. Click to Enlarge 49.58 KB Click to Enlarge 72.75 KB Did you try pushing the tandem breaker in firmly? I always make sure a breaker isn't going to pop out before I take the cover off. Occasionally the cover is keeping the breaker from falling out.
palmettoinspect Posted February 6, 2015 Report Posted February 6, 2015 Just ran into this tandem breaker installed that was not seated correctly. I called it out, but looking back I'm glad I did as I'm thinking its was probably altered to fit the panel. Click to Enlarge 49.58 KB Click to Enlarge 72.75 KB Did you try pushing the tandem breaker in firmly? I always make sure a breaker isn't going to pop out before I take the cover off. Occasionally the cover is keeping the breaker from falling out. Yes, I did. I don't like to touch anything aside form the normal things we have to touch, but in a case like this I will. It wouldn't go back in. I would never pull a breaker out completely to check if it's altered or not though. This was a Square D wafer / tandem breaker in a GE panel.
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