Square D AFCI breaker double tapped

[Tim Maxwell]

Hi guys/gals

I know that many or most of the Square D breakers are designed for two wires and all but the AFCI breakers do not look like the attachment is made for two wires.

Needless to say I have found one today on a new construction.

I'm thinking NOT OK but wanted to check the board before reporting.

Thanks

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[Robert Jones]

The bottom breaker does look double tapped. Is there room in that panel to add another breaker?

[Jim Port]

I don't remember if the AFCIs can accept 2 wires.

A pigtail could be installed to alleviate this situation.

[Richard Moore]

They only breakers listed as accepting 2 (copper) wires are the 10 through 30 amp, one or two pole, standard breakers. So no double-taps on AFCIs.

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[Jack Davenport]

Square D AFCI breakers are not designed to accept multiple conductors.

To correct this situation one would need to

A) add another AFCI breaker

or

B) splice those wires together with a pigtail to the breaker

[JeremyDP]

Can the splice occur within the panel?

Thread drift...

Also, can the panel contain terminated conductors? No pic, but it looks like at one time the house had an electric range and dryer, then converted them to gas. So they terminated the conductors for each (and labeled them) and replaced the 30 amp breakers with 20's for other use. I thought I have read where you can not have terminated conductors in the panel.

[Jim Port]

Yes, the splice can be made in the panel up to the limits of conductor fill.

Unused conductors are commonly terminated in panels when the circuit is no longer needed. They could also be removed entirely or placed in a junction box outside the panel.

[JeremyDP]

Thank you Jim!

[ericwlewis]

The bottom breaker does look double tapped. Is there room in that panel to add another breaker?

Hard to tell but it looks like there is room for 5(?) more breakers....