Table of Contents
A subpanel is a smaller service panel that distributes power to a specific area of the home or other buildings on the property. It is essentially a satellite circuit breaker panel that has its own breakers.
What defines a subpanel?
Definition of subpanel : a panel that is part of a larger panel: such as. a : a group of persons selected from the members of a panel to perform a specific task appointed two advisory subpanels a subpanel report.
Do I need a subpanel?
If your home’s electrical service panel (breaker box) is full and you need more room to add new circuits, installing a subpanel might be the way to go. Subpanels certainly can add convenience and plenty of room for installing new circuits, but your current system must have enough capacity to support a subpanel.
Can I use a main breaker panel as a subpanel?
There’s no problem with having a main breaker in a subpanel. It’s required if your panel is in a separate building and has more than six breakers, but there’s nothing prohibiting it in any other case.
What is the difference between a panel and a sub panel?
A main panel is an installed box where the power from the utility company enters the premises. A subpanel is an installed features that acts as a middle ground for the main panel and other types of circuits that are connected to your property.
How far can a subpanel be from the main panel?
Looks like 1.5″ EMT so that would mean that the distance between the raceways need to be a minimum of 9″. This allows for the conductors to be installed without damaging them. Also that appears to be a compression EMT connector that connects the box to the sub-panel (same as the one on the main panel).
Are sub panels safe?
Sub panels are often installed for safety reasons. If the main panel is so full that wires are a crowded maze, it’s a hazard. But sometimes, they’re installed for convenience. You might find one alongside the main panel, but they can also be installed in a different room or a separate building.
How much does it cost to install a subpanel?
Subpanel Installation Cost The cost to install a subpanel is $400 to $1,750. This depends on the amperage and the number of circuits. Models have 4 to 20 or more circuits, and the amperage ranges from 100 to 150 amps. In most cases, you’ll install the subpanel near the main one.
When should I install a subpanel?
Subpanels are usually used to extend the wiring for multiple branch circuits to a specific area of a home or to a building at some distance away from the main panel. A garage, outbuilding, or a room addition might be a place to put a subpanel.
What is the benefit of a sub panel?
A sub panel is a necessary addition to any home that runs a lot of electronics or has extra rooms with a heavy load of electrical requirements. This can prevent overloading the electrical system and tripping circuit breakers or melting fuses. Sub panels are also used to separate the electrical needs of specific areas.
Can you feed a panel through a breaker?
If the wire size from the sub panel is the size that the main breaker in the panel being fed from you don’t have to have the breaker but this means if you have a 200 a main breaker in that panel the wire ampacity will need to be that large.
Can I have 2 main electrical panels?
If you are in the US, then the answer is yes. The main electrical drop has to be sized for both panels and each panel should have its own utility meter. All NEC codes must be conformed to. You need to consult your local government to see about local codes as well.
How many subpanels can a house have?
Even though there is no limit on the number of subpanels that you can add to a circuit, it shouldn’t exceed 160 amps when you’re using a 200 amp main panel. Always follow this guide to install subpanels effectively.
How many breakers can you have in a 30 amp sub-panel?
The amount of current that is required for the connected loads can only be supported by a 30 Amp sub-panel. The maximum quantity of branch circuits can be determined with a load calculation. Two 15amp breakers or one 15amp and one 20amp can be used on a 30amp circuit.
How many amps can my panel handle?
The standard for most household circuits are rated either 15 amps or 20 amps. An important note to remember is that circuit breakers can only handle about 80% of their overall amperage. That means a 15-amp circuit breaker can handle around 12-amps and a 20-amp circuit breaker can handle about 16 amps.
Can a subpanel be installed outside?
1 Answer. You can do it — you’ll need a subpanel loadcenter in a NEMA 3R enclosure, though, as well as watertight conduit/raceway and fittings for the outdoor runs, which will be done using THWN in the conduits.
Does a subpanel require a ground rod?
Yes, any sub panel outside of the main building requires it’s own ground rod and a ground wire back to the main building. And yes, a sub panel in the same building as the main does not need a ground rod – only the ground wire.
