adding 220V to breaker box?

[miketyler]

I need to add a 220V breaker to the panel in my shop but the breaker box is full. How best to do that? I would like to replace two of the single 110 breakers for a pair of double pole units but I havent found one that works in my panel yet.

Am not an electrician, maybe there's a different approach to this? Replacing a single with a dual breaker seems easiest if I could find compatible units. Any ideas or suggestions?

[jyro]

it makes a lot of difference in what you can find. Some of the old ones are a PIA to locate.

[miketyler]

Let me check. The house was built in 2006, and the electrical in the shop and the house look like brand new. I'm strking out at Home Depot, where can I take one of my breakers to match it up?

[Vertnut]

Let me check. The house was built in 2006, and the electrical in the shop and the house look like brand new. I'm strking out at Home Depot, where can I take one of my breakers to match it up?
You need to find a true electrical supply house. We have a Parrish-Hare down here in Midlothian, that has everything imagineable when it comes to electrical items.

[miketyler]

Its a SquareD panel and breakers. Is there a supply house between downtown Dallas and Cedar Hill that you know of? Actually, Midlothian isn't that far from me either

[Vertnut]

Its a SquareD panel and breakers. Is there a supply house between downtown Dallas and Cedar Hill that you know of? Actually, Midlothian isn't that far from me either
The only other one I know of, is in Waxahachie. I'm sure there are others, but I don't venture out much... ;)

Parrish-Hare is on the north side of 287, just east of "downtown" Midlothian.

[miketyler]

ok, found breakerbrokers. Apparently they have supply houses in Arlington and Dallas.

Website is www.breakerbroker.com

[J&T's 82]

If your house was built in 2006 then you probably have the Home-Line Square D's. You can get those breakers @ lowes or home depot. If it is the commercial type Square D then you need to go to a supply house. Not all electrical supply houses handle Square D. I believe Dealers and Summit do.

[miketyler]

I believe it is a Home-Line actually. But I have tried all the dual units on the HD shelf that matched up closest to mine and none worked.

BB says they have duals (HOMT-20-20 dual 20a unit) but also have a single quad unit. It has four poles with two that are bridged for 220V use. That would be ideal as their other dual units aren't bridged and trip independent of each other.

I guess you could drill the switches and insert a pin so they both tripped together but that's probably not a kosher practice when working with electrical huh? :rolleyes:

[STANGGT40]

you either have "homeline" or "qo" breakers. the "qo" breakers are a little thiner and generally have a "trip window" in front of the handle...it's a clear plastic window that shows a red slide if the breaker is tripped. if the breaker isn't triped, you can still see the very edge of the red slide. the "homeline" breakers are a bit thicker and are very similar to ge breakers.

what you'll need to "thin down" your panel would be some "piggyback" breakers. do a search for square d piggyback breakers (homeline or qo, depending on what you have) you should be able to find either at home depot...they sell the qo and the homeline.

brad

[STANGGT40]

homeline piggyback breaker:

http://ecatalog.squared.com/catalog/173/html/sections/06/images/173060093.jpg

[mwil]

they carry that squareD stuff almost everywhere....just replace 4 of your single 20s with 2 doubles...that will free up some space for you...did this about 3 weeks ago...piece of cake. Just be sure you shut off the power to the box first!

[miketyler]

Well I have tried everything that looked compatible at Home Depot. Will try them again on my way home this evening.

I have been using heavy gloves and working VERY carefully around the panel so far. The odd thing is there is no large master breaker at the top of the panel! I dont see a main breaker for it on either of the panels in the attached garage either. WTF over?

[slowimport96]

I couldnt imagine a house being built in 2006 and not having a main shutoff..

[STANGGT40]

Well I have tried everything that looked compatible at Home Depot. Will try them again on my way home this evening.

I have been using heavy gloves and working VERY carefully around the panel so far. The odd thing is there is no large master breaker at the top of the panel! I dont see a main breaker for it on either of the panels in the attached garage either. WTF over?

the large breaker at the top is going to be your main. it should be 200A, most likely. turn that off and it will shut off everything below it. test before you do anything, though...i don't want to get you hurt.

[miketyler]

There's not one on the panel in the shop; presumbably I would have to throw the main to the house then to kill power to the shop. Will have to look at that more closely this evening

[STANGGT40]

There's not one on the panel in the shop; presumbably I would have to throw the main to the house then to kill power to the shop. Will have to look at that more closely this evening

there is likely a two-pole breaker in your house panel that feeds the panel in the shop. find it, turn it off, then check the power at the shop panel to make sure that shut it off...done. it's probably going to be a 2-pole 60 or 100...it should be fairly easy to locate if your house was built in 2006...it should be clearly marked.

[miketyler]

yep - you are right, its actually a two pole 100a. My shop is 1200Sq ft and has a finished loft.

Home Depot did indeed have breakers that fit. I need to tie two of them together so they are actuated/tripped together. They are already drilled, is there a pin the Square D makes for those? Home Depot doesnt carry the pin.

[STANGGT40]

yep - you are right, its actually a two pole 100a. My shop is 1200Sq ft and has a finished loft.

Home Depot did indeed have breakers that fit. I need to tie two of them together so they are actuated/tripped together. They are already drilled, is there a pin the Square D makes for those? Home Depot doesnt carry the pin.

HOM1HT is the part number...if you want one (and you're near 35/nw hwy.) i'll have crawford electric supply put one on will-call for ya. call this guy and tell him that brad chandler sent you...i've already told him that you would likely be calling, and he said that he would get one out for you (no charge).

zach tarwater
(972)869-3633

[miketyler]

Wow - thanks for that, will give him a call next week when I am in that area

[livinglegend_86]

If your house was built in 2006 then you probably have the Home-Line Square D's. You can get those breakers @ lowes or home depot. If it is the commercial type Square D then you need to go to a supply house. Not all electrical supply houses handle Square D. I believe Dealers and Summit do.
Dealers - yes
Summit - no, they carry cutler-hammer.

Another Square D supplier is CESCO

HOM1HT is the part number...if you want one (and you're near 35/nw hwy.) i'll have crawford electric supply put one on will-call for ya. call this guy and tell him that brad chandler sent you...i've already told him that you would likely be calling, and he said that he would get one out for you (no charge).

zach tarwater
(972)869-3633

My nigga Zach handles all my Square D gear quotes on any jobs I bid. :) :cool: