No Room In Electrical Panel - Quick Fix

There is a right way and a wrong way to combine 2 circuits into 1 breaker. This can also be different depending on what brand panel you have installed. Joel Walsman from Jefferson Electric out of Indianapolis, Indiana is going to jump in and make sure we perform this work safely and according to code.

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[roerbeast]

Lower loads on LED vs incandescent lighting circuits is not something I had considered. Thanks!

[ianbelletti]

Most modern square D homeline, qo, and qob panels are listed for two circuits per breaker space. It's a code violation to use tandem breakers in panels that are so old that they listed the number of circuits the same as the number of spaces. Although square d b 15-30 amp breakers are listed for two wires per terminal, the cafci, dafci, and GFCI breakers are not. Also, good luck finding cafci, dafci, and GFCI breakers in tandem formats. Finally, if you are combining loads leaving a space for a future circuit, it's ok to leave the breaker in its side space as a spare. You don't have to prematurely remove the breaker, you can leave the old breaker until you're ready to replace it with the new breaker.

[boomermatic]

Great information, the only thing I would suggest is placing the feed wire in the center position of the Wago connector, that way the effective current flow through the busbar is reduced by sending it in two different directions.

[williamrucki]

Two comments. After Joel opened the exterior disconnect switch he failed to verify the service was dead. Never skip that step if you are relying on a dead panel. I've see numerous older disconnects that have internally failed and don't open all phases. Kudos for the gloves and glasses Joel. Many DIY channels don't have a clue about NFPA 70E. A word of caution about multiwire branch circuits because older installations don't necessarily have them protected by a two pole breaker which is now required by code. Be sure to pair circuits on the same side of the box to avoid potential neutral burnout.

[jdboy]

Load balancing on the phases (legs) is also worth doing if you start moving breakers around. Just something to keep in mind.

[y_zass]

I just straightened out my breaker box. There were several breakers with 2 circuits on them yet there was a double breaker and a single breaker that were no longer in use. What they were originally connected to was no longer there (240v wall heater and a welI pump). I was able to label everything and every circuit had its own breaker when I got done. I also straightened out my neutral bus bar, many spots were double tapped, even triple tapped! The bar was slightly discolored where it had been triple tapped and the insulation on the ends of those wires slightly melted from overheating. There were a dozen or more open spaces so there was no excuse for this. I moved down 1 wire at a time, starting with the longest wire and turning off the corresponding breaker(s) before doing so. Everything reached just fine, each neutral wire now under their own lug. I tested every outlet in my house, all good and grounded. Crisis diverted, now I don't have to worry about my house burning down.

[ericl]

The subpanel in my home (Eaton BR) has all spaces with rejection tabs but you can get Non-CTL twin breakers that fit into those spaces without field modification. The panel was listed as 20 breakers and 40 circuits so it was designed to have all twin breakers but you have to use the Non-CTL (circuit total limitation) breakers.

[KameraShy]

Panel removal:
1. Remove top two screws.
2. Insert pegs or nails to hold
3. Remove bottom two screws.
4. Pull off panel easily, without struggling.
As for those posts demanding all work be done by a "professional" electrician, we have had such "professional" work done that resulted in breakers tripping. Had to straighten out the wiring mess myself. I was unhurried and took the time to do it right.
- a DIYer

[AdirondackCampingAdventures]

One thing you did not cover when combining circuits is if you have MWBC multi wire branch circuits you can't combine both phases on the same phase by using tandem if pigtails because you will overload the neutral.

[mr.q]

Definitely CHECK THE LOCAL CODES....many jurisdictions do NOT allow amalgamating circuits together and most DO NOT permit any sort of splices or inter-connections within a panel.

[bobsbarnworkshop]

Just a safety concern and hint! When you turn off the main switch, which may be remote from the panel, please “lockout and tag out” the main switch so someone doesn’t see the power out and throw the main switch back on! Lock it out with a padlock!

[mattlewis]

Brilliant teaching homeowners how to get themselves into trouble with their electrical systems. Priceless.

[TomCee]

At about 4:27, it looked like the wire had been deformed from being tightened in the breaker. I like to straighten the end before reconnecting. Wago splices can handle a bit of bend, but work best with a straight wire. Also, check for proper strip length.

[ironmartysharpe]

I've ran into this problem many times
somebody will ask me to install an additional circuit and there's no space in the panel for another breaker,
So I'll take out two breakers and replace them with a tandem breaker to obtain the extra space I need, I'll remember the notching on the Eaton panels but other panels I've had no problems installing tandem breakers
Keep in mind that not all brands of panels have tandem breakers available and if that's the case, A sub panel will have to be installed
One very important thing is before installing a breaker is to inspect the busbar for pitting or corrosion, If the busbar looks good, Before installing the breaker I'll apply a light coat of antioxidant compound that you would use for connecting aluminium wire to the busbar to prevent corrosion because in just about all breaker panels, The busbars are aluminium and applying antioxidant compound will prevent corrosion, Also make sure the breaker has a tight fit to the busbar when installing

[patrickhein]

Glad you brought in a knowledgeable pro. Also remember if you do make space and add a new circuit that it has to be an afci combo breaker for new circuit or modified existing 120v circuits

[thehpw]

Just searched for this topic the other day to add a heat pump water heater but needed more panel space. Well done.

[MrKen]

I have a CH panel from the 80’s and the twin breakers slip in any of the slots - at least I’ve not had to force anything. The thing I notice on twin breakers is the hole for the wire is hard to feel out in the panel. CH panels are pretty narrow due to long breakers. Great video.

[joshhowie]

Keep in mind, AFCI neutrals are monitored. You won’t be able to combine if one or two breakers are currently AFCI protected. Unless you find your second neutral and pigtail like you did for the hots.(If you put under AFCI)

[pauljones]

Six years ago I converted every indoor and outdoor light to LED to save money. Then six years ago I had a ground based solar panel system installed on our lower property. It has a perfect Southern exposure on the 40 degree down slope. It paid for itself in four years because it generates 27 mWh of power per year for our 3 AC units (14 ton total capacity). We can run the AC 24x7 and in the last six years have never paid an electric bill. It was the best investment in my life and highly recommend doing this even though the original 30% tax credits are gone.

[woodwaker]

good information, especially about the Eaton panel. I have a double 15 and a double 20 on order to add more circuits, now I know I need them at the bottom, also going to add a whole house surge protector