Should I put in a sub-panel to add breakers to an older home?

Should I add a sub panel or upgrade main panel?

Because there are only so many switches on a main electrical panel, subpanels can be useful to add extra room. Because the two panels are very similar and are connected to the same flow of energy, the subpanel is useful if you want to have more room for circuits in your house.

Should I add a sub panel?

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.

When should I install a sub panel?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: The concept is that you want to be able to turn off all the power very quickly in a separate building so having a main gives you one spot to do that or if it's less than six breakers.

Does a residential sub panel need a main breaker?

The subpanel may be equipped with a main breaker to allow for power interruption without having to go back to the main panel, but it is not required to have a main shutoff circuit breaker, since the feeder breaker back in the main panel serves this function.

What is the point of a sub panel?

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.

How many circuits can a subpanel have?

The subpanel will contain about four to twelve breaker slots. It’s supplied with a 240V circuit breaker from the main panel. In this case, the main panel is referred to as the feeder breaker. However, a 200amp subpanel can be connected to a 200amp feeder panel as long as the load is 160amps or less.

How much does it cost to put in an electrical subpanel?

between $400 and $1,750

The average cost of installing a subpanel is between $400 and $1,750, depending on the amperage and number of circuits installed. Typically subpanels have 4 to 20 or more circuits and between 100 and 150 amps.

How do I know if I can add a subpanel?

Adding a Subpanel



You’ll need to consider the amount of available power load you’ll need and what the main service has to offer. For example, if you have 200-amp main service, you’ll have no problem adding a 100-amp subpanel to feed a shed, garage, or barn.

How much does it cost to install a 100 amp sub panel?

100 Amp Upgrade



The cost to update an electrical panel to 100-amp service is $500 to $1,500. The box runs $100 to $200, so labor is the biggest part of the total. Older homes often run low-amperage boxes because they didn’t have central air, modern appliances, or today’s electronics in mind when they were built.

What is the 6 breaker rule?

The “six breaker throw rule” was a requirement in the National Electrical Code that a service must have have a main disconnect that shuts off all power and it cannot take more than six switch throws to do it, and the main disconnect(s) also must be clearly marked, as in the photo above.

Does a sub panel in same building need a ground rod?

You must, must, must, in every case run a ground ~ from the main to the subpanel. Doesn’t matter if you’re running it 3 feet, to an outbuilding or up a space elevator. You have to run a ground ~ or you are out of Code.

How big of a sub panel can I install off a 100 amp service?

Let me try and answer some of your questions. First the panels you are looking at that are rated 100A simply means you can use them for any application up to 100A. You can for example add a 60A breaker to your existing panel and protect the new subpanel with a 100A rating.

What is the difference between a main breaker 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.

Can you use a sub panel as a main panel?

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.

How many amps can a sub panel be?

The limit is that the breaker in the main panel to supply the subpanel has to be 90 Amp or smaller. What number of 15 and 20 amp 120 volt breakers can I use in the sub-panel? As many as you want.

What size breaker do I need for a subpanel?

Based on your question, since you will be having a subpanel, you want the breaker feeding the subpanel to be sized for the subpanel or slightly smaller. So if you purchase and install a 200A subpanel, then the breaker should be 200A. If you use a 125A subpanel, then use a 125A breaker.

Can I feed a 200 amp sub panel with a 100 amp breaker?

Yes. There is no real NEC provision that would prohibit this so it’s allowed. The 200 amp CB is simply being used as a disconnect if the feeder is protected by a 100 amp OCPD at it’s origin.

Can you feed a 100 amp sub panel with a 60 amp breaker?

You can feed a 100 Amp panel with a 60 Amp breaker. Keep in mind that the sub panel needs to be rated above the breaker size.

How many breakers can I run off a 60 amp subpanel?

The NEC does not allow installing panels rated below 100-amps as the main electrical panel for the house. Modern 60-amp electrical panels are purpose-built as sub-panels and generally only have 8 to 10 slots available for circuit breakers.

How much does it cost to upgrade from 60 amps to 100 amps?

Cost to Replace or Upgrade an Electrical Panel