replacing a 60 A double slot breaker with 2 30s

amakarevic

I am getting rid of my elec stove replacing it with gas and would like to use the double slot for the basement apartment countertop range and water heater, each 30A, I believe. But the problem is that i am out of slots in my panel and this will free up only two adjacent slots. 30A breakers also require a double slot. I was wondering if there is a solution, like those single breakers that support two circuits.

See attached. The 60A circuit is on top.

Thanks

TarheelTerp

That's fine. Remove the WIRES which are fed by that breaker.

Yeah. Use that 60A breaker to feed a small subpanel.
I'd put any/all tenant circuits in there that can be accommodated...
and keep the upstairs & general use stuff (water heater?) in the first panel.

amakarevic

oh but that's more work than i want to do right now. i will eventually split the house in two meters and will do it then.

TarheelTerp

I'm reminded of a quote...
Never put off till tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow-Mark Twain
Oops! Lets try this one:
Never put off till tomorrow that which you can do today. -Benjamin Franklin

amakarevic

thank you for your wisdom, sir, i am in a time crunch, i may go bankrupt if i try to do everything the perfect way rather than focus on wrapping the project up.

so a subpanel is out of question at this time.

thanks

k_buz

1) Is your panel rated from tandem breakers? (post a picture of the sticker on the inside door of your panel)

2) Is there a detailed list of what is on each circuit? You could possibly double up some lighter circuits.

3) Gas water heater.

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AllanJ

A 240 volt water heater and a 240 volt countertop stove still need double wide breakers. Other circuits would have to be moved to single wide double breakers. You might find a double wide quad tandem breaker with handles 1 and 4 tied together for one 240 volt circuit and handles 2 and 3 tied together for another 240 volt circuit.

In addition to the requirement that the panel and the specific breaker be compatible, each panel has a limit to the number of breaker handles where a double breaker counts as two handles.

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mpoulton

If your panel accepts them, you could use a 30/30 quad breaker. But a subpanel sounds like the best solution. It's hardly any more work and only a little bit more money.

Code05

I think that panel is a SQ-D QO, I am doubtful the OP will find a quad 30/30, but maybe.

LooseSCruz

The only quad breaker currently manufactured for a QO panel is a 20303020, where the 20's are untied, so you are correct that OP is out of luck.

kontoose

The quickest and cheapest way is to take out four 20amp single-pole breakers, install two twin 20/20amp breakers in their place, and attach the four circuit wires to these two twin breakers. Now you will have created two free breaker spaces. Now, take out the 60amp breaker. This will leave you with four open spaces. You can now install the two new 30amp 2-pole breakers for the water heater and stove top.

jbfan

Without the panel info, we do not know if this panel will accept tandom breakers.

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amakarevic

Here is the tag. Thanks.

Class CTL-- Panelboard Series L8

k_buz

No not that tag. The sticker on the inside of the panel door.

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kontoose

Square "D" Q.O. panels, together with their breakers, have no rejection pins that would prevent twin single-pole breakers from being installed. You learn something every day - right...!...