[harleydiving707]

Hi there im a new home owner in CO trying to bring a sub panel into my shop area, and i understand i will need the help of an electrician but i want to do as much as my understanding allows me too.
i have searched google, many forums, and a couple books and feel i have a pretty good understanding of whats going one but would appreciate some professional input. also doesnt help the labels are horrible.

i have a GE tx1612 split bus panel, sound right?

face panel is marked 125 amps. so thats 125a max for that panel correct?

the upper part of the panel is seperated from the bottom area by the 50amp breaker labeled "whole house"?

top left breaker is not labeled any idea what it could be?

the 30 amp breaker for the AC has a black wire and a white wire going to it, why is this?

the top half which i believe to be seperate from the bottom half, the sum of amps of those breakers adds up to more then 125 does that matter?

same thing for bottom half, if that is split from the top by the 50 amp breaker then why is then way more then 50amps in breakers beneath it?

uploaded links for 2 pics have plenty more. any help appreciated thanks!

 

[harleydiving707]

forgot most important question, can i add a subpanel? if so how many amps can i have?
or do i need to upgrade to a 200amp panel and afterwards add a sub panel if i still have any money

 

[Jump-start]

Correct, that is a split buss panel.

 

[Jump-start]

forgot most important question, can i add a subpanel? if so how many amps can i have?
or do i need to upgrade to a 200amp panel and afterwards add a sub panel if i still have any money

You can add a subpanel to that. In fact if the 30 can go to a slim, you can squeeze another THQP (slim) for the subpanel. Just make sure you do not exceed 6 throws (you won't).

 

[harleydiving707]

thanks jump-start, i have read that about the 6 throws and i count that i am at 4? if i replace the 30 with a slimline and want to use another slimline for sub p am i limited to 30amp?

 

[Jump-start]

thanks jump-start, i have read that about the 6 throws and i count that i am at 4? if i replace the 30 with a slimline and want to use another slimline for sub p am i limited to 30amp?

Correct, you are at 4 but no more than 6.


No need to limit the sub panel to 30amps.

 

[harleydiving707]

is that 30 amp breaker for the AC 240 volts? and how come there is a white wire going to it?

 

[Msradell]

Just looking at your picture it looks like the 30 amp 240 V breakers on the top row next to the 50 amp breakers are unused. If that's true you could easily feed your new subpanel off of that set of breakers or at least use that location for some new breakers.

 

[harleydiving707]

msradell thanks for checking it out, i feel that way too about those breakers, they arent labeled and altho im still checking i turned them off and everything still works in the house...

 

[Jim Port]

Two wire cable was used. The white is the second hot leg.