Originally Posted By: dbush This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
I did an inspection yesterday on a house that a previous inspector had done in September 2002. The response from the homeowner was that the breaker box was checked by electrician and found to be okay. I found two 20 amp breakers that were double tapped in the breaker box and loose wiring in the breaker box. I am not sure why they were double tapped because there are still open slots in the breaker box, but I guess the $4.00 breaker was too expensive.
My client asked me if it was checked by an electrician and marked "okay" is this truly a problem. My response was - that I do not know when the breakers were double tapped, the electrician could have been checking something else and the double tapping could have occurred since he was there and that it was still incorrect and that he needed to have the open wiring in the breaker box fixed. He was very happy with that, but he expected the present home owner to pitch a fit. Oh well, I wasn't trying to please him.
Originally Posted By: jmyers This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Dave,
There are several breakers that are listed for double tapping. The Cutler Hammer CH series, Square D homeline and QO series are all listed for double tapping. If they were any other brand most likely they are not UL listed for this.
I personally call double taps when there are open spaces, whether the breakers are listed for it or not. Technically speaking if they are UL listed for double taps it is ok whether there are spaces left or not. I am pretty careful to make sure the panel is not overloaded and I call for a load calculation if I think it is too close for comfort. Panels with lots of wires are good candidates for load calculations too.
Originally Posted By: jfarsetta This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Let’s also remember that even if it is rated for a double tap, the gauge of the connected condustors should be the same. If a 15 amp breaker has a #14 and a #12 wire connected, one will not likely be as tight a connection as the other. Loose connections result in arcing and/or resistance, which will cause heat. This is the real danger of the double-tap. I like Joe’s methodology, in that if there is an open space, plug a breaker in it and do it right…
Originally Posted By: dbush This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
I guess I should have been more specific, they were not rated for double tapping & they were both 14 gauge wire into a 20 amp fuse. Load was not enough to be a calculation concern.
