Hi,
I'm looking to add a 240V, 60 amp circuit for a ceramic kiln. My
current panel is 200 amps with 20 spaces, and only has one slot
open. Most likely I'll hire an electrician for this, but I'd like to
know what my options are.
First, is there a limit to the total amperage of circuits in relation
to the main service amperage? Right now, adding up the existing
breakers I get 315 amps. Seems like a lot, but of course not
everything is running at the same time. But since you can get a 200
amp main panel with 40 spaces, and since I've never seen a circuit
less that 15 amps, that would seem to imply that you can add a lot of
circuits! So can I really have 375 amps full of circuits behind a
200 amp main service?
Second, since I don't have a double slot available, I think I would
either need to add a sub-panel (and move at least one existing
circuit over there along with the new one for the kiln), or replace
the main panel with a bigger one. Are those my options, without
shedding an existing circuit?
If so. I'm thinking a full new panel is a cleaner solution, though
unless the new panel uses the same breaker types as the old one I
will have to buy a bunch of new breakers. That would be offset
somewhat with the fact that with a sub-panel I would have to buy a
pretty big (80 or 100 amp) breaker to feed the subpanel, and you can
usually get quite a few 10 and 20 amp breakers for the price of one
on those!
Anyway, any ideas appreciated!
Thanks,
Darrell
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Darrell Walker
66 TR4A IRS CTC67956L
Vancouver, WA, USA
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