We make it prosperous for you to add circuits with our step - by - step guidebook to installing an electrical subpanel .
BHG / Kevin Norris
If your home ’s service panel does n’t have room for fresh lap breakers and you could not habituate tandem circuit breaker , a subpanel might be the answer . A subpanel connects to the independent service panel with a duncical three - wire cable’s length . The feeder breaker in the master panel acts as the master disconnect for the subpanel . Before set up a subpanel , refer with an inspector to check that you do not clog your overall organization .
Credit:BHG / Kevin Norris
A subpanel has separate omnibus legal community for achromatic and dry land wires and typically has no main breaker . It may not be label " subpanel . " alternatively , it might be mark " lugs only . " Additionally , it might be a different brand than the main panel . Have the inspector okay the subpanel , the feeder cable , and the eater ledgeman before you start put in a subpanel .
Safety is most important when instal anything with wires or electrical work . When dealing with electrical labor , shut off the power first . Before you begin installing a subpanel , close off the main breaker in the service panel .
What You’ll Need
Equipment / Tools
Materials
Instructions
Mount Subpanel
Mount the subpanel about a metrical foot away from the main religious service panel . Determine how far the wires will have to travel in the subpanel and pull wires ( shown ) or tally cable television service and comic strip sheathing consequently . Remove a knockout slug , slide the wires through , and clamp the cable’s length .
Related : Basic Wiring Techniques You Need to Know
Plan Route
At the main service instrument panel , design the routes for the four wires : ground , indifferent , and two hot wire ( ignominious and red ) . plunder the sheathing , off a knockout slug , and clamp the cable . Route the neutral and crunch wires carefully and get in touch them to their bus bar(s ) .
Strip Wires
Route , cut , and strip the flushed and black conducting wire . link up them to the feeder breakers . Snap the ledgeman into stead .
Connect Wires
In the subpanel , route the feeder wires , reduce and strip them , and link to terminals . tie the smutty and violent wire to the blistering bus bars , the neutral conducting wire to the main neutral pole , and the basis wire to the ground jitney bar .
Finish Connecting Wires
Run cable television for new circuits into the subpanel and clamp the cable . For each lap , route wires around the perimeter , plug into the priming telegram to the ground passenger vehicle taproom , the white wire to the achromatic bus cake , and the red-hot wire to acircuit breaker .
Related : How Ground telegram Can assist Protect Your home plate ’s electric System
Frequently Asked Questions
The top of the subpanel must be at least 78 inch above the floor .
If the subpanel is on a freestanding building , it necessitate a ground bar . However , it does n’t postulate one if it ’s located on the same construction as the main panel since all the ground wires bond back at the main panel together with the neutrals .
you may place a subpanel anywhere in your house disregarding of where the main panel is .
Credit:BHG / Kevin Norris
Credit:BHG / Kevin Norris
Credit:BHG / Kevin Norris
Credit:BHG / Kevin Norris
Credit:BHG / Kevin Norris
