Twistedrx7 Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Can i tag off of a breaker instead of just adding another one? would it be just as simple as splicing the hot after the breaker and putting the nuet and ground into their bars? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark1647545493 Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 depends how much current your drawing from that circuit already and depends on what you're wanting to hook up to it. Do you have more details? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twistedrx7 Posted May 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 two cans lights are going to be on it so not much more wattage. its prob 70watts more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowflake Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 By code you can not double up on a breaker but if it was my house?????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twistedrx7 Posted May 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 By code you can not double up on a breaker but if it was my house?????? weird it looks like they did when they did the house. Ill just run it to another breaker i suppose i can always expand later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowflake Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 weird it looks like they did when they did the house. Ill just run it to another breaker i suppose i can always expand later. The only time I have seen it be allowed is when you have a doorbell transformer mounted to the panel and you just tie it into a used breaker. I doubt you willsee any problems adding a couple lights to it. Its your house and I dont see it as any type of hazard unless the circuit is maxed out which Im sure its not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twistedrx7 Posted May 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 By code you can not double up on a breaker but if it was my house?????? i did however get that wire through the joists without cutting a hole in my ceiling. instead i cut a hole in the floor upstairs lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twistedrx7 Posted May 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 The only time I have seen it be allowed is when you have a doorbell transformer mounted to the panel and you just tie it into a used breaker. I doubt you willsee any problems adding a couple lights to it. Its your house and I dont see it as any type of hazard unless the circuit is maxed out which Im sure its not. maybe its the doorbell it was right by it i didnt even check. ill just do the new breaker since i have like 15 more slots for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowflake Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 i did however get that wire through the joists without cutting a hole in my ceiling. instead i cut a hole in the floor upstairs lol. anythings better than sheetrock damage thats for sure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 614Streets Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 You should be able to trace the circuit out of the box and then install a junction box after it , just make sure the junction box has an acess cover if its going in drywall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twistedrx7 Posted May 29, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2010 You should be able to trace the circuit out of the box and then install a junction box after it , just make sure the junction box has an acess cover if its going in drywall. that is what i dont want to do, id rather keep it all in the breaker box. plus i can add a lot more lights onto it later if i want, rather than run out of room down the road and have to do the same thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmrmnhrm Posted May 29, 2010 Report Share Posted May 29, 2010 What you want is called a tandem breaker. Takes up a single slot, provides two low-voltage circuits coming off a single pole (as opposed to a double-pole breaker, which takes up two slots and gives one high voltage circuit). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xyster101 Posted May 29, 2010 Report Share Posted May 29, 2010 What you want is called a tandem breaker. Takes up a single slot, provides two low-voltage circuits coming off a single pole (as opposed to a double-pole breaker, which takes up two slots and gives one high voltage circuit). You can do this. It is not the best way, but it will work. The other option as already mentioned is to put a junction box in. Junction boxes are legal if closed up and have wire nuts on them. I am am not an expert, but I would think the reason you can't run 2 wires off the same breaker is one wire could come off, they could shift after your tighten the clamp causing the screw to be loose, or something similar. If you have room, spend the $15 and put a different breaker in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 614Streets Posted May 29, 2010 Report Share Posted May 29, 2010 +1 on the tandem breaker thats a great idea if you have no slots left , otherwise just add a new breaker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowflake Posted May 29, 2010 Report Share Posted May 29, 2010 What you want is called a tandem breaker. Takes up a single slot, provides two low-voltage circuits coming off a single pole (as opposed to a double-pole breaker, which takes up two slots and gives one high voltage circuit). It costs a lot more to buy a piggy-back breaker than it does to buy a standard single pole. He has plenty of room for another standard breaker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowflake Posted May 29, 2010 Report Share Posted May 29, 2010 You can do this. It is not the best way, but it will work. The other option as already mentioned is to put a junction box in. Junction boxes are legal if closed up and have wire nuts on them. I am am not an expert, but I would think the reason you can't run 2 wires off the same breaker is one wire could come off, they could shift after your tighten the clamp causing the screw to be loose, or something similar. If you have room, spend the $15 and put a different breaker in. You're not supposed to put more than 1 wire because thats all they are designed to hold so you are correct. Junction boxes are legal only if accessible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowflake Posted May 29, 2010 Report Share Posted May 29, 2010 What kind of panel do you have? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twistedrx7 Posted May 29, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2010 What kind of panel do you have? 200a something. cant remember name Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowflake Posted May 29, 2010 Report Share Posted May 29, 2010 200a something. cant remember name If it turns out to be a Square D QO panel let me know. I probably have some extra 15 amp breakers laying around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twistedrx7 Posted May 30, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2010 If it turns out to be a Square D QO panel let me know. I probably have some extra 15 amp breakers laying around. lol i saw this too late, i just picked one up at lowes, only 5 bucks so not a big deal. it is a square D though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twistedrx7 Posted May 31, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2010 Quick question for vapor barrier and switch gang boxes. Since i am putting in an old work gang box how should i handle the vapor barrier? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmrmnhrm Posted June 1, 2010 Report Share Posted June 1, 2010 (edited) You can do this. It is not the best way, but it will work. The other option as already mentioned is to put a junction box in. Junction boxes are legal if closed up and have wire nuts on them. I am am not an expert, but I would think the reason you can't run 2 wires off the same breaker is one wire could come off, they could shift after your tighten the clamp causing the screw to be loose, or something similar. If you have room, spend the $15 and put a different breaker in. http://www.nachi.org/forum/attachments/f11/29017d1243985893-double-tapped-breaker-jchristensen-126.jpg Max, what you see here is a pair of tandem breakers (two slots, four breakers/four switches) a piggyback (third screw down), and a two-pole breaker (bottom). Tandems with only one wire per screw meet NEC (this was my suggestion to Jake). Piggybacks (more than one wire on a screw) do not. Piggybacked tandems do not, either. Edited June 1, 2010 by mmrmnhrm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowflake Posted June 1, 2010 Report Share Posted June 1, 2010 ^^^ that panel looks like an Engineer wire it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HAOLE Posted June 1, 2010 Report Share Posted June 1, 2010 Remember every electrical code has someones misfortune behind it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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