any electricians

During my bathroom reno, I am installing a bathroom fan and an electrical outlet. The circuits in my house are all pretty well maxxed out with the number of outlets or lights on them. I want to add a breaker to the panel, then run the bathroom off the new breaker. How can I tell if I can add a breaker to the panel, or do I have to upgrade the service. My main breaker is a pair of 60 amp breakers. I've googled with no luck. If someone can tell me or give a link I'd appreciate it. Thanks.

 

Could you post a picture of the panel with the door open and/or the cover off?
That would give insight of what you have.
In the US 60 amp panels are older as main panels.
Are there any open breaker slots?

Matt

 

Here's the panel. 60 amp is old here too. most are 100 amp now.

 

There is plenty of room to expand.
Is that a Federal Pacific with Stab-Lock Breakers?
You would need to buy a 20 amp breaker for a bathroom and run 12 ga wire to it.

 

I see at least six slots to expand in.

 

Yes, Federal pacific and yes, Stab-Lock. If I need the 20amp and 12 gauge, then that's what I'll buy. Thanks for the help matt.

 

Just a couple of links about Stab-lok.

http://www.cornerstone-inspection.com/fpe.html
http://www.inspect-ny.com/fpe/fpepanel.htm

There is a little unwritten code in the us US about Stab-lok.
If it is possible replace it.
The breakers can be found but are hard to buy in the local box stores around here.

I don't want to scare you but if buget allows I'd have it replaced.

Matt

 

I've never had one not trip when it had to, (I've tripped e few in the past) but I'm gonna look into this. I have extensive renovations over the next five years including additional lighting and outlets. Pretty much a waste of money if my house burns down. Thanks again matt.

 

Well, this was interesting. Nice job Matt.

Steve

 

Sibeer, you're scaring me. I commend that you are seeking advice on insallation, but just the fact that you have to ask if you can add another breaker tells me this job should be farmed out to someone with a bit more expertise.

Electrical is not a joke and nothing to be taken lightly. Many houses burn, and people still do get electricuted from time to time.

Hooking up incorrectly can cause all sorts of troubles and dangers. Improper routing can work, but somewhere down the road, can cause catastrophic consequences.

I have seen all sorts of crazy well intentioned wiring jobs. Check with your local code. Code is there to protect everyone from those who do not know any better. Would you like to wake up "dead" from an electrical problem that burned your home down in your sleep?

Sometimes shortcuts can hurt the value of resale or open you to lawsuits.

Remember there is never enough time and money to do it right the first time, and yet there is always time and money to do it a second time correctly.

 

Great help matt are you an electrician Do you know of a device that can check the AC going to a pc is stable,say over a 24 hour period,checking for spikes and drops cheers

 

Yes I'm an Ohio electrician, but not full time.

I know the power companies have devices that measure voltage spikes and drops over a period of time. (very expensive) The power company only promises range of 110 to 125 volts with a factor for loss over there grid. (you need to ask power company what there % is). In our area 108 volts is acceptable to the power company. Most electrical items will accept voltage of 100 to 130 volts before a brown out or damage from high voltage.

The link below is a device that records wattage used. Using a math formula you could figure average voltage over a given time.

http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/measure.html

Matt

 

Everything is to code. I trust my wiring, and I would never do anything half-arsed. If you came and looked at my work you would think it was done professionally. I have installed a breaker before in a mobile home for a microwave. My lack of experience is knowing the limitations of the panel, not in knowing the procedure or precautions. I do appreciate your concern.

 

If it hasn't been said, put in a GFI breaker and wire accordingly. Do that anywhere there might be moisture. (bath, outside, kitchen sink area etc).

Jack

 

A device that checks waveform integrity would be something that'd interest me quite a bit.

A friend of mine is having major problems with his PC, PSUs blowing, motherboards dying, amps humming, that sort of thing. I have my suspicions that it's got something to do with the quality of the power from his outlet - the only way I know to check this is to get an appropriately rated CRO and watching the waveform yourself. That'd let you see any permenant inconsistencies, but it wouldn't be easy to monitor it over any period of time.

The obvious solution is to get some kind of buffering device (like a UPS) to hold the charge then output it as pure AC again. But a good UPS isn't cheap - you've got to be sure that the problem lies there.

 

I'm a lic. Electrician in Knox. TN. I try to have anyone who has Fed.P. Panel to upgrade,All new homes now are 200 amp +.I know it's a big cost but fed.p. breakers don't always trip right.Just my opinion.I even cut my cost down alot just to help them out.The cost of the F.P Breakers are sky high also.Well they are. here! Know you didn't want to hear that. If you do upgrade look around for best price some electricians are BIG RIP OFF's. Good luck.The Panel looks Great though,Nice and neet Chuck

 

http://www.cornerstone-inspection.com/fpe.html From Matt69. Ihave seen this happen too many times Chuck

 

Yes! It seems to be Double Throw 30amps that do this.

Matt

 

I dont see why they cant have one installed into power supplies,every other voltage has one why not the AC

It'd be great see the AC plotted in graph form next to the other voltages and also if the readings were saved to the harddrive in realtime,it'd just be a case of comparing the graph to the time of the last crash

Sorry for the hijack