Electric outlet box for oven, how to do it?

[kamas]

So the electrician put a 100AMP breaker in the  mainpanel and rewired it to the subpanel with #2 gauge wire. Afterwards, we tried using the washing  machine, but then after a few minutes i hear a clicking sound from the main panel and the power shuts off to the washing machine, even though the breaker on the main panel does not shut off. What is going on here? Even if the washing machine is off, I still hear that CLICKING sound from the main panel. But once I unplug the washing machine, the clicking stops.


If I get a new panel, how many "spaces" do I need to fit all of the existing connections from my main panel and subpanel.  Would this 40 space square D panel  fit everything? See atached photo to see my main panel and subpanel.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Square-D-Homeline-200-Amp-40-Space-80-Circuit-Indoor-Main-Plug-On-Neutral-Breaker-Load-Center-with-Cover-Value-Pack-HOM4080M200PCVP/204836379

How do I count spaces exactly? Does a 15 amp breaker count as ONE SPACE? Does that mean a 50 AMP breaker counts as 2 spaces since it is thicker?

[Papa bear]

If you do replace that box, hold on to the old pushmatic breakers.  Looking on Craigslist, seems like they're worth 20$/ breaker. 


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[paddedhat]

Sorry, but given the shit reputation of the breakers, and the fact that it decided to "click" without tripping, while cutting power to the circuit, I would be officially done with this cluster F.  It's painful on the budget, but tear everything out and put a new panel in. Circuits are one space each. One 120volt circuit takes up a space, the fifty amp breaker is a 240 volt circuit(s) that takes up two spaces. Square D breakers can be double tapped, with two wires on the 120volt 15 and 20 amp units. This can come in handy if you run out of room, and combine two lightly loaded runs on to one breaker. Good luck, crack the wallet open and get this mess out of your life.

[Greg]

Something's not right, call the electrician back and explain. A clothes washer wouldn't need more than 20A and might even work on a 15A circuit.

[Arktinkerer]

This idea of using under sized wiring has two other important considerations and are part of the reason the NEC specifies the sizes they do--

1. Longer runs of wiring will have a substantial voltage drop.  This may affect some equipment and, in the case of a range, may result in the burners/oven not reaching temperature or taking longer to heat.  For items with motors, this can reduce the products life.

2. The power loss in the wiring goes off as heat.  While this is usually much lower than needed for starting a fire, it can be enough to expand/contract the wire every on/off cycle causing work hardening of the copper.  This eventually breaks strands further reducing the conductivity which can lead to fire.  The same expansion/contraction cycles can play havoc with the connections.

Best to use the proper size.

[ImCheap]

Something's not right, call the electrician back and explain. A clothes washer wouldn't need more than 20A and might even work on a 15A circuit.

NEC requires a 20amp laundry circuit, I assume that is where its coming from

[jba302]

Sorry, but given the shit reputation of the breakers, and the fact that it decided to "click" without tripping, while cutting power to the circuit, I would be officially done with this cluster F.  It's painful on the budget, but tear everything out and put a new panel in. Circuits are one space each. One 120volt circuit takes up a space, the fifty amp breaker is a 240 volt circuit(s) that takes up two spaces. Square D breakers can be double tapped, with two wires on the 120volt 15 and 20 amp units. This can come in handy if you run out of room, and combine two lightly loaded runs on to one breaker. Good luck, crack the wallet open and get this mess out of your life.

What would you estimate on upgrading? I've got one of these old pushmatic breaker boxes and our inspector said the same thing, it works for now but at some point it won't and you're shit out of luck.   I have some electrical projects I need to work on and this thing is just a thorn in my ass every time I think about it.