Can You Double Tap A Electrical Service At A Fuse Box

Double-tapped circuit breakers are 1 of the nearly common electrical defects that habitation inspectors discover. Everyone seems to sign off on this defect as a 'big bargain', but I'k here to tell you it'due south non. Information technology'south a pretty small-scale outcome, and it'southward usually a simple and straightforward set. Today I'll explain what double-tapping is, when information technology'due south a problem, why it's a problem, and how to right it. If you prefer video format, here'south that:

I didn't consult with an attorney before writing this article, and then I meliorate add a disclaimer before giving whatever electrical how-to data:Don't do electric work if you're not qualified. Y'all could get shocked, electrocuted, or start a fire. This is simply an overview.

Definition: When I say 'double-tap', I'grand really not using the correct terminology; this is only what a lot of home inspectors say when two conductors are connected under one screw or terminal inside a panelboard. There is no official term for this, so double-tap works for me. Sometimes this refers to two conductors at one circuit billow, other times information technology refers to two conductors connected under one screw at the neutral bar. Today I'll discuss two conductors continued to a single excursion billow.

When it's NOT a defect: Double tapped wiring is ok if the circuit billow is designed for ii conductors. If a excursion breaker is designed for two conductors, it will say so correct on the circuit billow, and the terminal of the circuit billow will be designed to hold two conductors in place. The circuit breaker shown below is an older Square D designed to accept two conductors. I highlighted and enlarged the portion of the characterization that says ii conductors tin can be attached. This is acceptable. The but manufacturers that make excursion breakers that are designed to hold 2 conductors are Square D and Cutler-Hammer, simply not all of their excursion breakers can exist double-tapped.

Here's a newer type of Foursquare D circuit breaker – instead of putting a bunch of text on the forepart of the excursion breaker, they simply have a picayune picture on the front end of the breaker.

They now put the text on the side of the breaker.

When it IS a defect: This is a defect when the circuit breaker isn't designed for two conductors, and most aren't. Information technology doesn't matter if it's just a elementary doorbell transformer wire that's added onto the circuit breaker. The result isn't about the load imposed on the circuit, it'southward near the concrete connection.

Why information technology's a problem: If the excursion billow isn't designed to concord two conductors, the conductors could come loose at some point in the futurity, even if they experience very tight today. Loose conductors can lead to overheating, arcing, and peradventure a burn.

How to fix: The fixes I'thou going to listing below are a few common ways of dealing with double-tapped circuit breakers.

Pigtail: This is the well-nigh common repair, and it's ridiculously unproblematic. The offending conductors merely get asunder from the circuit billow, continued to a single conductor with a wire nut, and that single conductor gets continued to the circuit billow. At present, I know what you're thinking: "What'southward and so tough virtually that?" The answer is nothing. This is a quick and easy gear up.

Different Excursion Billow Another simple repair would be to replace the circuit billow with a blazon that is designed for 2 conductors, as long equally the panel is designed for it. This would be more than involved than the pigtail repair, and I don't know why anyone would want to do this, merely it would certainly be acceptable.

If there are more problems going on besides just a double-tap, the repair might go more involved. For instance, if a homeowner finished off a basement and added a excursion for the basement bedroom onto the circuit breaker for the bathroom receptacles, simply adding a pigtail for the wires wouldn't be a proper repair, in part because the bathroom receptacles tin can't exist on a shared circuit. In this case, the conductors would need to exist split off on to 2 split circuit breakers. There are a few ways to do this.

Add together A Excursion Breaker If at that place is room in the panel, another circuit billow tin exist added, and the conductors divide off to the ii different circuit breakers.

Install A Tandem Breaker If the panelboard is designed to use tandem breakers and a tandem billow tin can be properly used in lieu of the offending circuit breaker, this is some other acceptable fix. This is basically a manner to install two circuit breakers in i space.

If a console will accept tandem breakers, it will say so inside the panel, and the specific locations where tandem breakers can be used will be identified. A panel may allowall tandem breakers,no tandem breakers, orsome tandem breakers. The photo below shows a panel that allowssome. Every bit you lot can meet, 8 more than circuits could be added to this panel, every bit there are currently no tandem breakers beingness used. This would take some shuffling effectually, but it wouldn't be a big deal to do.

For more info on tandem breakers, check out this mail: Tandem Circuit Breakers

What about AFCI protection?Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) protection is needed throughout homes today to help reduce the risk of fires. When a circuit breaker is replaced, is there any requirement for AFCI protection to be added at the same fourth dimension? For the about part, no. But that's ultimately the conclusion of the authority having jurisdiction.

When none of the above solutions are possible, the repair might involve replacement of the console with a larger one, or the addition of a subpanel. This would be much more expensive, simply still, not a crippling cost for most people.

Author:Reuben Saltzman,Construction Tech Home Inspections