120v breaker panel wiring

[nconn]

I got this breaker panel new but basically for free.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-Power...CCUP/202046233

it is definitely made for 240v as it has two separate hot bars.

I do not have nor plan to have 240v supplied or needed anywhere in the bus. I know I could use 1 side for 120v but would like to utilize more of the panel for 1in breakers instead of the 1/2in.

My question is could I use a double pole main breaker to energize both side with 120V from the same hot leg?

https://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-Q-Lin...E&gclsrc=aw.ds

basically I would run the hot wire into one side and then use a splice wire to run it to the other one. Thus energizing both sides with 120v. I would then only use single pole (120v) breakers to feed my outlets, switches, and what not. this would just allow me to have more breaker spaces available.

I doubt this is to code in any way, but is there anything necessarily wrong/not safe?

[Rwnielsen]

Personally, I think you'd be better off with a single pole 30 amp breaker for your input and bridge A & B phases at the top



"I should add that this is assuming a standard 5-30 hookup. (30a @ 120v)

[nconn]

That is part of the issue. My inverter is capable of a sustained 5000watts and has pass through functionality. so theoretically if I was plugged into shore power (30 amp) I could get a ton of power coming through. 5000watts/120v approx 40amp + 30 amp shore and that does not account for inverter serge it is capable of. I doubt i will ever be using that much power, but who knows, for a few minutes I may.

I have a induction cooktop, oven, dishwasher, microwave, and washer/dryer combo.

[Danjo]

I’d also say it’s better to feed through the bus. The feeding backwards through a breaker is weird and why???

[Danjo]

OK, I did some research and it’s not weird d to back feed a breaker, but it is against code, though I don’t know if that applies in the case of a sub panel. Still, the jumpering is weird and can you put two wires under a breaker lug?

I wouldn’t do it

[nconn]

so your recommendation would be to just use half the breaker panel and connect trait to the bus?

[DeMac]

Please consider Danjo's advise. He's spot on.

Note the lugs at the top

Two lugs on first bar
One on each leg (where Main ought to be) $$pendy Brkr

Panels are cheap. Use the correct gear for a solid foundation.

[nikitis]

If you are feeding only 120v into a dual breaker box like that, as long as you combine the two bars together don't you get 120v?

it only splits if you have 2x 120v lines coming into your house typically, for 240v when using both planes, but in a bus if only 120v is coming in and it's a single line to both it should be 120v across the board.

Correct me if I'm wrong on that.

[nconn]

Originally Posted by DeMac

Please consider Danjo's advise. He's spot on.

Note the lugs at the top

Two lugs on first bar
One on each leg (where Main ought to be) $$pendy Brkr

Panels are cheap. Use the correct gear for a solid foundation.

The two lugs on the same bar is the neutral bar.

[nconn]

Originally Posted by DeMac

Please consider Danjo's advise. He's spot on.

Note the lugs at the top

Two lugs on first bar
One on each leg (where Main ought to be) $$pendy Brkr

Panels are cheap. Use the correct gear for a solid foundation.

Alright I will stick with only using one side.

[Iceni John]

Don't mickeymouse it. Use Paneltronics (made in FL) or Blue Sea circuit breaker panels instead: They're high quality, and they're intended for boats/RVs/emergency vehicles/etc. I have two Paneltronics breaker panels, one for DC and one for AC, and I'm impressed with them; each one can provide up to ten branch circuits, and each one has a volt meter and amp meter. So far, so good.

John

[Danjo]

Originally Posted by Iceni John

Don't mickeymouse it. Use Paneltronics (made in FL) or Blue Sea circuit breaker panels instead: They're high quality, and they're intended for boats/RVs/emergency vehicles/etc. I have two Paneltronics breaker panels, one for DC and one for AC, and I'm impressed with them; each one can provide up to ten branch circuits, and each one has a volt meter and amp meter. So far, so good.

John

Ding Ding Ding! Correct Answer!

[DeMac]

Originally Posted by Iceni John

Don't mickeymouse it. Use Paneltronics (made in FL) or Blue Sea circuit breaker panels instead: They're high quality, and they're intended for boats/RVs/emergency vehicles/etc. I have two Paneltronics breaker panels, one for DC and one for AC, and I'm impressed with them; each one can provide up to ten branch circuits, and each one has a volt meter and amp meter. So far, so good.

John

[Rwnielsen]

Originally Posted by Danjo

OK, I did some research and it’s not weird d to back feed a breaker, but it is against code, though I don’t know if that applies in the case of a sub panel. Still, the jumpering is weird and can you put two wires under a breaker lug?

I wouldn’t do it

One wire on a breaker. If you need to connect two loads (or whatever) tail a single wire out and use a wirenut

[flattracker]

A point about feeding backwards through breakers:
There are multiple manufacturers who make interlock plates and linkages specifically so one can feed an electrical panel from generators or other power sources. A quick look on eBay will show them. I installed generator wiring into the main house electrical panel so that it feeds the L1 and L2 bus bars in the panel. My main contractor had no issues with it and neither did the county electrical inspector who passed the wiring. I used linkages between paired breakers in my Crown with no problems.

[flattracker]

By the way, two wires connected to a terminal on a breaker is against code.

[rossvtaylor]

There's lots of good guidance here. I will clarify, though, that backfeeding through a breaker is absolutely acceptable and commonplace. I learned lots about this, when doing grid-interactive installations and solar/wind connections into panels. As long as a breaker isn't marked with "line" and "load" terminals (most are not), it's suitable for use with current flow in either direction. In keeping with the policy of "don't take my word for it...provide the source" here's some good info from Eaton on that:

https://www.eaton.com/ecm/idcplg?Idc...ILE&dID=225828

I would also add that what NCONN describes in his original post would also be acceptable and safe...as long as there's some overcurrent protection closer to the source (the inverter/genny/shore inlet) to protect the wire from that point to this double pole breaker. It would also be safe to run appropriately-sized wiring from that "earlier" breaker to each terminal lug at the top of the bus bars. The downside of that is that switching power off to the panel would happen at some other location.

[nikitis]

Originally Posted by rossvtaylor

There's lots of good guidance here. I will clarify, though, that backfeeding through a breaker is absolutely acceptable and commonplace. I learned lots about this, when doing grid-interactive installations and solar/wind connections into panels. As long as a breaker isn't marked with "line" and "load" terminals (most are not), it's suitable for use with current flow in either direction. In keeping with the policy of "don't take my word for it...provide the source" here's some good info from Eaton on that:

https://www.eaton.com/ecm/idcplg?Idc...ILE&dID=225828

I would also add that what NCONN describes in his original post would also be acceptable and safe...as long as there's some overcurrent protection closer to the source (the inverter/genny/shore inlet) to protect the wire from that point to this double pole breaker. It would also be safe to run appropriately-sized wiring from that "earlier" breaker to each terminal lug at the top of the bus bars. The downside of that is that switching power off to the panel would happen at some other location.

I backfeed at my house. I didn't go the expensive route and install a manual transfer switch, but instead put a 50A breaker (2 slot) onto the planes, and connected it to a Generator plug. This is legal in South Carolina if you add the plastic slide to prevent backfeeding down the line so you don't kill a lineman. So when the plastic slide is up, it allows enablement of the 50A breaker which is normally blocked by the plastic slide, when you slide it up, it prevents the main 200A breaker from turning on during a power outage which saves the lineman but allows you to then enable the 50A and use a generator through the 2 slot breaker. Much cheaper than a manual transfer switch box setup, as long as you don't overload the generator it'll supply power enough for freezers, lights, (No AC's) those need to be turned off.

Concept is similar in a bus.