I want to put a hot tub in my back hard but my breaker box doesn't have enough space. Wondering if I should try to put a sub panel in or replace the entire box? Or if its possible to slim up a few of the breakers so my 2 pole 50 amp will fit. Any advice or electricians out there? Thanks posted a few pics of my box setup. ImageUploadedByTapatalk1368933782.217747.jpgImageUploadedByTapatalk1368933797.683561.jpg

Just a quick count on your breaker ratings you already have in excess of 400 amps in breakers alone not including the two 50 amp sub-mains. NEC says you can only have 180% of the rated value of the main breaker in rated breakers in the box. so if you have a 100 amp feed you can only have 180 amps in breaker ratings. You are already maxed out and then some.

You also have what appears to be a 12 or 14 gauge wire terminated on a 40 amp breaker. That's a big fire hazard and you need to deal with that ASAP. On top of that the wiring in the upper left hand corner is aluminum which expands and contracts over time and loosens up so make sure it is tightened regularly.

While it is possible to buy 2 pole breakers the width of a single breaker to give you more room, I would start with licensed electrical contractor to see about a panel upgrade.

Sorry but you asked for advice.

Do the whole box. Those FPE breakers are knwon for causing fires as they dont trip when shorted out. You can weld with them which is never good. My good friend is a sparky. Give him a call and tell him rob sent you. It's illegal since there is no main shut off. That panel is divided into 2 sections and the top section is for range and dryer. There is a 50amp that feed the lower section which is for all the regular circuits. Since there are 120 single pole breakers in the top section there are too many to switch off in case of a fire. NEC/NFPA dont want more than three breakers to turn off a whole house. Thats why they Have main breakers now. Give randy a call.


Randy
Rad electrical services
303-349-2126

Not to mention but you only have 100 amps coming into your house which isnt a lot. Hard to run a welder/air compressor/air conditioner/dryer/range/microwave/dishwasher/disposal/washer/and now a hot tub. I'd upgrade to 200amps and then you can run anything you want.

I do appreciate it am I am glad I don't own this house. Lol not the only thing that needs replacing.

As long as this thread exists, anyone mind giving similar advice regarding the state of my panel? I'd like to add a 220v welder/compressor circuit to the garage, but this looks pretty full to me based on what I'm reading here.

Justin you look like you have the same problem as I do since you too don't have a main shutoff switch

Yep justin your in about the same boat. You only have 100 amps into the house. But looking through it and since it's a GE panel you can probably move things around and half size some of those fullsize breakers and get it to work. You just can be running the oven, a/c, welder, dryer, and such all at once. If you give Randy a call above he will be able to help you out.

Just a note... I can do a 200 amp panel change for you in a few hours.. You cannot buy fee breakers in that size anymore if you do find them there not cheap.. Federal pacific boxes are responsible for a lot of house files every year ...we cannot sell house anymore with a home inspection if it has a fpe box as a lot of insurance companies Will not write a policy if it has one .. You cana
Add a panel but exel Will want a disconnect meter hub or they Will not realase the meter.. I would throw a new panel on and be done with it.... Leave the meter hub in and if excel bitches say it was like this when you bought the house.. I just did one this week panel is 125 with a few breakers included extra breakers are 3.50 each.. Fyi
The hot tub Will require a gfi breaker either in the tub or in the panel 4 wire install two hot natural and ground