Subpanel off of a subpanel?

Is it an accepted practice to have a sub-panel feeding off of a another sub-panel? My sub-panel is full and I need room for expansion.

Proposed setup:

----------- ----------- ------------- | | | | | | | | | | | | | |_______| |_____| | | 1 |_______| 2 |_____| 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ----------- ----------- -------------

  1. Service Entrance. 200 AMP Main Panel with pass-through lugs.
  2. Sub-panel 200 AMP
  3. Sub-panel 70 AMP

Thanks in Advance,

R. Tarin

Reply to
Randell Tarin
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Supplying a sub-panel from another panel is a common practice. There are several hundred rules to follow in the NEC, but as long as you follow them there should be no problem.

Reply to
electrician

Yes, you can probably do that...as long as the panel disconnect breakers you use in each panel are sized to protect the wire you have run to them...and your diversity of useage at max usage levels does not exceed the main breaker size for any great length of time.. a code issue...and a local juristiction issue.

What you are probably doing in that case is providing added branch circuit distribution each fully protected by its own branch circuit... if you had say 10.. 200 amp sub panels off of one main 200 amp panel, the main panel its wiring and all that is subordinate to that would still be protected... with that many though its likely you would be exceeding the main panel main breaker capacity for more than brief periods and it would not be allowed... in your case it will probably be allowed.

There are code issues on how many outlets / lites etc you can have on any single branch.. etc. but thats branches... not related to the sub panel issue.

Beyond that, some people do crazy things and some cities legislate against it so check with your local building department.

But if you can show diversity...for insance a large house with many rooms, etc... and the lighting loads are all under the main capacity if all of the lights are on, and maybe a oven or HVAC is on, and you are still under the main capacity they will probably allow it.

its a 'diversity factor' issue.

Phil Scott

Reply to
Phil Scott

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