Can I add more than one breaker to the box in my house? Picture below. I want to add some dedicated outlets in the shop, and 2 circuits in the kitchen for a disposal, and dishwasher.
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Take the cover off and have a peek inside. It looks like those are breaker spaces, but they may not be.
Breaker spaces.
Looks like an old split buss panel, but I may be wrong.
The two spots directly under what looks like the 100 amp main and the extra space between them and the singles on the left side make me think that. Shuting off the 100 breaker will kill the circuites to the left of it, both upper and lowers, but not the two spaces directly below it IIRC.
Been a long time since I worked in one of them.
That's for the WHOLE HOUSE??? You have 200 amps at 120V available and only breakers for 90? No air conditioner?
In any event, yes, take the cover off and make sure there are really slots on the bottom side. Also, look at the specifications sheet that is likely glued to the inside of the door and see if it specifies any restrictions on the number of breakers.
Is that a Federal Pacific panel?
You do need to look behind the cover. As explained to me on a job-you cannot add breakers to that area that looks like there is room..............................not that panel, but consult a qualified electrician.
Further, the FP breakers where available are usually quite high priced-check that also.
And, like I tell all my customers-consult a qualified electrical contractor about these panels. Here's one reason why:
http://www.inspectapedia.com/fpe/fpepanel.htm
Yup that is the infamous "stab lok" FP panel. YMMV whether those breakers are actuially overcurrent devices or if they are just switches.
CPSC basically punted on the problem but most home inspectors will flag the panel.
There are documented cases of them failing to trip on an overload but it is anecdotal, not a tested fact.
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml83/83008.html