First off, let me just say that though I am not an electrician, I DID attend two years of tech college to become an electrician. Unfortunately, since this was 20 years ago and my life went a different direction after school, I have forgotten most of what I learned as far as keeping up to Code and what not. I am fully capable of doing the work, I'm just hoping what I am thinking about doing will be safe and want to check with people that know more than I do.
Here's my situation. I want to run a few dedicated circuits for my new tank build. Unfortunately, my breaker box is full, but as luck would have it, one of the circuits is a 100 amp breaker that feeds an auxiliary panel. This panel holds a 30 amp for the water heater and a 30 amp for the AC, and it has room for up to 4 more 15 amp circuits.
My question is, am I allowed to used all 4 available slots for 15 amp circuits knowing that under normal conditions, all of the equipment want draw the max current they are rated for, or am I limited by the 100 amp breaker to keep the sum of the circuits in the sub panel less than/equal to 100 amps. And if that's the case, can I swap out the 100 amp feeding the sub panel for a larger breaker understanding that I would have to increase gauge of wire feeding the panel (not a big deal since there is conduit running between the two panels.) 20 years ago I could have answered my own questions :headwally: but having not thought about this stuff at all since school, I am drawing a blank. I'm hoping that even though this isn't technically reef related, that someone here will be able to help me.
Mods, if there is a better forum for this question, feel free to move it.
Here's my situation. I want to run a few dedicated circuits for my new tank build. Unfortunately, my breaker box is full, but as luck would have it, one of the circuits is a 100 amp breaker that feeds an auxiliary panel. This panel holds a 30 amp for the water heater and a 30 amp for the AC, and it has room for up to 4 more 15 amp circuits.
My question is, am I allowed to used all 4 available slots for 15 amp circuits knowing that under normal conditions, all of the equipment want draw the max current they are rated for, or am I limited by the 100 amp breaker to keep the sum of the circuits in the sub panel less than/equal to 100 amps. And if that's the case, can I swap out the 100 amp feeding the sub panel for a larger breaker understanding that I would have to increase gauge of wire feeding the panel (not a big deal since there is conduit running between the two panels.) 20 years ago I could have answered my own questions :headwally: but having not thought about this stuff at all since school, I am drawing a blank. I'm hoping that even though this isn't technically reef related, that someone here will be able to help me.
Mods, if there is a better forum for this question, feel free to move it.
