Only your electrician can tell you for sure when it comes needing a replacement panel. But let’s start with the easiest: For this, all you need to do is pig-tail the two wires with a third (extra wire). 43 likes. This is a pretty common condition in homes as over the years additions and electrical changes are made. - Answered by a verified Electrician We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. The issue with double tapping is you could technically have a loose connection or an overloaded breaker since the breaker is not designed for two wires. All done. Stay safe…I can’t afford to lose readers. Presumably there is a main breaker upstream of this point e.g. It’s printed on the breaker. Circuit breakers are designed to protect the circuit, not what is connected to them. Thanks, for all the information posted, very helpful and simplified. Required fields are marked *. If you have the room in your panel, you could always go the traditional route and install a new single pole breaker in an open slot. You tap the feeder, making the feeder OCPD also the OCPD for the tap conductor. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Then a local electrical inspector supervisor for Marquette county pointed out that doble tapping (in the strictest sense) only refers to the main, not the branch wiring. As far as I know, these Square D’s and some Cutler Hammer breakers are OK to double tap, but everything else is a no-no. But this task is supposed to only be performed by an electrician. If you are unsure about having a Radon Gas test performed, click here to learn more about things. Among some of the most confusing entries in the Code, feeder tap rules can trip you up if you don't know what you're doing. My goal with this article is to explain what a ‘double-tap’ is, and how it can be corrected. If you have had a home inspection in the past say, 300 years, there is a good chance your inspector wrote something in the electrical section of your report along these lines: “One (or more) double tapped breakers noted in the electric panel. Thank you, Michael. Missing kick-out flashing creates hidden water damage in walls, Kickout Diverter Flashing – Critical Roof Flashing. Double tapped breakers are an unsafe condition in which multiple conductors are placed under the set screw of a single breaker. A double tapped breaker occurs when someone attached more than one wire (conductor) to a breaker. There are five tap rules related to feeder circuit taps: − Taps Not Over 3 m (10 ft.) Long If the conductors come loose, they cause overheating and electrical arcing, and the risk of fire is also present. Fuse Box vs Electrical Panel: Everything You Need To Know, Current Issues With Florida Roof Insurance & Claims, Everything You Need To Know About Knob-and-Tube Wiring, Anti Entrapment Pool Drain Covers & Pool Safety, 6 Typical Finds (DANGERS) on Flipped Homes - Waypoint, Mismatched Breakers: Can Breaker "X" Go Into Panel "Y"? These rules are often referred to as the NEC “tap rules”. Double taps are a fire hazard, and therefore should be addressed as a homeowner becomes aware of them. Can you double tap the main lugs on a 200 amp service panel to supply power to a 100 amp box in the detached garage? Today I'll explain what double-tapping is, when it's a problem, why it's a problem, and how to correct it. Everything connected to this breaker is still limited to the breaker size itself in terms of amperage protection, and if you pre-twist the wires together before you cap them off with a wirenut, you’ll be good to go. Double Taps. Breakers protect wires. It's a pretty minor issue, and it's usually a simple and straightforward fix. I see a lot of bad info floating around saying that more than one connection on the breakers can cause an overload. All Rights Reserved. Today I'll explain what double tapping is, when it is and isn't a problem, why it's a problem, and how to. The double tap electrical connection may violate electrical codes: unless the manufacturer specifically designed a connector to hold multiple electrical wires, putting more than one wire into the connector is improper and is a violation of the electrical code (failure to follow the manufacturer's installation specifications). 23 Posts . Neutrals are also a current carrying conductor. “Double tapped neutral” is a slang term used when 2 neutral wires (the white wires) are terminated under the same screw on the neutral bus bar. A double tapped circuit breaker, commonly referred to as a “double tap” is an electrical defect inside an electrical panel. Double tapped circuit breakers are one of the most common electrical defects that I find while doing home inspections in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, and they're usually one of the easiest defects to correct. It is sized to protect the fat aluminum wires coming to this panel. Your email address will not be published. If your home has a double tapped circuit breaker, this means that two wires (conductors) are connected to one specific circuit breaker or one terminal on the same circuit breaker. This sort of daisy-chaining panels is legal but all the wires must be sized for the protecting breaker (or vice versa). - Waypoint. The curveball here is that some breakers are designed to accept multiple wires and it’s not a problem with those types. For example, your refrigerator should be on its own circuit, and not tied into the same circuit as your guest bedroom. So I understand why double tapped hots are bad, because you can have two branch circuits on a single breaker which can be two many amps. A double tapped breaker is a very common write-up in the inspection community, but it is also a very easy fix. That is 100% false. Simply twist all 3 wires together and only connect the single wire back to the breaker. A double tapped breaker is basically two wires under one circuit breaker that is designed for one wire. Residential, Commercial, New Construction , & Remodeling Electrical Services. For all the young and budding home inspectors out there who happen to read this, please feel free to steal my wording that I use for my home inspection reports about double tapped breakers. Knowing how to properly tap into an existing electrical wire in order to add an appliance is an extremely important skill for an electrician, contractor or homeowner.It is not uncommon to have the task of expanding an existing circuit in order to add an extra outlet, light or otherwise. A double tapped neutral is when more than one neutral wire is fed into a single screw (terminal) on the neutral bus bar in the main electric panel. Thanks, Greg. A double tapped breaker, more commonly know as a ‘double-tap,’ is when more than one wire is connected to a breaker (or to a busbar-but we are only going to talk about breakers for this post) in an electric panel. The wires to the sub are much smaller and the main breaker cannot protect them. Hi, I’m Ben, and I inspect houses. If all else fails, you can just add another breaker or another panel so everything fits properly, but this would be last resort. Failed Manufactured Stone and Brick Veneer on New Construction Home. If you find yourself in a situation where it won’t, sometimes a larger panelboard may needed- but those times are few and far between. Now that you know you how to determine what a double tapped breaker is, let’s explore the options on how to correct them. NEC 2008 110.14 Electrical Connections. As if the rules aren’t confusing enough, sometimes you can double tap breakers and it’s not a problem. You just need to make sure you are installing them in a spot they are allowed. Arcing is what starts a fire in an electrical panel. Double Tap Electric. You may also hear this condition referred to as a “double lug.” You can see what this looks like in the picture above. When multiple wires are connected to a breaker, you greatly increase the risk of a loose connection, which can lead to overheating, arcing, and electrical fires. The other hundreds of electricians I'd been in conctact with over the years understood immediately what I … Double-tapped circuit breakers are one of the most common electrical defects that home inspectors find. Double tapping is a defect when it is used on incompatible devices. DOUBLE TAP ELECTRIC, LLC. The OCPD supplies the feeder. When I use the term double lugging,… Every brand is different so you’ll need to check yours to know for sure. The inspector recommends further evaluation and proper repair by a licensed electrician.”. If the connection between a breaker and a wire becomes loose, it could cause overheating or worse, start to arc between the gaps. All panels should have a diagram on the door that tells you which breaker is allowed in what spot. Well, although double tapped breakers are technically wrong and theoretically could burn your house down depending on the conditions, it is not likely. Besides being one of the worst written explanations of a problem I’ve ever forced my fingers to type, it leaves you, the buyer/homeowner with little to no information about what the heck is going on here. All you need is a small section of wire and a wire nut. Overheating of the wires is possible. So although it is very common and not super likely a house will burn down, it is wrong and it should be fixed. I know for a fact that some Square-D breakers are rated for two wires. When aluminum (AL) wire is present, it is stated that you are only allowed a single connection. Double Tap Electric is a locally owned and operated electrical contracting company. Aaron Shishilla is the youngest registered professional inspector in Florida. Are they really that bad as everyone has made them out to be? Book an Appointment ABOUT US: As licensed electrical contractors, we provide our clients with a comprehensive approach to all of their projects, specializing in a wide range of services. If the device allows multiple taps, it must be listed for the purpose. Basically, this breaker has two connection points for two wires! This is what it looks like: You can tell this breaker is designed for two conductors by the red circle on the image. Coming from a family-owned home inspection company and now the marketing manager at Waypoint. One circuit breaker should only connect to one circuit. I have a "double tap" in my electrical panel. My home inspector wrote in my inspection report that I had several double-tapped breakers but offered no help in what that meant or how to properly repair them. There is an even worse possiblility: that this is a split-bus "Rule of Six" panel, designed to h ave 6 main breakers in its top 12 spa… A double tapped breaker occurs when two conductors are found connected under one circuit breaker lug or when two conductors … © Copyright 2021- ABI Home Inspection Service - Louisville, KY, My New Roof – A Review of Bone Dry Roofing. Let me know if I can help in any way. It should look like the image below, but with that third extra wire…. This is a Square D Tandem Breaker from Home Depot. So how do you know which is which? Are the main lugs ever rated for more than one conductor? You can see this clearly in the picture below, as there are multiple neutral wires feeding into a single … This is not intended to be a DIY article to show you how to work on your electrical system. A brief look at a 100 amp main electrical panel with some issues.Wrong sized wires/breakers and double tapping are the main concerns. See more at www.structuretech1.com Fill out the home inspection request form here to get the process started. Their license was verified as active when we last checked. A double tapped breaker is a circuit breaker that has two circuit wires connected to it. My blog is here for info about home inspections around the Louisville, Kentucky area, and just about anything construction-related. The OCPD is situated ahead of the point of supply to the tap conductor because it's situated ahead of the feeder. Outside. Double tapped breakers are a common circuit breaker defect—but they are also one of the easiest electrical problems to correct. In other words, we want to make sure the wires stay in good working order and don’t melt down to start a fire. Be descriptive. This breaker has spots for two copper wires. These are all fairly simple, but if you don’t have past experience or knowledge with working inside an electric panel, it would be best to call in a pro. If you can turn a screwdriver, you can install a breaker. If you know of another brand where this practice is acceptable, please let me know and I’ll add it to the list. I know it can be frustrating when your home inspection report doesn’t give you enough detailed information about the issues. Designed By: WolfPack Advising. Homes with aluminum wire have a whole different set of rules that you can learn more about here. Thanks for this. Can it cause your house to burn down? If a circuit breaker is designed for two conductors, it will say so right on the circuit breaker, and the terminal of the circuit breaker will be designed to hold two conductors in place. Everyone seems to sign off on this defect as a 'big deal', but I'm here to tell you it's not. Don’t be that guy who writes crap like I have at the top of this post and call it an “explanation.” Be detailed. A comment in your home inspection report like this one is horrible. A double tap can be accommodated by installing a new circuit board compatible with double tapping. The curveball here is that some breakers are designed to accept multiple wires and it’s not a problem with those types. | Waypoint It’s typically a fairly simple repair so be sure to have an electrician evaluate the situation and correct things as needed.”. Furthermore, an overloaded breaker could continuously trip or overheat. If you need control over whatever each wire is connected to via a breaker handle, you can get tandem breakers for most modern electric panels. Single breakers are cheap (under $5), and this is simplest repair in terms of technical skill. So what’s the deal with double tapped breakers? NEC 2014 edition electrical code tap rules The NEC article dealing with overcurrent protection of feeder taps is article 240.21(B). I was quoted $265 for this fix by an electrician (Seattle, USA). The conductor that's tapped into a feeder conductor is called the tap conductor. It’s all about the connection between the wire and the breaker. Think about this arrangement for a second. There are points inside these panels that can kill you in the blink of an eye, even if you turn off the main breaker. Double tapped circuit breakers are one of the most common electrical defects that I find while doing home inspections in Minneapolis and Saint … This seems easy to fix (even the most complicated fix simply involves adding a new breaker to the breaker box). Double-tapped circuit breakers are one of the most common electrical defects that home inspectors find. A double tap is two wires secured to a breaker that is only rated to receive one wire connection, and is a common defect called out at a home inspection. © 2021 Waypoint. These breakers allow for two single pole arms to be installed in a single width slot in the electric panel. Don’t stray out of your knowledge and comfort zone and end up getting shocked or even worse, electrocuted. This, of course, is known as a double tap, or even a triple tap if you have an extra stupid person working inside your electric panel. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The vast majority of the time, one of the options above will take care of your double-tapped breaker woes. Double Tapped Breakers: Why is it Bad & Simple Fix! This has been an unacceptable practice for many years for a couple of reasons. Double-tapped breakers are a violation of the NEC code unless the breaker is rated for more than one conductor. Let’s first look at how to determine how many wires a breaker will accept, and then we’ll look into how to fix the problem if you have too many connections on a breaker. Often times this leads to someone taking a short cut and simply attaching two wires to the same breaker. There are many ways to fix a double tapped breaker. A double tap is a term used to describe when two wires are attached to the same breaker or terminal (also called a lug). Everyone seems to sign off on this defect as a 'big deal', but I'm here to tell you it's not. Square D is most notable for having a breaker designed for two conductors, but Cutler Hammer makes them too. Learn how your comment data is processed. This is an outline of what you’ll want to ask an electrician to do. Some allow tandems all over; some older panels don’t allow them at all. Making sure your breakers’ connections are tight and properly executed is very important to fire safety. Unless the terminal or circuit breaker is designed for more than one conductor, it's not a good idea. By the way, the same above is true for triple tapped breakers where three wires connect to one circuit breaker. What is a Double Tapped Breaker & 3 Ways to Repair Them, Why are some double tapped breakers NOT a problem, Missing Kick-Out Flashing Creates Hidden Water Damage in Walls, Kick-out Flashing | Critical Roof Flashing, New NPMA Form 33 does not say you MUST treat for termites, Botched MSV Leads Builder to Buy Home Back. Let me know if I can help in any way. Discussion Starter • #1 • Jul 15, 2014. Double Tap Electric, (Owned by: Jay Hutchison) holds a Electrical license according to the Idaho license board.. Their BuildZoom score of 110 ranks in the top 4% of 53,194 Idaho licensed contractors. I also know it is a clear violation of code if it isn't rated that way. I grew up with a hammer in my hand, and have been a professional home inspector for 12 years. This is a no-no! With most devices you can only have one wire per screw terminal, however, some breakers do support multiple wires under terminals. Structure Tech home inspectors Tessa and Reuben explain how to identify and fix double tapped breakers. It’s generally not allowed and can be a fire hazard under certain conditions. Posted at 22:08h in Handy Man not so Handy or legal by Sabin Electric 0 Comments 1 Like I have been getting a lot of calls about double tapped breakers – This means that two wires (conductors) are connected to one breaker on the same circuit breaker. A loose connection can potentially spark or arc. How Can I Age My Carrier Furnace, Air Conditioner, and Heat Pump? Double taps are only visible when the panel cover is removed and is the most common electric panel defect that we find at Brightside Home Inspections. “The panelboard has (insert number of double taps) double tapped breakers located (insert location of said breakers). With two conductors under a terminal rated for one conductor the wires could come loose and begin to arc. A double tapped breaker, more commonly know as a ‘double-tap,’ is when more than one wire is connected to a breaker (or to a busbar-but we are only going to talk about breakers for this post) in an electric panel. Waypoint Property Inspection, LLC receives commissions for purchases made through links in this domain. National Electrical Code; Code Basics; Understanding the Rules for Feeder Taps. Unfortunately, most home inspectors do not take the time to actually write proper explanations about the problems they discover during an inspection, and poorly written comments like the one above leaving the Realtor and buyer scratching their heads about what needs to happen. When it's NOT a defect: Double tapped wiring is ok if the circuit breaker is designed for two conductors. Then, connect the opposite end of the third wire to the circuit breaker. ... More Articles in: Electrical … Your email address will not be published. Easy! If more than one wire is connected to the breaker, and that breaker is not designed for two wires, the chances of those connections being too loose is much greater than those with just one wire connected. Note: Notice that both of these breakers state that you should not double tap the connections if aluminum wire is involved. There are a couple manufacturers that rate and allow certain breakers to have these types of connections made to them. Note: The issue with double tapping a breaker has nothing to do with the load (demand) on the circuit. A double tap is quite simply two electrical wires attached to the same breaker in the electrical service panel. This is the biggest gotcha here. (A) Terminals. This is by far the simplest solution, and to be honest, I don’t know why you would ever bother with any other repair when dealing with a double tapped breaker.
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