Circuit Breaker Wiring Question ?

Hello:

I am thinking about installing an Intermatic Surge Protector, Model IG1240RC
(which replaces their EG240RC) in my 25 year old circuit breaker box.
The box is a Federal Pacific Electric Model No. is LX112-24.

The Intermatic unit's wiring instructions, and probably the only practical
way, have it connected to each side of the line via a dedicated circuit
breaker for each leg.

The problem I have is that although I have been beating the bushes trying to
find someone who has breakers that will fit this box (tried North American
Switchgear and also Voyten Electric) with no luck. Will keep looking, and
might luck out, but it looks like they are probably really unavailable.
Really don't want to replace the box with a new one.

So, my question is this:

I remember from reading the NEC codes a while back that it is a real sin to
have 2 (black) wires going to a single breaker. This was written for two
branch circuits, of course, and that each branch must have its own breaker.

I am wondering if this would also be a no-no if I connected the surge
protector wire to a circuit breaker that is also feeding a branch circuit ?
This seems a bit different than what the code was implying shouldn't be
done, and was wondering if this might be allowable.

It would sure solve my problem easily.

What do you think ?

Thanks,
Bob

Robert11 wrote:
> Hello:
>
> I am thinking about installing an Intermatic Surge Protector, Model IG1240RC
> (which replaces their EG240RC) in my 25 year old circuit breaker box.
> The box is a Federal Pacific Electric Model No. is LX112-24.
>
> The Intermatic unit's wiring instructions, and probably the only practical
> way, have it connected to each side of the line via a dedicated circuit
> breaker for each leg.
>
> The problem I have is that although I have been beating the bushes trying to
> find someone who has breakers that will fit this box (tried North American
> Switchgear and also Voyten Electric) with no luck. Will keep looking, and
> might luck out, but it looks like they are probably really unavailable.
> Really don't want to replace the box with a new one.
>
FPE breakers - could look for perveyors of used equipment or an
electrical contractor that does a lot of trouble calls.

> So, my question is this:
>
> I remember from reading the NEC codes a while back that it is a real sin to
> have 2 (black) wires going to a single breaker. This was written for two
> branch circuits, of course, and that each branch must have its own breaker.
>
You can't have 2 wires under the same screw unless the device is listed
for 2. As far as I know, only Square D 15-20-30 breakers are listed. No
problem to combine 2 or more breakers with a wire nut and a pig-tail or
the breaker. You can combine 2 branch ckts on one breaker if they do not
cover an objectionable number of outlets and lights; also have to
watch out for changing phases when a circuit has a common neutral.

> I am wondering if this would also be a no-no if I connected the surge
> protector wire to a circuit breaker that is also feeding a branch circuit ?
> This seems a bit different than what the code was implying shouldn't be
> done, and was wondering if this might be allowable.
>
Sounds reasonable. The surge protector only draws significant current
when shunting a surge and could trip the breaker on a long surge. Keep
wires short

Bud--

"Robert11" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:b8qdnZ2dnZ3t-D7hnZ2dnboCb9-dnZ2dRVn-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hello:
>
> I am thinking about installing an Intermatic Surge Protector, Model
IG1240RC
> (which replaces their EG240RC) in my 25 year old circuit breaker box.
> The box is a Federal Pacific Electric Model No. is LX112-24.
>
> The Intermatic unit's wiring instructions, and probably the only practical
> way, have it connected to each side of the line via a dedicated circuit
> breaker for each leg.
>
> The problem I have is that although I have been beating the bushes trying
to
> find someone who has breakers that will fit this box (tried North American
> Switchgear and also Voyten Electric) with no luck. Will keep looking, and
> might luck out, but it looks like they are probably really unavailable.
> Really don't want to replace the box with a new one.
>
> So, my question is this:
>
> I remember from reading the NEC codes a while back that it is a real sin
to
> have 2 (black) wires going to a single breaker. This was written for two
> branch circuits, of course, and that each branch must have its own
breaker.
>
> I am wondering if this would also be a no-no if I connected the surge
> protector wire to a circuit breaker that is also feeding a branch circuit
?
> This seems a bit different than what the code was implying shouldn't be
> done, and was wondering if this might be allowable.
>
> It would sure solve my problem easily.
>
> What do you think ?
>
> Thanks,
> Bob

You should use a 2 pole breaker.
http://www.allbreakers.com/store.asp...oducts/grp!417
http://www.handh.net/FPE.htm

google brought up 257 hits in a second. They are not that hard to find.
Cost well we shall not discuss that.

Robert11 wrote:
> Hello:
>
> I am thinking about installing an Intermatic Surge Protector, Model IG1240RC
> (which replaces their EG240RC) in my 25 year old circuit breaker box.
> The box is a Federal Pacific Electric Model No. is LX112-24.
>
> The Intermatic unit's wiring instructions, and probably the only practical
> way, have it connected to each side of the line via a dedicated circuit
> breaker for each leg.
>
> The problem I have is that although I have been beating the bushes trying to
> find someone who has breakers that will fit this box (tried North American
> Switchgear and also Voyten Electric) with no luck. Will keep looking, and
> might luck out, but it looks like they are probably really unavailable.
> Really don't want to replace the box with a new one.
>
> So, my question is this:
>
> I remember from reading the NEC codes a while back that it is a real sin to
> have 2 (black) wires going to a single breaker. This was written for two
> branch circuits, of course, and that each branch must have its own breaker.
>
> I am wondering if this would also be a no-no if I connected the surge
> protector wire to a circuit breaker that is also feeding a branch circuit ?
> This seems a bit different than what the code was implying shouldn't be
> done, and was wondering if this might be allowable.
>
> It would sure solve my problem easily.
>
> What do you think ?
>
> Thanks,
> Bob
>
>
>

Do not put two wires under one breaker screw. Do one of
the following:

1) Add a 2 pole breaker and wire the surge supressor to it.
or
2) Remove the black wires from an existing two pole breaker.
Splice the supressor wires and a jumper wire to those black
wires - the jumper goes to the breaker
or
3) Do the same as the above with two adjacent single breakers
to which you add a toggle tie.
or
4) Run an existing 240 volt branch into a junction box
mounted to the service panel with a short nipple. Mount
the supressor to the jbox and splice its wires in the j
box to the existing 240 v branch circuit wires. Then run
from the j-box to the breakers and ground/neutral bus.

# 4 is least costly and avoids any issue with splicing
inside a service entry panel.

Ed

>
> You should use a 2 pole breaker.

Maybe.

I know when I got a "signal repeater/coupler" for my X-10 system the
instructions clearly said that TWO single pole breakers were required and
that's what I put in.

Maybe "they" were afraid that I would not be able to find a 15 amp double
pole breaker and would end up putting in a 20 amp.