ajdelange
Active Member
There are ways to potentially get extra circuits on an existing panel. There doesn't seem to be a hard and fast limit on how many phase-amps you can put on a panel with a given main breaker size. Four times seems to be sort of nominal (800 A with a 200 A main) but I have lots more than that and can demonstrate from historical records that draw never approaches 200A total (per phase).
Installing a sub panel obviously works. But 2 pole 50 A breakers come in the thin design so you only need to get rid of one fat single pole breaker to add a 50 amp dual pole for a new circuit provided that there are two stabs accessible under the slot you clear. And what about the slot you clear? You have to replace it and another fat single pole with slims or tandems. It depends on how your panel is configured, how old it is and how it is populated.
Installing a sub panel obviously works. But 2 pole 50 A breakers come in the thin design so you only need to get rid of one fat single pole breaker to add a 50 amp dual pole for a new circuit provided that there are two stabs accessible under the slot you clear. And what about the slot you clear? You have to replace it and another fat single pole with slims or tandems. It depends on how your panel is configured, how old it is and how it is populated.