50 amp sub-panel

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02-28-05, 01:29 PM

stvdlf

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50 amp sub-panel

How many 20amp circuits can be safely run off a sub-panel supplied from a main panel’s 50amp breaker? The sub-panel will be supplying 4 or 5 basement lights a couple of outlets, a washing machine, a basement half bath, an island dishwasher, garbage disposal, compact microwave and warming drawer in a kitchen remodel, and another 20 amp circuit for a future upstairs bath. Will this be overloading this 50amp circuit?

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02-28-05, 01:48 PM

racraft

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You can run as many circuits as you want, up to what the sub-panel will allow, space wise.

What is important is what you want to have on thoise circuits turned on at the same time.

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02-28-05, 01:54 PM

John Nelson

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Quote:

How many 20amp circuits can be safely run off a sub-panel supplied from a main panel’s 50amp breaker?

42.

Quote:

Will this be overloading this 50amp circuit?

Ah, much better question than your first question. A 50-amp 240-volt subpanel supplies up to 12KW of power. Let's do a ballpark calculation using conservative numbers:

0.5 KW for the lights.
1.0 KW for the two receptacles.
1.0 KW for washing machine.
2.0 KW for the basement half-bath.
1.5 KW for the dishwasher.
1.0 KW for the disposal.
1.5 KW for the microwave.
1.5 KW for the warming drawer.
2.0 KW for the future bathroom.

You probably couldn't overload this is your turned on everything at once (which is so unlikely as to be not worth considering). Bottom line: you're okay.

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