They have their own main breaker, which is fed by the main panel. Subpanels are typically 60 to 100 amps and often have branch circuits serving a specific area of the house, such as a kitchen. A subpanel can also serve as a convenient satellite panel for a detached garage or workshop that may be far away from the main panel. Subpanels are commonly installed to accommodate the many new circuits and breakers added as part of a home addition or large remodel. If you have a 400 amp service, you will have two 200 amp main panels and each will have a 200 amp main breaker.Īn electrical subpanel is a secondary service panel that is fed by the home's main service panel. The amp rating on this main circuit breaker identifies your electrical service size. Turning this main breaker to the off position shuts off power to the entire house and all the branch circuits. It is a double-pole breaker, connected to both 120-volt service wires to power both hot bus bars running down through the panel. The main circuit breaker dictates how much power is available to your entire house.

The main circuit breaker may be bolted in place, or it may be a snap-in breaker similar to those serving branch circuits. In rare instances, the main circuit breaker may be mounted at the bottom of the service panel. This is the main circuit breaker, and its amperage rating will be something like 60, 100, 150, or 200 amps. The amperage of these individual breakers will be between 15 and 50 amps, usually.Īt the top or bottom end of the two rows of branch circuit breakers, there will be a central circuit breaker that controls the power to the entire panel. These individual, or branch, circuit breakers are numbered, and they control individual branch circuits running through your home. Inside the panel, you will see two rows of individual circuit breakers with small toggle levers.

Make sure the floor near the main service panel is dry, then open the metal door on the service panel. Read the Main Circuit Breaker or Fuse Block.The Spruce Home Improvement Review Board.

200 amp service wire 150 foot