[wingnut406]

Hi,

How can I add a 30Amp 220V breaker for a Hot Water Heater? I currently have a 50 Amp Service and NO available breaker room. There is a sub-panel now, but only room from 1 breaker which appears to have been added for a Dryer... was done because NO more room in the main box. The reason I need to do this is because I am switching the water heater from gas to electric. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Scott

[tkrussell]

Depending on what the 50 amp service feeds now, there is a huge doubt that the service can safely handle the load of a water heater. The drop dead load will be 18.75 amps for a standard unit with 4500 watt elements.

All that can be done without upgrading to one larger amperage single panel ,is to add another two circuit panel with a 2 pole 30 amp breaker or fused switch just for the water heater.

This will require connecting to main lugs with no more than ten feet of cable to the disconnect. This main need to be done live.

Doing this will stretch the use of several exceptions in the code, and is difficult to do, best not done by a DIY.

Plus load calculations need to be done or the service, I bet is very old, will most likely burn up.

What size is the house, and what appliances do you have?

May to best to call in a pro for this project.