Is it safe to add a double pole 30 amp breaker and run a 10/3 wire to my dryer 60 feet away from a 100 amp main box in my new home?
Asked by Zenóbia Ramos 
2 months ago
Last Updated: September 24, 2024
Hey there! I recently bought a house and I have a 100 amp main electrical panel. I’m thinking about adding a double pole 30 amp breaker and running a 10/3 wire to my dryer, which is about 60 feet away. Do you think this is safe to do? Will it provide enough power for the dryer? And is the wire thick enough for the distance?
You’re all set, sir
Nice and nice
Just do what you need to do
You’re all set to proceed. Just remember to use 10/3 wiring with ground for the installation.
Make sure to add a new 4 pin 240V socket with separate pins for neutral and ground, along with a matching line cord.
If the panel is inside the house, it’s considered a “sub panel”. Make sure you know the feed size and maximum load before adding more
Disagrees – it depends on the location and age of the service. There are plenty of main panels located inside houses.
Has never encountered a meter located inside a house in any state.
‘s meter is not always the first point of disconnect. The feeder runs from the meter to the panel. The main panel, which must be within 6 feet of the feeder cable, is the first point of disconnect in a house. This can vary depending on the jurisdiction.
Ot it, in the area where I’m from, the main panel includes the meter, and the subpanels are downstream from there. I’ve been in the electrical business for 40 years, but not as an electrician, .
I’ve heard of this before, but in all the places I’ve worked (several states), power companies only handle the meter. The main panel installation is done by a contractor. If it’s outside, then yes.
Yes, in Pennsylvania most row houses have them located in the basement, .
You should be fine as long as you don’t plug in too many devices all at once, most of those circuits are for outlets and lights anyway
Like Johnny Homeowner, is familiar with amp calculations. Sometimes I question the intelligence of the folks here.
Definitely
You shouldn’t encounter any issues.
You might consider upgrading to a 30 amp breaker instead of using a fuse.
I believe adding this load to your panel should be fine. I would personally do it in my own home under the same circumstances.
That electrical box isn’t suitable for a fuse, it’s best to contact an electrician.
Contact an electrician. Why are so many people trying to give advice on electrical work? It’s dangerous – one wrong move and you could get electrocuted.
Because that’s exactly what this group is all about
For the safety of yourself and your home, it’s best to call a qualified electrician. Would you recommend DIY or hiring a professional to others?
I often assist those who can’t afford professional help. I understand the struggle of being young with a family and limited resources. I had to learn how to do things myself.
If you’re eager to learn, start by working as an apprentice. Remember, safety first when dealing with high voltage panels. Trying to cut costs could be life-threatening.
It’s concerning to imagine people seeking electrical advice in a group for electricians.
Come on man, don’t be a baby. It’s not that complicated.
Grew up prioritizing safety.
Ood man Me too…Especially my Seniors…Who are on a fixed income. Frank that’s usually a tripped FI…look for it & reset it. If it keeps tripping call me back, I’ll come out.
Oh boy, here we go again 🤣😂
Come on, calm down. Jesus, electricians aren’t magicians for goodness sake.
Uh oh! If you touch that, you’re in trouble! 🤫
This guy is acting like it’s brain surgery! But really, he’s just doing his job.
Since when did 120/240 become high voltage?
Avin Dietz Reach out and touch the service panel.
Remember, low voltage can still be deadly. I’m just highlighting the importance of being careful with your words when debating with others.
I believe this group is meant for electricians to discuss, not for non-electricians seeking advice. Many of us have years of experience in the trade. I’d hate to see someone get hurt based on advice from this group.
Ive it a try… touch the panel.
Might benefit from going to college and getting his PFD.
The orilla sees and imitates the gorilla.
That looks good, but now new dryer circuits need FCI protection.
No need for a gfci, no reason to worry about getting it inspected.
I wouldn’t provide inaccurate information to a customer, it could backfire on you later.
Should always be checked, but even if not, cutting corners on uninspected work is even worse. Take pride and do it correctly.
Absolutely, thumbs up
Double check that there is a busbar behind the bottom slots.
Sure, as long as you have a neutral wire
That’s quite a distance, you might want to consider using 8-3 wire for a 40 amp circuit breaker
Nonsense
60ft seems like a long run… right?
General rule of thumb is to upsize every 100 ft
I wonder who is smoking crack?
If 60 feet is considered a long distance. Then I’m well-endowed
Nope, it’s not
Before following your suggestion, he should definitely consult an electrician to avoid overloading the electric dryer with too much amperage
Amperage isn’t pushed around, it’s actually being drawn
500kcm set in parallel
Let’s avoid any wordplay, power is coming from the generation station but being pulled from the dryer
Is wrong once more, just give it a rest already!
What if I keep going? I happen to know because I live in Canada, in a province where we get our power from a hydroelectric dam.
If you keep going like this, you’re going to keep looking like a fool. The choice is yours, my friend.
I find it a bit disrespectful being called a clown, especially considering I’m twice your age. It seems like you might need a lesson in respecting your elders.
J Rhoades doesn’t have to follow our suggestions about the 8-3, 10-3, 30 amp, and 40 amp options.
Is correct when he says that respect must be earned, not expected.
Rhoades, shush it.
Is full of crap.
In the States, might have to work for respect, but in Canada, it’s a different story. We believe in respecting our elders, but respect goes both ways. He called me a clown, but I’m definitely not one.
Who’s again?
What if the wire goes down a wall? Could the amps speed up and cause damage too quickly? 🤣
What did do?
Seriously, age doesn’t define your worth of respect. You clearly have no clue what you’re talking about and are talking down to others about it.
Were you referring to when you said “he is 100% right”? It doesn’t load all the comments for me by default, so it looked like you were saying was right.
Yeah, I was talking about Rob because Lee doesn’t even show on my list.
J Rhoades totally agree with you!
Mentioned he can slow them down a little by looping up in the bottom of the box.
Just heard a funny story from my niece who is a veterinarian. An average horse weighs 1,000 pounds and has an average 🍆 size of 20 inches. That means it’s 1 inch for every 50 pounds of body weight. The average adult male human is 200 pounds, so to be “hung like a horse” would mean your 🍆 is only four inches!
It’s like watching little kids argue over whether something is off-white or beige…
Power = Amperage times Voltage
Voltage = Amperage times Resistance
So, if we do a little math, Amperage = the square root of (Power divided by Resistance).
For example, if a clothes dryer has a Resistance that draws 23 amps of current at 240 VAC, that’s all it will draw. But if you have a long wire and experience a drop in Voltage, the Resistance of the dryer stays the same, meaning it will draw less Amperage with lower Voltage. This can cause issues with modern digital appliances as they may not function properly with lower Voltage. Old school dryers with just a motor, element, and timer didn’t care.
That said, 60 feet of 10/3 wire on a 30 amp breaker is fine. Mine is 73 feet away and handles at least 4 loads EVERY. SINLE. DAY. (Yes, it’s
If you keep the 1/4” per foot slope on your wire, the amps will move slowly enough to avoid causing any damage. would know that for sure.
Is tiny like a Tic-Tac, which is why your mom’s breath always smells so fresh.
I wouldn’t spread misinformation like
Sure thing, ma’am!
Was thinking it would be so convenient to have an app that can calculate amp pitch for oversized breakers and wires.
That’s true for everyone who may not have the knowledge. I am confident in what I know. He shared the information, no problem for me.
Thanks
💯
Wire…. NOT OCPD
🤡🤡🤡
I recommend running a load calculation first, but it seems like you should be fine.
Copy that
J Rhoades come on kids, behave or you’ll be sent to your room 😂
Biden is older than me and I have no respect for him haha
.
You really don’t know anything.
It seems like a sub panel, but there’s no stove or HVAC.
Gas stove and furnace are probably the main culprits.
Doesn’t have an AC either, so it really seems like a sub panel. , you should be good to go with that panel and adding a 230.
So there are no 30 or 40 amp circuits for appliances like stoves, cooktops, wall ovens, central air, hot water heaters, furnaces, etc.? Are they all gas-powered? That’s unusual, isn’t it?
I agree with you on that
My hunch is that it’s a sub panel
Reminiscing about simpler times. The only 2 pole circuit I have is for a baseboard heater in the bathroom. It might be a sub panel, but just because there are no heavy loads doesn’t guarantee it.
Where can I find Fuse? But yes, that’s exactly what you need to do.
I actually meant to say circuit breaker instead of fuse.
I keep hearing about how dedicated and honest you are, I have to agree that you’re the best. Thanks for improving my financial situation
👇👇
Mrs Damaris Ava
From what I can see, it doesn’t seem like it will be an issue. Sometimes the electrical panel may not have enough space. The covers come in various sizes for different panels and buses. It’s always a good idea to contact a local licensed electrician for assistance. And don’t forget to compensate them for their time and advice. It’s important to have a reliable professional to reach out to.
Reat point ! 👏 👍 👌 🙌
I calculate around 190 amps, so 50% is 95. Where did you guys get the idea to just go for it?
Is expressing that things are not as simple as they seem.
Make sure you double check that you have a 20 circuit panel and not a 16 circuit.
It would be amusing if the buss bar ran short and those were actually empty spaces. Then yes, replace the panel with a 32-space one
I’ve witnessed it too many times.
Then he could replace some of those single breakers with those fancy space-saving ones. You know, the ones😀
I have experienced that and been tricked. It’s best to uncover it first before making any other purchases. 🤔
That appears to be the case with QOs
I mark out those twist outs with my sharpie when I see them
Yeah, I usually write “Do not use” on the extra ko’s but not everyone does.
Oh yeah, you might want to check that out
Is the main panel full, or is it nowhere near this lighting panel? It’d be a good idea to check the wire size going to this panel. I’ve come across some questionable stuff in the past. Hopefully, the wire going to this panel is the right size, if it is, adding FCI protection probably wouldn’t hurt.
Ary Blatney, your electrician friends don’t want the homeowner running another 240V strand from the main panel. It should be fine to use 4 cond of #10 and keep the ground and neutral straight on the proper bus strips.
Absolutely, no worries
Take a photo of the label on each circuit breaker cover.
Sure
It’s a good idea to consult with the hardware store since they have certified electricians. You’ll need 10/3 wire and a 30 amp breaker for the dryer. Make sure to follow the electrical codes in your area and seek guidance from experts.
Definitely! Or you could always get an electrician to handle it, haha. The electrical box is definitely capable of handling it.
It looks like there should be space, but it’s hard to gauge how full that panel is.
For safety reasons, consider hiring a licensed electrician to deal with the main disconnect and electrical work. It’s not worth risking your safety by attempting it yourself.
By keeping your word, od will continue to bless you for being honest. I invested, withdrew on the expected date, and did not incur any fees. You’re awesome, erardo Shannon!
You can go for it, the wire looks like the right size. You’re on the right track, just go ahead and do it.
Just send it over
I think I would
Everything’s set, go ahead
It’s always best to call a licensed professional.
In case your house catches on fire due to faulty electrical work you did, your insurance claim may be denied and you won’t receive any compensation. While you may save money by doing it yourself, do you really want to risk the liability of the unknown?
Saving a few dollars now could end up costing you everything later on, remember that electricity is not a DIY project.
You gotta be strong
Consider hiring an electrician
You’re doing great!👍
Yep.
Since your stove runs on gas, there is no need to worry about electrical connections.
You will be okay
Yes, you can do it, but there’s a big “but” involved here. First, you need to figure out how much power the circuit will draw in terms of amperage. Then, check the wire size and breaker size supplying your sub panel, as well as the amp reading of the sub panel under a normal load. Make sure to leave some extra room in case additional appliances are turned on. I’m not using a lot of technical terms because I want to keep it easy to understand, not talk down to you. Just because there’s enough physical space doesn’t mean there’s enough capacity to carry the load. Think of it like a pickup truck analogy: if the bed of a one-ton pickup is the same size as the bed of a half-ton pickup, you can put the same amount of gravel in each one. However, overloading the half-ton truck will damage it because it’s not designed to carry such a heavy load. The same principle applies with electricity.
Why not use a clothesline to save some money? Is there already a gas dryer there?
It’s best to call a certified electrician if you suspect wires could catch on fire from overloading. In older houses, using a jumper to make 220 volts out of 110 can lead to overloading, which is why some houses need to be rewired. It’s always a good idea to get a second opinion to avoid any risks – trying to fix it yourself could result in losing your house.
You won’t get 220 volts using a 110 jumper, unfortunately.
Ene Proko sure thing, it’s just basic math. 110 multiplied by 2 equals 220
It’s still 120 volts on the same leg
Ene Proko haha, I’m aware of that. I’m just here laughing. I’ve been working with electricity since the 60s. So… if you need 12 volts, you can’t just use 10 wire nuts, right? Divide the wire 10 times: 120 divided by 10 equals 12?
Ene Proko are you sure? Some people actually use that method in a circuit box to get 220 from 110
Good luck with that
Ene Proko
Yeah, not from a typical single-phase system
Could you sketch out a diagram showing where to place this jumper? Using this method could save our customers a lot of money.
It’s important to do load calculations for the entire house.
I finally found someone who makes sense
Expresses gratitude
Is absolutely correct 💯
Seems like it’s an old house without an AC condenser, only window units.
10/3 is suitable for 30 amps my friend, you can’t use anything else
Points out that dryers typically require a 30-amp 10/3 wire. Providing incorrect advice can be harmful.