cwuwlaw
Member
I am in the budgeting stage for purchasing a Leaf. I'm trying to figure out whether my old Murray panel is really full so that I'll have to add a subpanel. I've searched the forums and internet, but I think I'm just not getting it. I currently charge my C-Max Energi using a dedicated 120 volt 20 amp outlet that is on a dual breaker. The bottom spot on the dual/tandem breaker has an empty spot. See bottom right breaker in the below picture:
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If I decide to add a 240 outlet, I'll be hiring an electrician to do so. But I'm hoping to have a better idea what I'm in for before calling out an electrician. When I first saw that the bottom space on the tandem breaker was unused, I thought I could just use that tandem space for a 240v. But then I researched a bit and it seams that tandem breakers are usually on a single pole, so that it can only output 120v. But based on the following wiring diagram on the panel door, I'm not sure whether some of my tandem breakers may actually be using both poles:
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What I don't understand is that there appears to be 7 spots for breakers on the right side of the lower (non-service) side of my panel (numbered 18-24). But I have only 5 breakers (4 tandem plus one single). Could that bottom tandem breaker be connected to 2 poles so that I can use that space for a 240v circuit?
Sorry if I've confused the issues using poor terminology. I promise I'm not planning to do the work myself. Just trying to get an idea of investment I'd need to make to upgrade to a 240v charger. If it looks like I'll need to add a subpanel at significant expense, I may just stick with trickle charging and top it off at public chargers when I'll be driving more than 35 or so miles a day.
Also, sorry if the pictures don't show up. I added the links, but they aren't showing when I preview this post.
If I decide to add a 240 outlet, I'll be hiring an electrician to do so. But I'm hoping to have a better idea what I'm in for before calling out an electrician. When I first saw that the bottom space on the tandem breaker was unused, I thought I could just use that tandem space for a 240v. But then I researched a bit and it seams that tandem breakers are usually on a single pole, so that it can only output 120v. But based on the following wiring diagram on the panel door, I'm not sure whether some of my tandem breakers may actually be using both poles:
What I don't understand is that there appears to be 7 spots for breakers on the right side of the lower (non-service) side of my panel (numbered 18-24). But I have only 5 breakers (4 tandem plus one single). Could that bottom tandem breaker be connected to 2 poles so that I can use that space for a 240v circuit?
Sorry if I've confused the issues using poor terminology. I promise I'm not planning to do the work myself. Just trying to get an idea of investment I'd need to make to upgrade to a 240v charger. If it looks like I'll need to add a subpanel at significant expense, I may just stick with trickle charging and top it off at public chargers when I'll be driving more than 35 or so miles a day.
Also, sorry if the pictures don't show up. I added the links, but they aren't showing when I preview this post.