Can I hook 19 circuits to the 16KW Guardian?

[lovetocamp2]

I have been trying to determine from reading the forum what I need to do but still can't find an answer.

We have a 200 amp service and there are 38 circuits being used (counting the 240V's as 2) I have made a list and tried to eliminate circuits we can live without. I have my list down to 19 circuits which I know is 3 more that the 16 circuits than come with the 16Kw but some of these circuits use very little electric and I am wondering if you can double up on any of the breakers? For example we have three bathrooms that have separate circuits just for a ceiling light. Bedroom lights are each on their own circuit, the garage lights are separate and only has three 100 watt light bulbs, and the smoke detectors are on a dedicated circuit.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I would like to get this why the $250 rebate is on but want to make sure I get the right stuff.

Thanks

[dave]

I have my list down to 19 circuits which I know is 3 more that the 16 circuits than come with the 16Kw but some of these circuits use very little electric and I am wondering if you can double up on any of the breakers?
Breakers can be doubled up on but in this case nobody can tell you because it is to ambiguous. That would be up to you or an electrician to decide. Someone would need to verify the circuit loads.

Maybe you can install mini's or twins in the transfer switch and pick up on some extra spaces.

[lovetocamp2]

Thanks Dave, the circuits I was talking about doubling up on would just be light bulbs. I have 5 circuits that all the lights together would only draw about 10 amps. I'm not sure about the smoke detectors but I'm sure they don't draw much at all. I hadn't thought about mini breakers but that would be a great option if I could find them to fit.

[Jason]

I have a 10kW generator that normally ships with a 10 circuit ATS. I too was finding that I needed more circuits energized, so the company that did my install simply replaced the 10 circuit ATS with a 16 circuit ATS. They also switched out several of the pre-installed breakers to more closely match my requirements (e.g. replacing a 30A 240V paired breaker with a pair of 20A 120V breakers). So yeah, I think there is a lot of flexibility, it all comes down to working out the details with your electrician.

[dave]

There are two basic ways to wire bathrooms. Each bathroom has a home run, 12 cu, 20 amp, ( its own circuit ). It would power everything in the bathroom. Light or lights, bath fan, AND receptacle or receptacles. Nothing else outside the bathroom. If you have 3 baths then 3 breakers.

The other way is to put the lights and bath fan on with other lighting circuits, 15 or 20 amp. THEN run a 12-2, 20 amp home run to the receptacles. Some guys still run a separate 20 amp 12-2 to each bathroom receptacle but that is a little overkill. The receptacles can be tied together. In otherwords run from bath 1 to bath 2 to bath 3. But only the receptacles. And that would be one circuit for all receptacles.
So first I would see what is on the bath breakers. If it is only one light I would be surprised. What breaker has the bath receptacles?
If your house is older than all bets are off.

Make sure the garage lights also don't have the garage receptacles including the opener. Only garage lights is a pretty light load. You may be lucky there.

I always put the smoke detectors on with something else anyway. If they are on there own breaker your house is probably before AFCI's. It is too cost prohibited to put smokies on arc faults by themselves.

So it is possible to combine but it takes some thorough research so as not to have problems later.
However if you are doing the work and something doesn't work out ( like a breaker tripping ) you will know how to change it back or lighten the load somehow. Try to keep track of what you did and label your wires if they already aren't.

[lovetocamp2]

Thanks Dave, the house is only a year old and each bathroom light is separate from the recepticles, I already checked that but we usually don't use the recepticles in the bathroom so they were ones I decided to leave out. The motor on the bath tub is separate too but I am sure my wife can live without a whirlpool during a power loss. The smoke detectors do have their own breaker by themselves. In the garage there is 4 circuits (I'm sure that's overkill) The lights are one, the central vac is by itself, a refrigerator recepticle in the garage is dedicated and the rest of the recepticles are on the 4th circuit.
Thanks again for the help

[lovetocamp2]

Another question I have is, if I put 2 circuits to one breaker even if the amperage is not too much ,will it meet code when we sell the house?

I remember last year at our old house when the home inspector did the electrical. He found a breaker with 2 wires hooked to it and we had to add another breaker to separate them. Do you think I would run into the same thing with the generator?

Thanks again

Thanks
Bill

[dave]

the house is only a year old and each bathroom light is separate from the recepticles
For a year old house this is unusual. An entire circuit for 1 light:confused: In what way are the bath receptacles protected?
The smoke detectors do have their own breaker by themselves.
This is really unusual. By code they must be on an arc fault breaker. Does the breaker have a little trip button? Or maybe you live in one of the very few areas of the country that don't use them. Do the bedroom circuit breakers have little trip buttons?

Another question I have is, if I put 2 circuits to one breaker even if the amperage is not too much ,will it meet code when we sell the house?
First take the two wires and splice them together and land one wire on the breaker.
2nd, home inspectors must all take the same class that says not to put 2 wires on one circuit breaker. If the circuit breaker is marker or embossed with the information that it is OK to land 2 wires than it is ok. I had to meet an inspector ( not an electrical inspector but a real estate type home inspector )at a house one time and show him that Cutler Hammer listed it as ok. There are limitations and off the top of my head I think it stops at 30 amp but not sure.

The motor on the bath tub is separate too but I am sure my wife can live without a whirlpool during a power loss.
OK but don't tell her some people have generators :D that run the whole house including the outdoor hot tub :cool:

[lovetocamp2]

The bathrooms each have 2 recepticles, 1 ground fault and 1 linked to the ground fault.

The smoke detectors are on an arc fault breaker.

I am glad to hear that 2 wires can be put on one breaker. I just need to convince a home inspector. I don't know how they are in other parts of the country but around here they all seem to know a little bit of everything and not alot about anything. My wife is a Realtor and they call the home sale prevention inspectors.

I am keeping the whole house system a secret because I already feel a little guilty about spending the money on a 16K system that will not be used very often.

Thanks Dave, I really do appreciate your insight.