X10 Community Forum
🔌General Home Automation => Automating Your House => Troubleshooting Automation Problems => Topic started by: eaglesvr on September 26, 2009, 09:24:19 PM
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An electrical specialist I consulted with about installing of xpcp coupler to the breaker box told me that the code does not permit two wires connected to a single breaker. So if I connect xpcp to terminals of existing breakers then I may have problem with future inspection. He suggested installing two additional breakers on different phases and connect xpcp to them. I cant do this because there is no available slots in the breaker box. What other options do I have?
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Its not that big of deal. Some breakers are good for two wires. But if it makes you uncomfortable, just use a small piece of wire and hook it to the breaker. Make sure it is the same size as the wire that's hooked up already.. Then wire nut the phase coupler to the pig tales. It would be best if you used a two pole 220 volt circuit. you can tap up to around 30amp circuit with the wires on the coupler. but it would be best if you stayed at 20 amp or less, the wires are small on the x10 xpcp I have seen.
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Thanks for the reply. I will check what kind of 220 breakers are in the service panel and if there is a place to hook up another wire. Meanwhile I got an idea to hook xpcp to the dryer receptacle. It is close enough- about 10' from the breaker box. In this case I don't need to deal with the breakers.
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Meanwhile I got an idea to hook xpcp to the dryer receptacle. It is close enough- about 10' from the breaker box. In this case I don't need to deal with the breakers.
If you do not want to violate the NEC, yup, you should stay away from putting two wires under one breaker screw. Personally, if the two wires were same gauge and same metal composition, I don't think it would be a problem. However if you had a fire in your house, your insurance inspector would.
I wired my repeater into the dryer at the dryer cord connection. For safety I connected the repeater through two 2 amp in line fuses. The 50 amp dryer breaker would allow a faulty repeater to turn into a small hot sun in the utility room by the time it tripped.
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I like this way- connecting at the dryer plug, not receptacle. Most likely I will do the same.
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I wired my repeater into the dryer at the dryer cord connection. For safety I connected the repeater through two 2 amp in line fuses. The 50 amp dryer breaker would allow a faulty repeater to turn into a small hot sun in the utility room by the time it tripped.
The XPCP is a coupler, not a repeater.