Can I Put a 60 Amp Breaker in a 100 Amp Box?

Required Room

• A 100 amp service box doesn't usually have the physical space room for many circuits and their circuit breakers. Make sure you have two open slots, one above the other, inside the 100 amp load center to accept a 60 amp, 240 volt breaker.

Total Demand

• If there's room for a 60 amp breaker in a 100 amp box, you still need to assess whether the additional equipment requiring the 60 amp circuit will overload the entire system. As long as the total electrical demand fed through the 100 amp box which are likely to be turned on simultaneously doesn't exceed 100 amps, the system will work.

Wiring

• If you can fit a 60 amp breaker in the 100 amp box and the total power requirement for the box with the new circuit won't overload the load center, use the appropriate gauge wire from the 60 amp circuit to the new outlet or equipment if wired direct. A 60 amp circuit requires using 6 AWG wire.