Circuit Breaker Box confusion

[Zer0Ry0k0]

My circuit breaker box has
1 20amp
1 20amp
2 50amp
2 90amp
and then some more 20 amps below that.

The top 20amp breaker tripped tonight while I was microwaving something. I have two cottages wired through this breaker box and when just the top 20amp tripped, both buildings went off.

When I flip the breaker off then back on, both buildings come on. I then flip the second 20amp, nothing happens (I checked all of the other 20amp breakers with me plugging a lamp into each outlet for each breaker, none of them do anything). When I flip the linked 50amps nothing happens. When I flip the two linked 90amp breakers, both buildings go off.

What is going on?

 

[Zer0Ry0k0]

I have read many posts and pages on the internet and I have yet to understand how the place got wired.

I am going to be running 2000w in one building with a dehumidifier, 6" can fan, couple pumps and couple flourescents all on at the same time.

If I have 50amps available over there then everything is fine, if it is all connected through the 20amp breaker, wtf.

 

[Zer0Ry0k0]

One last thing to add. I am NOT going to try to upgrade anything myself. I am totally unexperienced with CODE so I don't trust myself in the slightest.

I just want to understand what is going on before I call an electrician over to upgrade the panel.

 

[LolaGal]

how odd. I think there is serious problems there.

none of that should be happening... Sounds to me like your circuits are cross wired.

sounds dangerous. get a smoke detector quick!

 

[Zer0Ry0k0]

haha, I agree there is a problem, but the lights are not on yet, so no need to panic. =P

 

[Zer0Ry0k0]

the only thing I can figure is happening is... each building is wired to a 90amp circuit (or they are both wired on a single 180amp circuit?) and then for no good reason someone wired the double90amp circuit through the 20amp breaker before running it to the buildings.

but I'm here for other ideas before I bring an electrician into this. What are the chances the property is actually limited to 20amps total? I vaguely remember a line comming off the electrical pole to my place, but I may be mistaken. It is nighttime here and raining a good bit now and can not see.

 

[gomer]

My guess is both buildings are running off the 20 amp breaker. The 90 amp is the incoming power feeding the panel. Remember it is a guess.

If you have an electric stove, see if the 50 amp controls it.

 

[Zer0Ry0k0]

Gas stove. How hard would it be to change the wire that goes to my grow to be on a separate breaker?
again, not me doing this. unless it's fool proof. removing the front plate of the box is already not foolproof. unless you teach the fool to not touch the live wire.

 

[EvilTwin]

Zer0,
You can safely pop the cover off the main breaker box and eyeball it. Just keep your fingers out. I'm sure you'll be able to see where the main power is coming in. and nobody would wire to a 90amp breaker through a 20 amp. Makes no sense and may even be impossible.

I say let the electrician sort it out...
ET

 

[choch]

If you can take the cover off and take some good pics some of us might be able to help figure out how it was wired. It does sound like you would be well served by having a professional in there before the cabins are modified for growing.

 

[Zer0Ry0k0]

 

[T-type]

Could the 20 amp just be for outside lighting or something and the whole building didn't actually shut off?
That 90 amp 220 has to be going to a subpanel.

Edit:
Actually Im sorry I even replied, why would someone without any electrical experience reply to this thread? My apologies.

 

[gdbud]

Gas stove. How hard would it be to change the wire that goes to my grow to be on a separate breaker?

It looks like the bottom breaker does not have a wire coming from it?
If it don't you could use it as you separate breaker.

 

[Zer0Ry0k0]

well, when the 20amp tripped, my computer shut off and I had to light some candles.

There is a separate line coming from the electrical pole. There is a pipe running from the box to a junction box at the other building. The first 20amp breaker turns everything off, the second has a wire in it but turns off none of the electrical outlets, same with the 20amp one-up from the bottom.

 

[Zer0Ry0k0]

Correct, there is no wire on the bottom 20amp

 

[Zer0Ry0k0]

Basically I just want to know if this job is going to be cheap and simple for the electrician or if it will require running a new line to the grow so it can handle the constant 30amp draw.

 

[Bud Spleefman]

The 90 amp is the main, and the 20 amp runs the cottages, and your Microwave!!!!!!!! Ugh! Is that possible? That is the weirdest panel setup I have ever seen!

It would explain why the cottages go off when either the 20 amp, or the 90, is flipped... and obviously the 90 amp is 240V service, which is how the service comes to the houses here in the States.

 

[Bud Spleefman]

The 50 amp breaker would run:

Hot Tub
Clothes Dryer
Oven
Furnace (maybe)
Well Pump

Do you have any of these things?????? Does the house have heat? Or a well?????

 

[EvilTwin]

I'm wondering if that isn't a sub-panel and that 90 amp breaker is actually the power in to that panel. I don't see any other power in.
ET

 

[Bud Spleefman]

I'm wondering if that isn't a sub-panel and that 90 amp breaker is actually the power in to that panel. I don't see any other power in.
ET

Yeah, I agree.... that panel's getting power from somewhere and that 90 is the only thing that looks like a source....