Finished wiring the wood-shop area. All in conduit, 12 quadplex wall outle= ts, and four fluorescent lights on three way switches. Also a 220V feed to= the air compressor. New sub-panel in wood shop is fed by an other sub-pan= el 3 feet away on the other side of a wall. Feeder panel has a 50amp break= er feeding the wood shop sub panel. All wiring within conduit is #12 excep= t the 220 which is #10.
Question: As I installed each of the quad (gang of four) outlets, I would = go to the breaker, turn it on and check the outlet with a clamp lamp and th= en turn off the breaker for further work. When I was installing the outlet= group # 11, the wires shifted withing the conduit and the hot wire in # 12= touched the metal box. (Yes, I didn't cap the wires while I was working, = I simply bent them out of each other's way. Stupid) Anyway, the question = is "why did the 50 amp breaker feeding my sup panel break instead of the 20= amp breaker withing the sub panel"? =20
Later, after wrestling my large air compressor into it's closet the same th= ing happened. I dislodged the safety shield on the belt, the fan blade cou= ld not turn and ergo the motor drew too many amps on start-up. Again, inst= ead of the 30 amp circuit feeding the compressor breaking, it's the 50 amp = feeding the panel that broke.
Note: 50 amp breaker is used. 30 amp breaker is used. 20 amp breaker is n= ew.
Is the 50 amp breaker simply too sensitive? =20
I could live with the above, except when the 50 amp breaker trips I lose ev= erything and am left in the dark. Have to get a flashlight, go outside one= building and into another to access the other side of the wall.
All comments and advise appreciated.
Ivan Vegvary