Double Tapped Circuit Breakers

A double tapped circuit breaker, commonly referred to as a “double tap” is an electrical defect inside an electrical panel.

Double taps are only visible when the panel cover is removed, and it is the most common electrical panel defects that we find. Double taps can be a fire hazard, and therefore should be addressed as a homeowner becomes aware of them.

A double tap occurs when two wires are connected to a single circuit breaker that is only engineered to accept one wire. This is a problem because two wires in a single breaker may not be properly tightened to the breaker, and loose wires have the potential to cause overheating and arcing. A single breaker is only intended to hold one set of connections.

Double tapped breakers are generally not an expensive or difficult fix.

While this is a common defect, fortunately it is a relatively inexpensive and easy to fix in most cases.
The most common method of repair is to simply add another circuit breaker to the panel and connecting one of the wires to it. Occasionally there is not room for another breaker, which may be why the double tap exists to begin with. When this occurs there are still options to remedy which a licensed electrician can asses.

Homeowners should always hire a licensed electrician to work on electrical components in their home but especially any work in the electric panel due to the safety risks involved.

If you have any questions or need an inspector to check your fuse panel, give us a call!