An electrical schedule shows a 200-amp main panel feeding four 50-amp subpanels. What is the total connected load capacity?
Correct Answer
A) 200 amps
The total available capacity is limited by the main panel rating of 200 amps, regardless of the sum of subpanel capacities. The main breaker controls the maximum load.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
The total connected load capacity is limited by the main panel's 200-amp rating, which acts as the bottleneck in the electrical system. Even though the four subpanels have a combined capacity of 200 amps (4 × 50 amps), they cannot exceed what the main panel can supply. The main breaker serves as the primary protection device and determines the maximum available power for the entire system. This is a fundamental principle of electrical load calculations where the weakest link in the chain determines the overall capacity.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option C: 250 amps
400 amps incorrectly adds all subpanel capacities (4 × 50 = 200) plus the main panel rating (200), but this double-counts the capacity since the main panel IS the source feeding the subpanels.
Option D: 400 amps
250 amps incorrectly assumes you can add some additional capacity beyond the subpanel total, but this ignores the main panel limitation of 200 amps.
Memory Technique
Think 'Main is the Chain' - the main panel is like the narrowest link in a chain, and the whole system can only handle what the main panel allows, regardless of what's downstream.
Reference Hint
NEC Article 220 - Branch-Circuit, Feeder, and Service Load Calculations, and Article 408 - Switchboards and Panelboards
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