The 1960Âs era Federal Pacific sub panel in my garage has two 20 amp and two 15 amp breakers. Each 20 amp breaker feeds about 1200 watts in lights, ceiling fans, TVÂs & stuff to a remodeled part of my house. The 15 amp breaker has only a light and water softener on it. The problem is that the total going out of the sub panel is more than 2400 watts at times and the 20 amp breaker on the 1960Âs era Federal Pacific main panel that feeds the sub panel trips frequently. That 20 amp breaker in the main panel also has the outside spotlights on it. The previous owner did not install the sub panel properly.

I ran a 10/2 romex from the main panel to the sub panel. I removed the sub panel off of the original 20 amp breaker so that the outside lights are by themselves on the 20 amp breaker. Then, I connected the new 10/2 to a spare 20 amp breaker in the main panel. Now the sub panel is fed by one 20 amp breaker. ThatÂs better than before but the occasional use of a hair dryer trips the 20 amp breaker on the main panel.

My main panel has a spare 30 amp double pole breaker that was used for the wall oven until we remodeled the kitchen. I would like to use just one pole of that unused 30 amp double pole breaker to feed the sub panel in my garage. That would feed the sub panel with 30 amps instead of 20 amps. I donÂt have a spare single pole 30 amp breaker.

Will this work? Or, what do your recommend?