New 400a Panel- What brand to buy?

[Itsjustdirt]

I'm upgrading our service to 400a. Its all been approved and is ready to good to go.


Any suggestions on which brand panel to buy? I'm looking at Square D just because that is what Home Depot near me sells. I know nothing about electrical other than its nice to be able to buy circuit breakers nearby.

 

[rlitman]

We all seem to be fans of Square D QO series (not Homeline) here.

 

[Norcal]

Going to be cheaper to use two 200A panels in particular if a 400A main breaker is what's planned

 

[tapered-pin]

what panel are you replacing?

if it's a "modern panel" then replace it with like and you'll have a TON of breakers that you'll be able to re-use.

GE/SquareD/Siemens all make quality gear.

 

[Itsjustdirt]

It’s replaciing a 60 year old 100amp, unfounded setup.

 

[Radix2]

The standard house "400A" system (also called a "320A" system ) and is usually implemented using two 200A main panels each with a 200A mainbreaker in them.

Unless you have a need for greater than 200A loads, this will be the way to go since it uses the most common and inexpensive components.

Is this what you are planning?

 

[sberry]

I might get some argument here but if I was starting over it would be Homeline, so cheap and its everywhere.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Something else to note about using two 200 amp panels: if you put in a single 400 amp panel you have 42 spaces available for breakers, but if you put in two 200 amp panels you have 84 spaces available. Assuming there's a real need for a 400 amp service, I also assume you will have a lot of separate circuits.

 

[alfredeneuman]

Something else to note about using two 200 amp panels: if you put in a single 400 amp panel you have 42 spaces available for breakers, but if you put in two 200 amp panels you have 84 spaces available. Assuming there's a real need for a 400 amp service, I also assume you will have a lot of separate circuits.

A 200 amp panel with 80 spaces> https://www.homedepot.com/p/Square-...th-Cover-Value-Pack-HOM4080M200PCVP/204836379

The 42 circuit rule is no longer in the Code, it has been dropped

 

[sberry]

economical too. I have 400, it didn't cost me much but I could easily do with 200 and I got a lot of stuff many don't have. My peak is probably closer to 200. The only time I ever really came across an overloaded 200 was in a tavern on Friday fish fry and they had several 40-50A fryers, broaster, air con, coffee pots, 3 microwaves, air handlers etc, 3 coolers.
Saw some cooked 60 fuses, a couple due to age and connections and a couple overloads where the house had been converted to all electric major appliances.

 

[nsula_country]

Cheapest is 320a meter pan and 2, 200 amp panels. I personally prefer Eaton CH. Maybe it's the tan handle...

When we built our house, we installed a 400a (320a residential) service. Used 2, 200 amp feed through panels outside and fed 2, 200 amp load centers inside.

CT

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

The Square D QO (QO and Homeline are their two types) with plug-on neutral is the way to go for AFCI. Without it you have to do extra wiring.

 

[alfredeneuman]

The Square D QO (QO and Homeline are their two types) with plug-on neutral is the way to go for AFCI. Without it you have to do extra wiring.

Without the plug-on neutral only more wire more has to be connected (not even run) per breaker.

 

[n20junkie]

A 200 amp panel with 80 spaces> https://www.homedepot.com/p/Square-...th-Cover-Value-Pack-HOM4080M200PCVP/204836379

The 42 circuit rule is no longer in the Code, it has been dropped

Look at that panel again, it is a 40 space panel, 80 circuits allowed. Thats a whole lot of duplex breakers.

 

[Stuart in MN]

A 200 amp panel with 80 spaces> https://www.homedepot.com/p/Square-...th-Cover-Value-Pack-HOM4080M200PCVP/204836379

The 42 circuit rule is no longer in the Code, it has been dropped

You're correct. I didn't bring it up, figuring it would cloud the issue (and as mentioned, it involves using a bunch of half height breakers.)

 

[dscheidt]

Lok at that panel again, it is a 40 space panel, 80 circuits allowed. Thats a whole lot of duplex breakers.

Schneider sell 60 space panels. They cost a bundle, but they exist.

 

[ard]

I like square D

But you REALLY should be deciding on the panel based on the design of the overall project. How many buildings, how many subs, where power will be used and how much.

 

[Itsjustdirt]

Thanks for the replies guys. Space is semi-limited and it will be a surface mount panel. The electrician is planning on using a single 400a panel with 40 spaces.

I wont need a ton of spaces as I will be running a couple sub-panels off of this. One sub panel to a garage, one sub panel to basement, and another sub panel to a granny flat.

Does this change suggestions?

 

[alfredeneuman]

Look at that panel again, it is a 40 space panel, 80 circuits allowed.

That is exactly why I linked to it

 

[Stuart in MN]

I wont need a ton of spaces as I will be running a couple sub-panels off of this. One sub panel to a garage, one sub panel to basement, and another sub panel to a granny flat.

That's a reasonable way to go, you should be okay.

 

[ishiboo]

I might get some argument here but if I was starting over it would be Homeline, so cheap and its everywhere.

Me too.

QO is great, but from a safety standpoint the Homeline breakers have the same internals. The panels are great to work with.

Having the visible flags for a blown breaker is nice, but not worth the $$ nor are the improvements of the QO panels.

For me breaker panels are set and forget. I add or replace circuits far more often than I trip a breaker.

 

[Norcal]

Me too.

QO is great, but from a safety standpoint the Homeline breakers have the same internals. The panels are great to work with.

Having the visible flags for a blown breaker is nice, but not worth the $$ nor are the improvements of the QO panels.

For me breaker panels are set and forget. I add or replace circuits far more often than I trip a breaker.

You can get the trip indicator like the Visi-Trip® on QO breakers with Eaton CH. Which I would rather use, but in my opinion there are only 3 choices in panels, Eaton CH, Siemens, and SQ D QO.

 

[ard]

Thanks for the replies guys. Space is semi-limited and it will be a surface mount panel. The electrician is planning on using a single 400a panel with 40 spaces.

I wont need a ton of spaces as I will be running a couple sub-panels off of this. One sub panel to a garage, one sub panel to basement, and another sub panel to a granny flat.

Does this change suggestions?

Most breaker that click into that 40 space panel will be limited to 125A or less. Keep that in mind, may be fine.

If, however, you want a 200A sub in the basement or garage or granny, then that MIGHT not work.

I have a 400A main, with dual 200A disconnects. One is just to lugs, and that goes to the main house 200A sub panel. The other 200A switch powers an integrated 40space panel in the 400A main panel. This in turn has a few outside circuits, then a 125 to the barn/shop, 70A to the pool house sub, a solar connection, 40A to the well house/water conditioning. I like having all the main house circuits on one 200A sub. Althought could have done 2 125s as well

What are the sizes of the subs? All under 125? (And do check my recollection on the 125A limit on breakers)