Electric panel question (Can a main breaker be added?)

[aunsafe2015]

I live in a ~10 year old house that has an Eaton electrical panel. 200 amps, 42 breaker slots. Not sure of the exact model. See attached pictures.

I'm looking into home generator options, but my panel does not have a main breaker installed. Is the large square knock-out looking thing below the breakers a place where a main breaker could be installed?

Or if I want a main breaker, do I need to get a completely new electrical panel?

If completely new panel is required, any ballpark guesses as to price (materials + labor) for a licensed electrician to do both the installation and the permitting/inspections? I'd like to go with a Square D QO 54 or 60-slot 200 amp panel, but if sticking with an Eaton brand panel would let me save significant money by letting me re-use breakers, I'd probably do that. This would be in the central NC area.


Many thanks for any input.

 

[acer66]

I can not see the top of the panel but if your panel does not have a main breaker it usual means that there is a main breaker at the meter box which makes the panel in the picture a sub panel.

Friend of mine just had a generator installed where the main breaker was in the meter box so all the electrical installation for the generator was outside.

 

[aunsafe2015]

I can not see the top of the panel but if your panel does not have a main breaker it usual means that there is a main breaker at the meter box which makes the panel in the picture a sub panel.

Friend of mine just had a generator installed where the main breaker was in the meter box so all the electrical installation for the generator was outside.

Correct, there is no main breaker in the panel shown in the pictures. My question is whether I can add a main breaker to the panel in the pictures. I want to hire an electrician to install an interlock kit, and my understanding is that cannot be done without a main breaker in the panel.

From Googling, it looks like the the square knock-out beneath the breakers in my picture is where a main breaker would go. Can a main breaker be installed there, or does the fact that a main breaker was not installed there initially somehow mean I'm out of luck? My understanding is that there's nothing preventing somebody from having a main breaker at the meter AND at the (sub)panel...?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

What do you have at the meter?

Just a meter or meter and disconnect?

 

[Bert_]

Yes you can probably get a main kit for that panel. Panels that size are generally sold as main lug convertible.

Get the part number of that panel and the kit shouldn't be hard to find.

Yes you need a main in that panel for an interlock to work.

Another thought, depending on what type of main you have outside you may be able to put an interlock in that.

 

[aunsafe2015]

What do you have at the meter?

Just a meter or meter and disconnect?

See pics attached to this post. Meter and disconnect. Doesn't look like an interlock could be installed there but I'm far from knowledgeable about electric.

 

[Lassen Forge]

Our interlock was a totally separate panel that was installed next to our main breaker panel (which is on a power supply pole, also houses our meter), which then subs to each building (West House, East House, Shop, Wellhouse, Outside Storeroom). I can't see why they couldn't do something like that at your home as well...

 

[wyliesdiesels]

See pics attached to this post. Meter and disconnect. Doesn't look like an interlock could be installed there but I'm far from knowledgeable about electric.

Since you have a disconnect at the meter, your interior panel is a subpanel and thats why they didnt put a main disconnect in it.

Our interlock was a totally separate panel that was installed next to our main breaker panel (which is on a power supply pole, also houses our meter), which then subs to each building (West House, East House, Shop, Wellhouse, Outside Storeroom). I can't see why they couldn't do something like that at your home as well...

Thats not an interlock. Thats a transfer switch. An interlock is a piece of metal that goes into a panel and prevents the main disconnect and the generator breaker from being on at the same time.

Its not a separate panel.

 

[kaffine]

Label on the panel says it is convertible and to use Cuttler-Hammer type CSR or CSH breaker.

 

[Bert_]

See pics attached to this post. Meter and disconnect. Doesn't look like an interlock could be installed there but I'm far from knowledgeable about electric.

That picture shows next to nothing. Get a clear picture that shows the main and anything else in that box.


If you do need to install a main in the panel it looks like an Eaton CSR2200N is the breaker to use.

 

[aunsafe2015]

Since you have a disconnect at the meter, your interior panel is a subpanel and thats why they didnt put a main disconnect in it.

Correct. My question is whether this arrangement PREVENTS me from also having a main breaker at my subpanel so that I can have an interlock installed. My understanding is that nothing would prevent this but I am hoping to get confirmation.

 

[aunsafe2015]

That picture shows next to nothing. Get a clear picture that shows the main and anything else in that box.





If you do need to install a main in the panel it looks like an Eaton CSR2200N is the breaker to use.

That picture showing the main breaker actually does show everything. It's literally the 200 amp breaker in there and nothing else. I did not open the left side of the box where the actual electric meter sits. You're saying there might be something relevant in there, too?

 

[mike93lx]

A panel swap would probably be 1000-1500 around me.

No, nothing is preventing having a main breaker. Most sub panels do

 

[Bert_]

That picture showing the main breaker actually does show everything. It's literally the 200 amp breaker in there and nothing else. I did not open the left side of the box where the actual electric meter sits. You're saying there might be something relevant in there, too?

You don't open the side with the meter. Bad pictures are a bit of a pet peeve. A clear picture taken with the cover all the way open looking straight at the meter box would be good. Many of these meter / main disconnects have spaces for additional breakers. It appears yours does not but it's hard to tell with that picture taken with the cover mostly closed at a bad angle.

 

[aunsafe2015]

You don't open the side with the meter. Bad pictures are a bit of a pet peeve. A clear picture taken with the cover all the way open looking straight at the meter box would be good. Many of these meter / main disconnects have spaces for additional breakers. It appears yours does not but it's hard to tell with that picture taken with the cover mostly closed at a bad angle.

Hah, understood. There's a bush next to the meter that made it somewhat difficult to get a straight on picture of the fully open box, so I tried to just capture the most relevant part. Apologies for the second tier photography

 

[slow]

Can you install an interlock with the panel mounted main down? Not sure if any code required main on top for this

 

[mm08822]

Hah, understood. There's a bush next to the meter that made it somewhat difficult to get a straight on picture of the fully open box, so I tried to just capture the most relevant part. Apologies for the second tier photography

POCO will take care of that soon.....

https://www.bing.com/images/search?...trees&selectedindex=132&ajaxhist=0&vt=0&eim=0

 

[aunsafe2015]

Can you install an interlock with the panel mounted main down? Not sure if any code required main on top for this

Don't know for sure but I googled this and found that there are no code requirements concerning main being up or down so my assumption is the same is true of an interlock as long as it can perform it's intended function of locking the main in the off position.

 

[Norcal]

Don't know for sure but I googled this and found that there are no code requirements concerning main being up or down so my assumption is the same is true of an interlock as long as it can perform it's intended function of locking the main in the off position.

If a breaker is vertically mounted the NEC requires that ON must be up, does not apply to the OP’s Eaton Cutler-Hammer CH load center as the mains operate sideways on newer products.

 

[TRWham]

POCO will take care of that soon.....

I was thinking the same thing.

We once failed an electrical final because a landscaping boulder was deemed to be intruding on the working space for the disconnect. Easy enough to remedy- we just moved it about 3 inches with a skidsteer and all was good.

 

[mm08822]

Here is what it looks like using EAT-CH200A interlock on a CH Goldline panel. (Doublecheck I have the correct p/n's)



I'm not liking having to slide the interlock up to kill the main - but I guess it's no worse than having to run outside to kill the service.

 

[slow]

If a breaker is vertically mounted the NEC requires that ON must be up, does not apply to the OP’s Eaton Cutler-Hammer CH load center as the mains operate sideways on newer products.

Thanks