Service upgrade with Square D QO

[deltaphisig]

I have a very highly regarded electrician in my town coming to replace a FPE panel and upgrade my service from 125A to 200A. He uses Siemens routinely, but agreed to use Square D if I bought the panel (his wholesaler does not give good prices on SD equipment, and he recommended I buy online). So, I want to make sure I get the right panel. Need 200A main breaker panel for exterior mount. Question is...do I go 20/40 or 30 circuit box? I currently have 21 circuits in a 2500sf home built in 1905. I will be adding some additional outlets in rooms, but nothing crazy. I do not want to use a subpanel of any type at this time. Could use help making sure I get the right panel.... Thanks in advance.

 

[chew]

I'd say 30 but also check the price on a 40. We hardly ever use outdoor rated panels, but for indoor panels, it's cheaper around here to buy a 40 cct due to supply and demand.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

Do you think youll need more than 30 circuits?Im not a big fan of tandem breakers if you can avoid them.

 

[James-W]

I would go with the bigger one. My thinking is that it is better to have more breakers than you need than to buy the smaller breaker panel and then find out later that you don't have enough breakers.

 

[BDSax]

Siemens is a great panel. QO is just so dang expensive.

More the merrier.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Outdoor panels are pricey compared to indoor ones. Get as much space as you can, I prefer a full 40 space. Here is a 40 space QO panel, 200 amp outdoor,

40 space outdoor Square D panel.

While more expensive, if the meter is right there with the panel, consider using a combo panel, for a cleaner look. Then everything will be new. There is a chance the meter socket is not 200 amp rated if it is old.

Charles

 

[alfredeneuman]

O
While more expensive, if the meter is right there with the panel, consider using a combo panel, for a cleaner look. Then everything will be new. There is a chance the meter socket is not 200 amp rated if it is old.
Charles

Square D no longer makes QO combination/all in one panels, just Homeline

 

[Eriehunter]

Your panel needs to be sufficient in Arc fault rating, you will need to get that info from you local power company and then get the panel that meets or exceeds that. You just can't go buy anything off the shelf. Typically 10,000 AIC is enough for a home, and is the minimum you can buy anyway but better to check and be safe than sorry.

 

[volleyball]

20/40 will cost you way more than a 30, 40 or 30/40 when you start adding double breakers. Actually having 21 currently rules out a 20 space box.
240v and gfci, arc faults and such cannot be doubled.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

20/40 will cost you way more than a 30, 40 or 30/40 when you start adding double breakers. Actually having 21 currently rules out a 20 space box.
240v and gfci, arc faults and such cannot be doubled.

They can, by using quads that have the two middle ones as a double pole, and GE makes thinline double poles with common trip and tied handles.

Charles

 

[tfi racing]

If he is so "highly regarded"(yeah,whatever) why don't you take his advice and use the panel of his choice,surely such a guru knows what's best...

 

[Norcal]

I would rather use a Siemens then SQ D, but my first choice is Cutler-Hammer type CH because they have not been cheaped out like SQ D QO has, the patent for the Visi-Trip® tripped breaker flag must have expired because the CH type can be bought w/ the same feature as QO.

 

[volleyball]

They can, by using quads that have the two middle ones as a double pole, and GE makes thinline double poles with common trip and tied handles.

Charles

Got links to these square d qo devices?

 

[toplessHO]

QO is the style of breaker for Sq D push in breakers (vs the same in a bolt in (QOB)
heres a link for some at home depot,but a electrical supply house will be a better place to get it.Dont confuse this with SqDs Homeline which was made to compete with the cheaper "interchangeable" lines of panels. I find nothing about them as being "too" expensive for something that will last a lifetime.
http://www.homedepot.com/b/Electrical-Power-Distribution-Load-Centers/QO/N-5yc1vZbm2wZ1z0x9jp

 

[deltaphisig]

Has Square D QO gone to plug on neutral load centers only? I am looking for the QO140M200RB, but am not having a lot of luck. Lowe's and HD both say it is discontinued--won't be able to check local suppliers until Monday or Tuesday. Next best thing is the QO142M200PRB I suppose?

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

I would rather use a Siemens then SQ D, but my first choice is Cutler-Hammer type CH because they have not been cheaped out like SQ D QO has, the patent for the Visi-Trip® tripped breaker flag must have expired because the CH type can be bought w/ the same feature as QO.

Now that's funny,the part about ch not being cheaped out compared to the Sq-D QO.
cutler hammer ch series panels are just the latest name on a line of panels and breakers that have been bought out/renamed many times over the years.
Internally the Sq-D QO and homeline breakers have always been the same ,except for the visa trip in the QO breakers.

 

[sberry]

The main reason I use QO is I started with it, have about 25 panels and hundreds of breakers. If I had to start over would probably be Homeline cause its way cheaper and is in every store.

I think the BR line from CH is the competitor to Homeline. If I was farming the job out, matching didn't matter would let the guy put in what he usually used.

 

[Norcal]

Now that's funny,the part about ch not being cheaped out compared to the Sq-D QO.
cutler hammer ch series panels are just the latest name on a line of panels and breakers that have been bought out/renamed many times over the years.
Internally the Sq-D QO and homeline breakers have always been the same ,except for the visa trip in the QO breakers.

My complaint about SQ D loadcenters is that they went cheap about 30 years ago, before then they were built like a brick sh*t house. Cutler-Hammer CH has only recently changed names as Eaton is replacing their name & they will be just Eaton, the BR line has had 4 different names, Bryant, Westinghouse, Cutler-Hammer, & now Eaton, still a garbage line like SQ D Homoline, the BR, HOM, & GE lines are just the Zinsco of today, trash.

I like the QO/QOB breakers, just don't care for the "premium" price when it's not justified.