Sub-panel Up or Down

[spam4us]

Getting ready to mount my sub-panel in the detached garage. It's a square D QO box, 100 amp.

Does it matter is the main breaker is at the top of the box or can I turn the box upside down and have the main breaker at the bottom?

If I turn the box upside down, it there any height restrictions as far as the highest breaker or the main breaker at the bottom?

Tha wire feeding the panel is thru the bottom of the box.

Thanks

 

[Norcal]

If the handle of the main breaker is horizontal then it does not matter, if the main breaker is mounted vertically then code requires ON to be up. BTW, it is not "upside down" it's bottom feed. Not having excess conductor makes for a cleaner panel.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Norcal beat me to it.

OP can u post pics?

 

[Speedy Petey]

I haven't seen a new panel in a few years that couldn't be mounted either way.
Meaning pretty much every residential main breaker panel today uses a side-to-side throw main breaker.

 

[nafterclifen]

I have an Eaton CH main panel with 200a main (horizontal pull) that is mounted upside down. Looks goofy but logical. Service wire comes into the bottom and all branch circuits out the top. Good choice by the builder, in my opinion.

I recently installed a main lug subpanel and mounted it upside down too using the same install method - service out of the bottom of main panel and into the bottom of subpanel, branch circuits out the top.

 

[bczygan]

I will need to do this to save length in my attached garage.

Plus, I have a solid wall of 2 wythes of brick, and can't run up through that. Will have to pierce the wall at the basement level (Above garage floor level) and run up the surface.

 

[spam4us]

Thanks everyone for your help.

Here are the pics as requested. Looks like it can be mounted either way.

If I mount it with the breaker at the top of the box, is there any height restrictions as far as how high the main breaker can be from the ground?

If I mount it with the breaker at the bottom of the box, is there any height restrictions as far as how low the main breaker can be from the ground or how high the top breaker can be?

Is the code for this nation wide or can a local (Maryland) code fail it if the breaker is at the bottom? I've only seen the main at the top around here.

Thanks

 

[wyliesdiesels]

If u wouldve looked at the box, #4 answers your question in regards to the main breaker...

 

[FullRaceMerc]

If u wouldve looked at the box, #4 answers your question in regards to the main breaker...

Hey hey hey! Don't go bringing reading the instructions into this.

 

[Norcal]

Hey hey hey! Don't go bringing reading the instructions into this.

Your not a subscriber of RTFM?

 

[Speedy Petey]

I have an Eaton CH main panel with 200a main (horizontal pull) that is mounted upside down. Looks goofy but logical. Service wire comes into the bottom and all branch circuits out the top. Good choice by the builder, in my opinion.

I recently installed a main lug subpanel and mounted it upside down too using the same install method - service out of the bottom of main panel and into the bottom of subpanel, branch circuits out the top.

There is no such thing as "upside down" with panels like this. Look at all the writing and labels, everything is typically written sideways, as is the emblem on the door handle. It's either top feed or bottom feed. There is nothing to suggest one way is more correct then the other.

 

[spam4us]

Well, before I get beat up too much....... I did read the box and I did RTFM as well.

I am not an electrician and do not pretend to know what the code is. Wasn't sure if there could be some sort of regional code that would not allow the box to be installed with the main breaker at the bottom. I asked so that I could do this according to the code.

So to get back on topic here again are my other questions.
If I mount it with the breaker at the top of the box, is there any height restrictions as far as how high the main breaker can be from the ground?

If I mount it with the breaker at the bottom of the box, is there any height restrictions as far as how low the main breaker can be from the ground or how high the top breaker can be?

Thanks

 

[ard]

I always mount it at the height that causes my low back the least pain... thats my code.

 

[Norcal]

Well, before I get beat up too much....... I did read the box and I did RTFM as well.

I am not an electrician and do not pretend to know what the code is. Wasn't sure if there could be some sort of regional code that would not allow the box to be installed with the main breaker at the bottom. I asked so that I could do this according to the code.

So to get back on topic here again are my other questions.
If I mount it with the breaker at the top of the box, is there any height restrictions as far as how high the main breaker can be from the ground?

If I mount it with the breaker at the bottom of the box, is there any height restrictions as far as how low the main breaker can be from the ground or how high the top breaker can be?

Thanks

240.24(A)

The maximum height is 6' 7" of the handle at it's highest point. No limits to lowest mounting height.

 

[justsam]

I am not in the trade, and to be sure I would check with local jurisdiction.

Two meters, or 6'7" would be one answer. If you must be ADA compliant, I think it is now more like 54". I am not sure if your detached garage must be ADA compliant.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Well, before I get beat up too much....... I did read the box and I did RTFM as well.

I am not an electrician and do not pretend to know what the code is. Wasn't sure if there could be some sort of regional code that would not allow the box to be installed with the main breaker at the bottom. I asked so that I could do this according to the code.

So to get back on topic here again are my other questions.
If I mount it with the breaker at the top of the box, is there any height restrictions as far as how high the main breaker can be from the ground?

If I mount it with the breaker at the bottom of the box, is there any height restrictions as far as how low the main breaker can be from the ground or how high the top breaker can be?

Thanks

well to be honest, u didnt give us your location and its not in your profile so we would have no way of knowing or answering as to what your local jurisdiction might require beyond what the NEC calls for...

 

[spam4us]

Post #7...

Is the code for this nation wide or can a local (Maryland) code fail it if the breaker is at the bottom? I've only seen the main at the top around here.

Hope this helps.
So if the box is mounted with the main at the bottom, how high can the highest top breaker be at the top of the box? Would it be 6'7" as well? Another way to put it.....is it the main breaker that shouldn't exceed 6'7" or is it the highest (top) breaker in the box?


Thanks

 

[Speedy Petey]

I am not in the trade, and to be sure I would check with local jurisdiction.

Two meters, or 6'7" would be one answer. If you must be ADA compliant, I think it is now more like 54". I am not sure if your detached garage must be ADA compliant.

Why would circuit breakers need to be ADA compliant, and why would this apply in a private home???

 

[Speedy Petey]

Post #7...



Hope this helps.
So if the box is mounted with the main at the bottom, how high can the highest top breaker be at the top of the box? Would it be 6'7" as well? Another way to put it.....is it the main breaker that shouldn't exceed 6'7" or is it the highest (top) breaker in the box?


Thanks

The whole section was not quoted. It's the height of the highest breaker. Not just the main.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Oh ok. I usually skim most threads and missed that part.

The code, as speedy petey pointed, is any breaker. Your local AHJ may have amendments that most of us wont know. I would call your building department and ask if youre worried about it...