clonestocker
Active member
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- Jan 9, 2018
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- 41
I going to be putting a 200 amp service on my new garage. What would be the best panel to use? Will be an overhead in and power out the bottom for a sub-panel on the main house. thanks matt
Which Electrical Panel?
- Thread starter clonestocker
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pmiranda
Well-known member
Yeah, either match what you have or get what is easiest to find breakers for. Probably GE or Square D
LS6 Tommy
Well-known member
How about a nice FPE? 
Tommy
Tommy
pmiranda
Well-known member
LOL we had a Fed Pac in our first house. Glad we got rid of that!
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
My friend had to sell a house he inherited that had a FPE panel. The inspector caught it. I told him to knock $1000 off the price in order to get rid of the house quickly.
Lassen Forge
Well-known member
<-- fan of Schneider / Square D. Current house is a Sylvania on one side, a Zinsco on the other... I inspect them all the time, so far so good, only lost one breaker to Zinsco rot... the busbar is still OK. And yeah, someday, I'll replace them... when I want to rip out a couple hunks of walls to install them.
Marctrees
Well-known member
Better answers will be in the Lighting/ Electric subforum...
Most there in the know will suggest Square D QO, or Cutler Hammer.
Marc
Most there in the know will suggest Square D QO, or Cutler Hammer.
Marc
matt_i
Well-known member
Square D - QO would be my choice. Until Circuit Panel 3.0 comes out 50 years from now you'll still be able to buy the QOs anywhere in America for another 100 years.
But, I think all of the weaker players have been weeded out over time and nobody wants their product to be "that one to avoid". So even the cheaper panels are validated pretty well.
(circuit panel 1.0 was the screw-in fuses...circuit panel 2.0 is what we are on now)
But, I think all of the weaker players have been weeded out over time and nobody wants their product to be "that one to avoid". So even the cheaper panels are validated pretty well.
(circuit panel 1.0 was the screw-in fuses...circuit panel 2.0 is what we are on now)
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CraigStu
Well-known member
When we had our house built last year this is one spec I forgot to discuss w/ the builder. I was sure glad to find that Lowes carries the breakers for mine.
Chuckster in NJ
Well-known member
#1 Square D QO....... Readily available at box stores.
#2 Cutler Hammer..... Available at electrical supply stores.
Cutler Hammer uses copper bus bars and are well made.
I offer this advice with 50 years of experience in the Electrical Trade.
#2 Cutler Hammer..... Available at electrical supply stores.
Cutler Hammer uses copper bus bars and are well made.
I offer this advice with 50 years of experience in the Electrical Trade.
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K'ledgeBldr
Well-known member
What are you going to feed it with?
If overhead service is already a "thing"- why not just get a separate service so you can actually feed a 200amp panel with 200amps?
How many circuits do you anticipate having in the garage? Is a 200amp panel even necessary?
Vote here for Siemens...which I'm surprised isn't mentioned. Have two Siemens panels in my house and they're quite pleasant to work with, tons of space and the ability to get space saving half sized breakers to increase capacity, no issues with breakers.
kngelv
Well-known member
Square D QO.
James
James
Yup, I like the Siemens panels a lot. Pretty much the standard around here as it's what our local electric supply carries. Spend a few bucks extra and get the copper buss, they also have a cheaper panel with plated aluminum buss in some of the home center boxes. Breakers are pretty economical compared to some other brands and the layout is very good. Most newer panels have a neutral bar down each side, comes in real handy when you need numerous AFCI or GFCI breakers.
I'm not sure why -- but every guy who has given me est ...and looked at my job over the past 5 years .... uses Siemens. And because of the problems I have had -- there have been many. Too many
They all say the same thing when I ask why not SD (my normal for 30 years) .. I like copper bus Siemens. They all naturally will do whatever I want -- to the man the answer for the Siemens .. that's what I put in my house?
They all say the same thing when I ask why not SD (my normal for 30 years) .. I like copper bus Siemens. They all naturally will do whatever I want -- to the man the answer for the Siemens .. that's what I put in my house?
slow
Well-known member
Square D QO would be my pick, regardless of cost.
sberry
Banned
If I was starting over it would be Homeline. I am so used to working around QO I tend to brush the buss but that shouldn't be a concern for most.
Ainsley
Well-known member
Square D QO all the way.
LS6 Tommy
Well-known member
Installing more capacity in the beginning is always better than needing to add capacity later.
When I had the service panel in my house upgraded about 35 years ago a friend who worked in the electrical field recommended a 200 amp 40 space panel at a time when 100 amp panels were pretty much standard in homes.
The electrician I hired to do the install said it was way overkill as I didn't have an electric stove, dryer, water heater or furnace, all those appliances were gas. I insisted that was what I wanted so that's what he put in. Guess what? I may not be using all the capacity of that panel but 38 of the 40 spaces are now filled.
By the way it's a Square D panel and has never given me any reason to regret using that brand.
Yep, smart guys here. They'll answer most of your questions if you pay attention.
First choice is Eaton CH, the last quality panel on the market. 2nd choice is Siemens or SQ D QO, 30 plus yeas ago SQ D went cheap with plastic interiors so as far as I am concerned SQ D has been skating on their past reputation. The ONLY panel I would NOT use is a Eaton BR, a garbage panel, otherwise a panel with a copper is a good choice.
The SD Homeline breaker has the same guts as the QO -- my memory is the bus is not all copper in the Homeline. I have never used them.
A few people mentioned SD's GFCI breaker being touchy .. with false trips.
When I first started doing rehabs back in the 80's the only supply house that would sell to me was the GE dealer .... I guess some of this is what you get used to. When I was able to buy the SD -- I did because the 42 panels fit better in retrofit situations and I liked the doubles.
I stuck with SD for all my rentals because I always had the breakers around and figured it was just easier to stick with one company
A few people mentioned SD's GFCI breaker being touchy .. with false trips.
When I first started doing rehabs back in the 80's the only supply house that would sell to me was the GE dealer .... I guess some of this is what you get used to. When I was able to buy the SD -- I did because the 42 panels fit better in retrofit situations and I liked the doubles.
I stuck with SD for all my rentals because I always had the breakers around and figured it was just easier to stick with one company
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alfredeneuman
Well-known member
The SqD QO standard indoor panels have aluminum busbars, with tin plated copper as an option. The outdoor panels come standard with tin plated copper.
The Homeline isn't available with copper.
Siemens come standard with aluminum. Like SqD QO, it's available with optional tin plated copper.
Cutler Hammer BRs aren't available in copper.
Cutler Hammer CH come standard with a silver plated copper bus.
My vote goes for the CH
The Homeline isn't available with copper.
Siemens come standard with aluminum. Like SqD QO, it's available with optional tin plated copper.
Cutler Hammer BRs aren't available in copper.
Cutler Hammer CH come standard with a silver plated copper bus.
My vote goes for the CH
Jim greengo
Well-known member
Jim greengo
Well-known member
Jim greengo
Well-known member
Looks like an Italian restaurant in there,lots of spaghetti!have square d on our new build. Breakers are fairly in-expensive and in our area this seems to be what everyone is using. not sure what panel model it is, but i filled it already, 30slots on the sub.
Jim greengo
Well-known member
Exactly.
sberry
Banned
You would think if this really meant a pinch of **** every other house would be out of power. While it's not a bad idea to replace Federal there hasn't been a recall and had them stripped out of every house. I know a couple true masters don't even get all excited when they see one.
There were quite a few around here due to a dealer. I had some, over time we replaced them, they are obsolete, no new factory parts, I can,, wanted to standardize with a modern platform, wanted new wire along with it, wanted to redesign.
The reason for HOM would be popularity and cost. Takes a little pain out of it, one less reason not to replace or add.
There were quite a few around here due to a dealer. I had some, over time we replaced them, they are obsolete, no new factory parts, I can,, wanted to standardize with a modern platform, wanted new wire along with it, wanted to redesign.
The reason for HOM would be popularity and cost. Takes a little pain out of it, one less reason not to replace or add.
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OP
clonestocker
Active member
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2018
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- 41
Thanks for the help.
pmiranda
Well-known member
Right!? I've lived in houses with the cheapest POS GE panels possible (aside from a FPE for 2 years) for over 40 years and they have never caused a single problem. I don't doubt Square D is good stuff since the price seems to match!