Number of circuits in a panelboard
- Thread starter olc
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
Yes, that general 42 circuit limit ended with the 2008 NEC.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
You still must have 6 or less service disconnecting means or disconnects at a building supplied by a feeder.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
Cow
Senior Member
- Location
- Eastern Oregon
- Occupation
- Electrician
I asked our Siemens supplier a couple years ago about it and he said he had bolt-on panels only, no residential load centers. I haven't needed one since then so I haven't asked lately if they're making larger load centers yet.
kbsparky
Senior Member
- Location
- Delmarva, USA
And here it is:
Attachments
- Location
- Wisconsin
- Occupation
- PE (Retired) - Power Systems
Square D has made >42 circuit panels for years, for the Canadian marketplace. i wonder if they simply got a UL listing on one of their existing designs?
That picture looks like a Canadian design, with the cover over the incoming line lugs.
That picture looks like a Canadian design, with the cover over the incoming line lugs.
buzzbar
Senior Member
- Location
- Olympia, WA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
I am working on a job right now that I needed a >42-circuit panel. I was hoping to save some money and get a load center, but found that Cutler-Hammer (BR & CH), GE and Siemens do NOT make one (at least that's what my supplier told me). I ended up getting an 84-circuit panel board with a 200A main breaker. I didn't check Square D, so I can't say anything about them.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
For some reason most resi panels only have 40 circuits, not 42. Not sure why but that is usually the case.
- Location
- Wisconsin
- Occupation
- PE (Retired) - Power Systems
A number divisible by 2 which results in an even number, provides a balanced number or circuits per leg in a single phase panel.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
Good point but does that really matter? It might to the poco if all panels were loaded but I highly doubt it.
kbsparky
Senior Member
- Location
- Delmarva, USA
Yes, it is. Bought it in Canada. But you'll notice that ALL the US square D enclosures have the slots in them for the flash shield over the mains, even though they omit the inside cover.
Twoskinsoneman
Senior Member
- Location
- West Virginia, USA NEC: 2020
- Occupation
- Facility Senior Electrician
I don't get it. A number divisible by 2 which results in an odd number would still provide for a balanced number of circuits.
Nevermind. With the staggered bus you couldn't really have a odd number of circuits.
Last edited:
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
He maybe could have worded it a little differently.
There is an even number of spaces with either 40 or 42.
There is however two more spaces on one bus than there is on the other.
42 works out well for three phase panels with same number of spaces per phase.
Twoskinsoneman
Senior Member
- Location
- West Virginia, USA NEC: 2020
- Occupation
- Facility Senior Electrician
yeah didn't really think it through before replying :ashamed1:
jumper
Senior Member
- Location
- 3 Hr 2 Min from Winged Horses
masterinbama
Senior Member
- Location
- Huntsville Alabama
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
With a 42 circuit single phase panel does it really matter most of the time if you have the same number of spaces for each leg? We are only talking 2 more spaces on one leg. Unless you wanted to install 21 2 pole breakers - which physically will not work anyway because there is odd number of spaces on each side.
How often is the load perfectly balanced between the two legs? Especially in a dwelling.
How often is the load perfectly balanced between the two legs? Especially in a dwelling.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
Yes, I mentioned that but is that really an issue in the scheme of things. It is just as likely that the panel does not have 40 cir but 38.
- Status