We are working on a building and they are discussing have two panels. One for all 120v and another for all 240v. They would originate from the main. Is there any Benifits to this? I know in industrial and commercial we do a separate panel for lighting all the time but this is residential.
Panel for 120 and panel for 240?
- Thread starter Snaple4
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petersonra
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern illinois
- Occupation
- Semi-retired engineer
What benefit is being claimed? They would be the same style panels. The only possible benefit I can see is the potential elimination of the neutral conductor in the feeder to the 240V panel.
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
1ph or 3ph?
- Location
- Wisconsin
- Occupation
- PE (Retired) - Power Systems
I prefer this for 240/120V 4 wire systems. It reduces the problem of having a "high leg" in the panel with single pole breakers.
Single phase.
They didn’t tell me the reason when I asked. Just said this is the way we may do it this time.
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
So it's really about separating the 1p and the 2p breakers, effectively making a lighting/receptacle panel and an equipment panel. Coming from the same source, there is no electrical difference, as everything is in parallel anyway.
If the relative loads allow dividing them this way, so neither panel risks being overloaded, there is no good reason to not do it. I've always stacked the 1p breakers one one side of a panel, and the 2p breakers on the other side.
letgomywago
Senior Member
- Location
- Washington state and Oregon coast
- Occupation
- residential electrician
Only things that I do that goes against this when laying out my panels is I'll make sure that any aluminum circuits like for a range or feeder are lower down in the panel even if on both sides so that the wires are long for potential rearranging. I also put my 2p GFI breakers away from the ground bars and if possible away from tandem locations in the panel again for future proofing.
jaggedben
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern California
- Occupation
- Solar and Energy Storage Installer
When people are planning new construction for battery backup with solar I often tell them "well you could start by putting all the 120V circuits in the backup panel, and leave all the 240V circuits in the main, and we can dial it in from there". So as a battery installer I definitely see that benefit. But if that is the reason, I'm surprised they didn't tell you when you asked.
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