Residential panel recommendations

N

nizak

Senior Member
I have used Homeline SqD load centers for the past 25 years.

Been noticing less quality and price increases over the last year or so.

I’m looking to switch product and would like some feedback on the following :

Eaton BR series
GE
Siemens SN series

Thanks
 
Homeline is our primary as well.

If I was going to jump ship, I'd go with BR. Quality is good, price is good, I like the compactness of the protected breakers compared to homeline, circuit breaker diagnostics are better. I've mostly only stuck with Homeline because of 25 years of inertia.

Siemens seems to be the first with new products like tandem AFCI breakers, shared neutral 2 pole AFCI, "no neutral" AFCI breakers, but we've had quality issues with them in the past.

CH is another one that we've been replacing a lot lately because they failed their self test.


Rob G
Seattle
 
My first choice would be QO but I'm on the fence if they're worth the extra cost. Personally I dislike painted panel enclosures and won't use them on something like a service upgrade where there is type AC wiring involved. I used Eaton BR in my own home and I think they're fine especially if you're price sensitive.
 
In my area we have a choice of Eaton……

The quality of the BR panels has gone way down since covid. Lugs strip out constantly, and of course, replacements aren’t available.

Everything is extra, like ground bars in an MLO panel, which I’ll never understand. And while the panels are fine price wise, accessories are ridiculously expensive.

However, BR AFCI and GFCI breakers probably have the fewest nuisance trips. CH tend to fail self test.
 
infinity said:
My first choice would be QO but I'm on the fence if they're worth the extra cost. Personally I dislike painted panel enclosures and won't use them on something like a service upgrade where there is type AC wiring involved. I used Eaton BR in my own home and I think they're fine especially if you're price sensitive.
Click to expand...
When you say painted panel enclosures do you mean grey?
 
Seven-Delta-FortyOne said:
In my area we have a choice of Eaton……

The quality of the BR panels has gone way down since covid. Lugs strip out constantly, and of course, replacements aren’t available.

Everything is extra, like ground bars in an MLO panel, which I’ll never understand. And while the panels are fine price wise, accessories are ridiculously expensive.

However, BR AFCI and GFCI breakers probably have the fewest nuisance trips. CH tend to fail self test.
Click to expand...
Around here the difference in the panel is about $100 cheaper than equivalent HOM.

Single pole breakers are $1 more each , 2 pole about the same.

We are fortunate to currently not have AFCI requirements so I’m not sure what the cost comparison is there.
 
nizak said:
When you say painted panel enclosures do you mean grey?
Click to expand...
He doesn't like painted enclosures when using AC (or MC) armored cable because the lock nuts on the connectors could have a problem biting through the paint and providing a reliable ground. My opinion is that armored cable has been used with painted enclosures forever. Just make sure your locknuts are tight. Smack them with a screwdriver and your Kleins. It's a recent phenomenon that enclosures are available not painted. Probably as a cost cutting measure.

-Hal
 
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