400A Residential Service

[ivsenroute]

With three 200a panels fed from the main. Notice the size of this panel compared to the 200A QO next to it.

 

[BackInTheHabit]

Panel on the left looks like a commercial panel. The Square-D panel is a residential panel.

 

[peter d]

Yup, that's an NQOD panelboard. I wonder why they inverted it like that? I thought those were universal mount. Either way it looks like trash with the service conductors eating up the gutter like that. (to an electrician only of course. )

 

[LarryFine]

That main isn't gonna be up=on/down=off, is it? Or is it side-to-side?

"Show me side-a-side!" ~ Mr. Myagi

 

[Buck Parrish]

Thats big, Are we going to see more of these? With the new requirement of afci's, for spaces that is.

 

[ivsenroute]

Up ON, Down OFF

 

[ceb58]

That main isn't gonna be up=on/down=off, is it? Or is it side-to-side?

"Show me side-a-side!" ~ Mr. Myagi

Up-on down -off. The panel is mounted correctly

 

[mdshunk]

Up ON, Down OFF

Yeah, but you just flip that breaker over. It's mounted goofy. It's also an expensive way to build a 400A service. I'd almost bet money that it's this contractor's first 400A resi service.

It will be interesting to see if any of the QOB's end up installed over 6'7"

 

[peter d]

Yeah, but you just flip that breaker over. It's mounted goofy. It's also an expensive way to build a 400A service. I'd almost bet money that it's this contractor's first 400A resi service.

The guy I worked for used to do that too, only it was a T&B panel with a 400 amp breaker and a 40 circuit stab-in bus below it. Special order at most supply houses and a over a grand to boot. Complete waste of money to do it that way.

 

[ivsenroute]

This is the one that has a 1/0 CEE running completely around the structure inside the footer and at 6 points within the footer they drove in six, yes six 8' ground rods.

AND the electrical inspector (not me on this one, I am just here for the bank) made them run a #6 to to two ground rods outside. If you look at the top left of the NQOD panel you will see the bare copper 6 leaving & going through the foundation.

FWIW, this is a 10,000 square foot house that is all concrete except for the interior partitions. Some areas the concrete is 36" thick. Walls are R55

 

[iwire]

About 15 years ago I side jobbed an entire large home and installed a 400 amp service. I was an idiot and bought a 400 amp main breaker panel, at the time I think it was $700. Live and learn.

 

[Ed Carr]

I'm looking at that big old conduit & thinking
wait till the water starts coming.I take it that
this panel is below grade?

Ed

 

[Buck Parrish]

Yeah, but you just flip that breaker over. It's mounted goofy. It's also an expensive way to build a 400A service. I'd almost bet money that it's this contractor's first 400A resi service.

It will be interesting to see if any of the QOB's end up installed over 6'7"

I agree I would have used two 200 amp panels.
They also make a meter base combo with two 200's and a couple 2 poles where you can put 100's:wink:
How are you going to get a 200 amp breaker to feed that other panel?:wink:
Just curious.

 

[mdshunk]

I agree I would have used two 200 amp panels.
They also make a meter base combo with two 200's and a couple 2 poles where you can put 100's:wink:
How are you going to get a 200 amp breaker to feed that other panel?:wink:
Just curious.

I'm betting they intend to either use the feed though lugs, or run another set though that nipple and pass right through the big panel. They do make 200 amp QO's an QOB's. They take up 4 spaces, and they're around 250 bucks.

 

[Cow]

I usually try to make the panels the same height too....but I'm probably just nit picky.

 

[sgr1]

I'm getting ready to do one tomorrow you have parallel lugs on the meter base and feed each panel.

 

[mdshunk]

I'm getting ready to do one tomorrow you have parallel lugs on the meter base and feed each panel.

The 400 amp meter cans I usually get just have studs in them. I can put a 3 or 4 hole lug in them, if I want to, and feed 3 or 4 panels.

 

[wbalsam1]

The smaller panel doesn't look plumb to me, but it might be an optical illusion. :-? Or maybe the electrician isn't finished hanging it.

 

[Ed Carr]

Here where I am,on a self-contained 400amp service
Nat'l Grid makes you put a disco fused at 300amp after
the meter.

Ed

 

[mdshunk]

Here where I am,on a self-contained 400amp service
Nat'l Grid makes you put a disco fused at 300amp after
the meter.

Ed

You sure you don't really have a CL320 meter? That might be why.