garrisonm1
Member
- Location
- Maryland
I wired a panel that had 48 single pole breakers in it, I always beleived that the max limit amount of breakers in a single panel can only be 42. Is this true.
48 circuit panel
- Thread starter garrisonm1
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Ed MacLaren
Senior Member
Re: 48 circuit panel
Here is a "clip" from Square D's on-line catalog. The item is their QO loadcenter. Note the last listing has 60 spaces.
Ed
Here is a "clip" from Square D's on-line catalog. The item is their QO loadcenter. Note the last listing has 60 spaces.
Ed
Re: 48 circuit panel
Sq D manufactures these panels considering extra spaces for say "shunt trip breakers" (per my local Sq D rep, I questioned this before also) this is in the US.
Ed does Canada have the same 42 circuit restriction as the NEC 408.15?
Roger
Sq D manufactures these panels considering extra spaces for say "shunt trip breakers" (per my local Sq D rep, I questioned this before also) this is in the US.
Ed does Canada have the same 42 circuit restriction as the NEC 408.15?
Roger
- Location
- Lockport, IL
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrical Engineer
Re: 48 circuit panel
The limit applies only to lighting and appliance panels:
408.15 Number of Overcurrent Devices on One Panelboard. Not more than 42 overcurrent devices (other than those provided for in the mains) of a lighting and appliance branch-circuit panelboard shall be installed in any one cabinet or cutout box.
The limit applies only to lighting and appliance panels:
408.15 Number of Overcurrent Devices on One Panelboard. Not more than 42 overcurrent devices (other than those provided for in the mains) of a lighting and appliance branch-circuit panelboard shall be installed in any one cabinet or cutout box.
Ed MacLaren
Senior Member
Re: 48 circuit panel
They must have removed it while I wasn't looking.
Ed
Yes, we did in the past, but I looked for the rule in our last two codes, and could not find it.
They must have removed it while I wasn't looking.
Ed
Re: 48 circuit panel
It took me a while to realize there is a definition for a "lighting and appliance" panelboard. In case this is new to anyone else:
408.14(A) Lighting and appliance branch-circuit panelboard. A lighting and appliance branch-circuit panelboard is one having more thatn 10 percent of its overcurrent devices protecting lighting and appliance branch circuits.
The handbook goes on to explain that the 10 percent applies to 15,20, or 30 amp circuits with a neutral conductor. So if the panel is all three phase breakers, I guess the 60 circuit panel can be used.
I also find it interesting that one manufacturer's rep. stated that a sub feed breaker doesn't count when it is a substantially different size than the other breakers. In other words, he said a panel with 42 branch circuits and a 100A sub feed breaker was acceptable. I'm not sure where he got that from.
Steve
It took me a while to realize there is a definition for a "lighting and appliance" panelboard. In case this is new to anyone else:
408.14(A) Lighting and appliance branch-circuit panelboard. A lighting and appliance branch-circuit panelboard is one having more thatn 10 percent of its overcurrent devices protecting lighting and appliance branch circuits.
The handbook goes on to explain that the 10 percent applies to 15,20, or 30 amp circuits with a neutral conductor. So if the panel is all three phase breakers, I guess the 60 circuit panel can be used.
I also find it interesting that one manufacturer's rep. stated that a sub feed breaker doesn't count when it is a substantially different size than the other breakers. In other words, he said a panel with 42 branch circuits and a 100A sub feed breaker was acceptable. I'm not sure where he got that from.
Steve
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