Bolts on type panel board installation on a residence

[Rybenavides]

Is it acceptable to install a bolt-on type panel board on a residential exterior service? Load centers are very scarce where I am at right now and I was just wondering if anyone knew code on this particular situation. I have a 320 amp service and need to install a 400 amp panel with a main. I have access to a panel board but not a load center at the moment. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[jim dungar]

It is not a code issue.
Bolt-on versus Plug-on is always design choice. The only place the NEC comes close to this issue is with back fed main breaker needing to be mechanically secured.

The old Pushmatic breaker was only available as a bolt-on.

 

[hillbilly1]

If you go with a Square D NQOD panel board, you can use bolt in or plug on breakers, or any combination of both.

 

[jap]

Nothing wrong with using a panel board.

Oddly enough, at times a Panel board may be cheaper or at least competitive in the higher amperages.


JAP>

 

[don_resqcapt19]

As far as the code and the listings go, there is no such thing as a load center. It is listed as a panelboard and covered in the code as a panelboard. The term load center is just a marketing term for a lower cost product.

 

[Rybenavides]

Nothing wrong with using a panel board.

Oddly enough, at times a Panel board may be cheaper or at least competitive in the higher amperages.


JAP>

Yes I have found that there is about $1,000 price difference with this.
The panel board being $1,000 less than the load center at 400 amps

 

[wwhitney]

In NEC-speak, a load center would be described as a panelboard that comes preassembled in a cabinet. So in market speak, what is the difference between a load center and a panelboard?

Cheers, Wayne

 

[jim dungar]

One big difference is the width of the enclosure, residential load centers typically designed to fit into a standard 16" on center stud bay opening while commercial panels are usually 20"w. Another difference is the number and type of options available for panels.

About 30 years ago many of the line between load centers and panelboards began to become fuzzy.