Breaker Positions?

[AltonToth]

In a residential panel, are there specific locations for range, dryer, etc, breakers to be located? Or is it basically a convenience sort of thing with regards to positioning? Thanks!

 

[Minuteman]

I avoid placing large amperage breakers directly across from each other. In other words, on the same part of the bus. So my panels tend to have all the larger 2 pole breakers on the same side (right or left) and smaller breakers other the opposite side.

But to answer your question, it's all a matter of preference.

 

[stickboy1375]

I start at the bottom and work my way up in no particular order ...

 

[celtic]

The larger breakers go at the bottom of the panel ~ gravity has a certain draw on electrons and it pulls them right down to the bottom of the bus.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

The larger breakers go at the bottom of the panel ~ gravity has a certain draw on electrons and it pulls them right down to the bottom of the bus.

Suppose you have a sp 20 drawing 16 amps and a dp only drawing 3 amps. Do you switch positions? :grin:

 

[Minuteman]

The larger breakers go at the bottom of the panel ~ gravity has a certain draw on electrons and it pulls them right down to the bottom of the bus.

That's more important on a second floor panel and less in the basement.

 

[EBFD6]

The larger breakers go at the bottom of the panel ~ gravity has a certain draw on electrons and it pulls them right down to the bottom of the bus.

yeah, and make sure the breakers on the left side add up to the same amperage value as the breakers on the right side or else the panel won't be balanced and will probably just fall over and spill coulombs all over the place! ( although I think balancing loads is a design issue and not a code requirement):grin: :grin:

 

[AltonToth]

Preference. Perfect. It's about what I thought, but I didn't know, so wanted to check. My experience thus far has been Commercial / Institutional, so our panels come pre-configured for us based on the prints. And usually anything bigger than 30 Amps is running out of an MCC. Cheers!

 

[480sparky]

The larger breakers go at the bottom of the panel ~ gravity has a certain draw on electrons and it pulls them right down to the bottom of the bus.

So do you have the problems of electrons dripping off of the bus and collecting on the bottom of the tub?

 

[AltonToth]

Maybe? Haha...it would explain a lot of weird residues we find in panels. Haha, no, I joke. I AM only a 2nd year apprentice working Institutional...I can't be expected to know about rezzy work Whee excitement of having to do a panel swap 'one day' when I have a day free. (Already got the panel and breakers...Just gotta do it)

 

[frizbeedog]

In a residential panel, are there specific locations for range, dryer, etc, breakers to be located? Or is it basically a convenience sort of thing with regards to positioning? Thanks!

Cable enters from the top, breaker towards the top. Cable from bottom, breaker towards the bottom. Thats just one the the ways I do it. I think it's just a choice. Has anyone seen any of the listings for panels requiring specific locations?

 

[frizbeedog]

Hokd On

Hokd On

In a residential panel, are there specific locations for range, dryer, etc, breakers to be located? Or is it basically a convenience sort of thing with regards to positioning? Thanks!

Unless You're dealing with an older split buss panel limited to six mains and a lighting section with limitations on amps. 50-70 amps for some that I've seen.

 

[quogueelectric]

breaker location

breaker location

Allways place the heavy breakers on the bottom left side due to correolis effect in the northern hemisphere on free electron flow. Counter clockways flowing downward just flush your toilet if you dont believe it. Reverse it if you live south of the equator. Gooday mate.

 

[celtic]

Allways place the heavy breakers on the bottom left side due to correolis effect in the northern hemisphere on free electron flow. Counter clockways flowing downward just flush your toilet if you dont believe it. Reverse it if you live south of the equator. Gooday mate.

See...it's true.

quoque is not an actor, he was not paid nor compensated for his testimony.

 

[iaov]

So do you have the problems of electrons dripping off of the bus and collecting on the bottom of the tub?

You could end up with a lot of homo-trons.:grin:

 

[JohnJ0906]

I avoid placing large amperage breakers directly across from each other. In other words, on the same part of the bus. So my panels tend to have all the larger 2 pole breakers on the same side (right or left) and smaller breakers other the opposite side.

But to answer your question, it's all a matter of preference.

Just to add to this - there can be a limit to the amperage on any bus "finger", so I avoid putting 2 large amp breakers across from each other - i.e. on the same fingers.

 

[Minuteman]

Just to add to this - there can be a limit to the amperage on any bus "finger", so I avoid putting 2 large amp breakers across from each other - i.e. on the same fingers.

So, basically we said the same thing. I just couldn't finger out a word to call the... finger.

 

[JohnJ0906]

So, basically we said the same thing. I just couldn't finger out a word to call the... finger.

Basically. :grin:

But it's not just a preference, there is a limit on the panel, for instance, I think SquareD QO is 125 amps per finger. (I think I remember correctly... :roll
So you could put 60 amp breakers side-by-side.

 

[frizbeedog]

Basically. :grin:

But it's not just a preference, there is a limit on the panel, for instance, I think SquareD QO is 125 amps per finger. (I think I remember correctly... :roll
So you could put 60 amp breakers side-by-side.

I think the square d uses both "fingers" once you jump up to a 125A breaker on residential panels. For the original question, Always check you panel listings. You learn a lot.

 

[LarryFine]

I also place all 2p breakers on one side, in rating order, with the largest at whichever end of the bus receives the power (not the cable entrance), followed by larger single-poles. See pic for an example:

I also make sure to avoid back-to-back large breakers. The craziest thing I often see is two 60's for dual furnaces, even if the stabs are rated for 125a. Resistance heating is just too continuous a heavy load for my tastes.