Buggy over panel approved breakers and info

[ritelec]

This whole panel breaker spec thing is out of control...
I have a westinghouse panel. 200amp single phase main breaker. cat number B20-40 BFN,BSN

So it's main breaker and all others in it are Bryant. So I'm installing a 60 amp 2 pole breaker Eaton BR in it..
My concerns are what can the panel buss handle per stab. There is no mention of this on this panel. I do see info on some other panels (but not all panels).
Also I'm concerned with placement of this breaker... it's for a electric car charger which will be pulling 48 amps for up to 7 hrs I would believe. As I removed single pole in it I saw that the older breakers are alittle discolored from the age and heat I would think. I placed this 2 pole 60 up at the top of the panel next to the main... will it get warm and entrap heat.. should I relocate further down in the panel.. Does it really matter where it's placed..?
Thank you

 

[LarryFine]

My concerns are what can the panel buss handle per stab. There is no mention of this on this panel.

Likely 100 to 125a.

I placed this 2 pole 60 up at the top of the panel next to the main... will it get warm and entrap heat.. should I relocate further down in the panel.. Does it really matter where it's placed..?

In my opinion, the larger the breaker, the less bus should be in the current path, so you did well.

 

[JFletcher]

Likely 100 to 125a.


In my opinion, the larger the breaker, the less bus should be in the current path, so you did well.

I agree with both points.

 

[LarryFine]

I agree with both points.

Thank you.

To expand, I wire (residential, mainly) panels with the single-poles down one side (with the neutral), and the two poles down the other, usually highest to lowest amperage. Plus, I've noticed that many panels have many 1/2" KO's one one side of the end caps, and fewer larger KO's on the other.

For example:

 

[GoldDigger]

In my opinion, the larger the breaker, the less bus should be in the current path, so you did well.

With the possible exception that a panel with high contact resistance at the stabs (whether through poor design or corrosion over time) will have more of a heat problem if two abnormal heat sources are right next to each other on the bus rather than having a large heat dissipating surface between them. I think that as a general rule the contact resistance will be comparable to the bus resistance from one end of the panel to the other.
The inductance, on the other hand, will be far greater in the longer bus run, which is why whole panel protecting SPDs are supposed to be mounted as close as possible to the main breaker or main lugs.

 

[ritelec]

Just want to confirm... this panels main breaker is like having a two pole breaker at position 1 and 3, and the 2 pole 60 I installed is at position 5 and 7.... The main is not above facing vertically with air between the main and 2 pole... the main and two pole are right next to each other horizontally...no air...

Opinion is still good ?

Thanks

 

[Adamjamma]

Since it is taking power out from the panel, you put it near the main breaker... if it was feeding power to the panel, like from a solar panel, you put it as far away from the main breaker as possible, unless it is set up to replace the main breaker in case of power outages...then it has to go where a lockout will connect it to the main breaker...
or at least that seems to be the main teachings...