differences among Siemens load center families

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RustyShackleford

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electrical engineer
I am looking for a new Siemens main lug load center, to add a critical-loads subpanel (about 20 spaces) next to an older main panel (G2040B1200CU). Can anyone provide a pointer to a comparison of (or simply summarize) the various currently available "families" - SN, PN, PL, etc ? Searches just yield sites that are selling them, or product pages at Siemens that tout the wonders of each one without differentiating information.
 
After searching for a half hour I did find this: https://extranet.w3.siemens.com/us/internet-dms/btlv/PowerDistributionComm/PowerDistribution/docs_EABU docs/SIE_SA_PanelboardsP1-P5.pdf

But it's not what you are looking for if you have a G2040B1200CU residential/light commercial panel. All I can say is that their websites suck. I do know what you are looking for but I'll be damned if I can find it! They probably have a completely separate site for that line of panels and breakers someplace. ITE/Siemens.

-Hal
 
E series are LOAD CENTERS, meaning residential applications (low cost, 22kA typical) and plug-in branch breakers;
P series are PANELBOARDS, meaning commercial / industrial applications and bolt-on breakers, higher fault current ratings, which you will pay extra for (compared to a Load Center).

Edit:
Up until recently... apparently the "PL" is a Load Center product line they have added. No idea why.

PPS: Ah, copper bus on a Load Center. OK, yeah, they didn't have that before, must have been a demand for it.
 
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The comparison on ES and PL in the catalog linked above, is somewhat helpful (see attached).

Then there's the PN, which they also call a load center (not a panelboard), the main added feature of which is "plug on neutral", convenient with AFCI breakers I guess.

And then, at Lowe's page, I see a product with model# LC2040L1125, which claims to be a PL product. But in that linked catalog, on "Catalog Numbering System" (on page 4), there is no such part# (nothing even starting with 'L' or 'LC' or even 'C').

So I remain pretty confused.
 

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The comparison on ES and PL in the catalog linked above, is somewhat helpful (see attached).

Then there's the PN, which they also call a load center (not a panelboard), the main added feature of which is "plug on neutral", convenient with AFCI breakers I guess.

And then, at Lowe's page, I see a product with model# LC2040L1125, which claims to be a PL product. But in that linked catalog, on "Catalog Numbering System" (on page 4), there is no such part# (nothing even starting with 'L' or 'LC' or even 'C').

So I remain pretty confused.

P1 thru P5 are true panel boards. ES and PL are load centers with PL being better. Watch out some of the ES three phase MB ones are only rated 10k. The L series are murray which they list toward the end of that load center PDF.
 
E series are LOAD CENTERS, meaning residential applications (low cost, 22kA typical) and plug-in branch breakers;
P series are PANELBOARDS, meaning commercial / industrial applications and bolt-on breakers, higher fault current ratings, which you will pay extra for (compared to a Load Center).

Edit:
Up until recently... apparently the "PL" is a Load Center product line they have added. No idea why.

PPS: Ah, copper bus on a Load Center. OK, yeah, they didn't have that before, must have been a demand for it.
I don't remember ITE / Siemens ever *not* having a copper bus by default until recently.
I find it disappointing that all their meter/ loadcenter combos have an aluminum buss.
 
And then, at Lowe's page, I see a product with model# LC2040L1125, which claims to be a PL product. But in that linked catalog, on "Catalog Numbering System" (on page 4), there is no such part# (nothing even starting with 'L' or 'LC' or even 'C').

So I remain pretty confused.
Entering the part number into Google gives one Siemens hit ...

Siemens Low Voltage Residential Specialty Load Centers: Murray Load Centers 1917.6 for residential applications. Meets stds: UL. Rated 120/240V (125A).Overload, short circuit protection by integrated circuit breaker. (AIR 65000AIC). Indoor Type 1 enclosure with combination mounting. No special features listed. REPLACED BY SN2040L1125. AVAILABLE 4/1/2020

So it's obsolete and part of the Murray family.

Not that it is of any help.
 
P1 thru P5 are true panel boards. ES and PL are load centers with PL being better. Watch out some of the ES three phase MB ones are only rated 10k. The L series are murray which they list toward the end of that load center PDF.
Then there's the SN series, which looks like it surface mount.
 
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