HOM or QO?

[Dark Sparky]

Having a replacement panel installed in our home by an electrician since our old Murray's main breaker failed (arcing heavily on one bus connection).

I've been reading old threads here. Some electricians say they prefer to avoid aluminum bus, this avoiding Homeline panels. (I understand not all QO panels are copper.). I've seen various other pros and cons for Homeline vs. QO.

In short, am I ok, safe, good for longevity, etc.... having a Homeline panel installed? Anything else I should be considering?

Any insight is appreciated.

 

[LarryFine]

There's nothing wrong with using aluminum-bus panels.

 

[infinity]

IMO Homeline is similar to Eaton , CH, Murray, etc. QO would be a step up from there. Personally I prefer galvanized cabinets not painted ones like Square D.

 

[Mr. Serious]

I always prefer using a copper-bus panel, but I think it's especially important if the panel is outdoors. Aluminum may last just as long in dry conditions.

Personally I prefer galvanized cabinets not painted ones

I haven't paid too much attention to which manufacturers use galvanized cabinets for their residential-style loadcenters. GE does, I guess. The GE panel in my own house is galvanized, I see now that I look at it. Siemens too, I think. Does it depend on which particular product line you buy?

 

[electrofelon]

I am not a fan of QO. Its way overpriced. Check out how much a single 20 costs and compare to a homeline or any other brand before you decide. and I dont like the bus stab design.

 

[Mr. Serious]

I hardly ever use QO now. I do like it, but it is priced higher than everything else, except that other 3/4" breaker, Eaton CH-type. And I think with the Eaton, it's just the panels that are more expensive, not the breakers. It's been a while since I bought them, but I don't recall paying too much more for CH breakers than for BR.

Back in 2014 I could get QO stuff for not much of a premium. I installed it for a friend on a side job (I had just become a journeyman back then), and it didn't cost much more than Siemens, Eaton, or GE would have cost. Maybe 20% or so, which seemed worth it because it does seem like a little bit better quality. But around that time the manufacturer decided to make it their flagship product and make the price way higher than HOM, like double or triple the amount. And it's just not worth that much.

 

[letgomywago]

If you want a copper buss go siemens not homeline. If they only supply square d localy then go homeline. Go plug on nuetral.

 

[infinity]

I always prefer using a copper-bus panel, but I think it's especially important if the panel is outdoors. Aluminum may last just as long in dry conditions.

I haven't paid too much attention to which manufacturers use galvanized cabinets for their residential-style loadcenters. GE does, I guess. The GE panel in my own house is galvanized, I see now that I look at it. Siemens too, I think. Does it depend on which particular product line you buy?

I find that the bus in these new panels either copper or aluminum is fine especially as you've noted for completely dry locations. I wouldn't hesitate to used aluminum bus.

Eaton BR panels have galvanized cabinets and that's what I've used in my own home. For service upgrades around here many of the older homes have AC cable and using painted cabinets in the ground path for AC cables is a poor choice. For NM it doesn't really matter much.