Interrupting Rating of eaton PRL1X panel Question:

[Cartoon1]

Hello All. So i have a new PRL1X panel that was installed - This is a (MLO) panel. The rating for the whole panel was for FULLY 22KAIC, because the fault at that panel was 14KAIC. Taking a closer look at it, it turned out that the branch breakers that were installed were rated for 10KAIC, so they looked into it and realized that Eaton sent them the wrong breakers. Now they are going to change all the branch breakers on that panel to 22KAIC.

My understanding for eaton PRL1X per their cutsheet for MLO, The short-circuit rating of the MLO assembled panelboard will be fully rated based upon the lowest rated branch circuit devices or may be series rated with an approved upstream device. In my case all the branch circuits will be rated for 22KAIC. BUT, when i look at the panel sticker it says this: feed and subfeed panels are limited for use on a system of delivering not more than 10,000, unless...... etc (see attached picture). Does the panel also need to get changed out? or changing the branch breakers to 22KAIC turns it into fully rated for 22KAIC?

Thank you!!

 

[kwired]

What is upstream feeding it and is it series rated with this panel and the breakers? Instructions in first photo does mention this.

 

[Cartoon1]

What is upstream feeding it and is it series rated with this panel and the breakers? Instructions in first photo does mention this.

Breaker upstream is not series rated with it. It is by a different manufacturer.

 

[kwired]

Breaker upstream is not series rated with it. It is by a different manufacturer.

Installing a main breaker in your panel could possibly resolve that.

If upstream device is fuses some might be series rated. Most any circuit breaker by other manufacturer won't even be evaluated for series rating with this.

 

[Cartoon1]

Installing a main breaker in your panel could possibly resolve that.

If upstream device is fuses some might be series rated. Most any circuit breaker by other manufacturer won't even be evaluated for series rating with this.

But if all branch breakers are 22KAIC. does it make the panel rated up to 22KAIC?

 

[kwired]

But if all branch breakers are 22KAIC. does it make the panel rated up to 22KAIC?

According to note on your first image not if upstream device isn't series rated with this particular equipment.

 

[kwired]

I am assuming your 14kA available you mentioned is the actual available at the line side terminals of this panel?
If that is what is available say at service equipment then it could be lesser by the time you add impedance of whatever is between service and this panel.

 

[Cartoon1]

I am assuming your 14kA available you mentioned is the actual available at the line side terminals of this panel?
If that is what is available say at service equipment then it could be lesser by the time you add impedance of whatever is between service and this panel.

This is at this panel location, the main lugs only.

 

[kwired]

This is at this panel location, the main lugs only.

IMO easiest way to deal with that would have been to order a panel with a main breaker. Not all that familiar with these panels, chances are that you need longer cabinet to accommodate a main breaker kit unless there is a possibility of a back fed main breaker being utilized. Chances are the main breaker would be 22 or 25 kA rated as well as series rated with 10kA rated branch breakers as well as the panel bus.

 

[Cartoon1]

IMO easiest way to deal with that would have been to order a panel with a main breaker. Not all that familiar with these panels, chances are that you need longer cabinet to accommodate a main breaker kit unless there is a possibility of a back fed main breaker being utilized. Chances are the main breaker would be 22 or 25 kA rated as well as series rated with 10kA rated branch breakers as well as the panel bus.

This is where my confusion comes in: when i look at their cutsheet for eaton PRL1X: So they are saying: your main lugs only panel for this can be rated based on the lowest branch breaker KAIC.

 

[electrofelon]

That's quite a pathetically low sccr. I mostly use Siemens panel boards and pretty sure theirs are all rated 200,000.

 

[kwired]

This is where my confusion comes in: when i look at their cutsheet for eaton PRL1X: So they are saying: your main lugs only panel for this can be rated based on the lowest branch breaker KAIC.

That still mentions series rating with upstream device.

I looked at info on Square D panels (that I have more familiarity with) they pretty much say the same thing.

They have a table listing integral main/upstream breaker types (all Square D breaker types) that are series rated for use with the panelboard and also mentions fuse types that are series rated.

That's quite a pathetically low sccr. I mostly use Siemens panel boards and pretty sure theirs are all rated 200,000.

I'd bet it depends on what is upstream for OCPD.

 

[busman]

This might help.

https://www.eaton.com/content/dam/eaton/products/low-voltage-power-distribution-controls-systems/panelboards/panelboard-and-switchboard-series-rating-information-manual-1c96944h02.pdf

Mark

 

[jim dungar]

When the panel was ordered from the factory, they applied a 'custom' SCCR label based on the 10kAIC breakers that they installed.

You need to ask if a different label can be obtained, or at the worst replace the dead front.

 

[wwhitney]

Doesn't the phrase "Through Feed And Subfeed Panelboards" refer only to the case where the incoming conductors supply outgoing conductors without going through an OCPD, through an extra set of lugs on the far end (through feed) or near end (subfeed) of the bus?

In which case, if you're not doing that, the note is not material.

Cheers, Wayne

 

[electrofelon]

Doesn't the phrase "Through Feed And Subfeed Panelboards" refer only to the case where the incoming conductors supply outgoing conductors without going through an OCPD, through an extra set of lugs on the far end (through feed) or near end (subfeed) of the bus?

In which case, if you're not doing that, the note is not material.

Cheers, Wayne

Interesting observation. It is not clear to me if they mean a panel board that has sub feed or feed thru lugs which are supplying a downstream load. It seems to be what they are saying but what difference would it/should it make?

 

[wwhitney]

Interesting observation. It is not clear to me if they mean a panel board that has sub feed or feed thru lugs which are supplying a downstream load. It seems to be what they are saying but what difference would it/should it make?

Well, it would increase the places a fault could occur in the panelboard without an OCPD within that panelboard being able to act to clear it. So maybe the panelboard rating depends on the OCPD within the panelboard being able to clear that fault?

Clearly the presence of a main as the label mentions would matter for through feed lugs, not clear how it would matter for subfeed lugs unless they are on the load side of the main.

Cheers, Wayne

 

[Jraef]

This is what the Eaton catalog says about this:


So if every breaker in the panel is rated 22kA, the panel is. Now, you may run into an AHJ saying that you need to prove this, because of the label ON THE PANEL not saying that. So I would suggest having this page out of the catalog printed out and ready for inspection time, or clip that statement and paste it on there with that catalog at the ready.

Page 7 of this

 

[kwired]

Label in first image in OP says 10kA, unless upstream device is series rated with the devices in this panel.

Many replies have said mostly the same thing even if worded differently.

The bus can handle whatever, the bus support method will have limitations but likely can handle any breaker that is acceptable to be mounted on the bus as long as series ratings of upstream devices are followed. Similar series ratings apply to any main breaker that is installed on/connected to the bus.