Mounting of Electrical Panel

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alex_032886

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Kansas City, KS
Is there somewhere in the code that forbids you to mount a power panel horizontally rather than vertically? I have a 14" (top to bottom) space to mount a panel, the existing panel is a 12 circuit but is full and they need a 30 Amp double pole to go in. My first suggestion was to mount a new panel, (18" tall) on standoffs to clear the "lip" on an outdoor cellular cabinet. They said it would be ugly and were not interested. The panel I spec'd would allow for all breakers to interchange to the new panel and would have been the cheapest alternative to the issue. It will fit horizontally but I am concerned that there is a code that I am over looking, am I paranoid?

Thanks for the help in advance.

Alex
 
tom baker

tom baker

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240.33 states enclosures must be vertical unless that is impractible.I have heard from Sq this rule is to allow horizontal panels in old homes with limited space. Check with your AHJ
 
mdshunk

mdshunk

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The breakers also need to be "UP" in the "on" position. That pretty much rules out the use of one whole column in the panel when you mount it sideways.
 
iwire

iwire

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Massachusetts
I agree with Tom and will add that even if you can mount the panel sideways you can not install breakers upside down.

Check out 240.81.
 
mdshunk

mdshunk

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iwire said:
Marc, where you sitting waiting for that post, I barely approved it before you answered it. :cool:
Click to expand...
Uh.... I dunno. I give up. Was I? ;)

"I'm Robert Badger, and I approve of this post"

-Paid for by the Robert Badger for moderator campaign.
 
LarryFine

LarryFine

Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
Location
Henrico County, VA
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Electrical Contractor
Alex, how about tandem breakers? Most panels are ID'ed for X-spaces/X-circuits, the former indicating the quantity of single-breaker spaces, and the latter indicates the max quantity of circuits using tandem breakers.
 
mxslick

mxslick

Senior Member
Location
SE Idaho
According to the comments in the video updated earlier today, this install was in Canada. So no violation of CEC on the breakers being "upside down".

I for one never saw why the NEC makes such a big deal out of it anyway. Most breakers are clearly marked for "off" and "on" positions.

(Runs and ducks for cover.. :) )
 
iwire

iwire

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LarryFine said:
On several counts. Besides the upside-down main, he stuffed many EGC's in each of several EGC terminals.

He also used tandems even though there were unused spaces (Not a violation, but why? To avoid splices?).
Click to expand...

He is from Canada, I am not sure that he has any CEC violations. :)
 
Rampage_Rick

Rampage_Rick

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Location
British Columbia, Canada
LarryFine said:
He also used tandems even though there were unused spaces (Not a violation, but why? To avoid splices?).
Click to expand...
Those are standard Siemens breakers. Singles come in pairs and tandems come in quads. I've never seen a single 15 any bigger.

Notice how he's using two levels while mounting the tub?

Not really keen on his knife-stripping method while connecting the main, nor his slack management on the neutrals. The two large NMs entering the bottom of the panel are questionable too. Looks like a few feet to the first staple on the range circuit. Great place to hang laundry.

I count 36 breaker poles on the new setup, replacing 20 fuses, 2 pullouts, and 8 CBs. Don't see any new runs, so I wonder what was previously doubled-up? Also, on the old box, what's with the NM that goes into the main to the right of the feeder?
 
masterinbama

masterinbama

Senior Member
Location
Huntsville Alabama
Had an old building here with very limited space. The inspector let me use column panels because they only have one row of breakers. They would more than likely cost too much for residential though.
 
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