Mounting panel sideways

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GerryB

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Location
woodbridge, ct. USA
I have a 200 amp GE panel, the main is left to right. If I mount it sideways I would position it so "up would be on" as far as the main. Any problem with the top row of breakers which would be positioned "down when on".
I think 240.81 would allow it.
 
Now, I'm wondering why you'd mount it horizontal. I've never seen a load center mounted horizontal.
 
GerryB said:
I have a 200 amp GE panel, the main is left to right. If I mount it sideways I would position it so "up would be on" as far as the main. Any problem with the top row of breakers which would be positioned "down when on".
I think 240.81 would allow it.
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Best bet is to move to Canada if you want to do this.
 
tadavidson said:
Now, I'm wondering why you'd mount it horizontal. I've never seen a load center mounted horizontal.
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It's a basement where the concrete has a bump out and there is a wall where you wouldn't have the 3' clearance. I never saw one sideways either, upside down I've seen so I was thinking maybe sideways too:dunce:
 
Would this be allowed in the US if you only used one side of the panel, the side where "on" is up? I'm thinking no, but curious.
 
GerryB said:
It's a basement where the concrete has a bump out and there is a wall where you wouldn't have the 3' clearance. I never saw one sideways either, upside down I've seen so I was thinking maybe sideways too:dunce:
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Surface mount or smaller space panel out of the question?
 
gadfly56 said:
I guess you've never watched "Holmes on Homes". It's based in Canada.
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No, never. . I'd think that if the demand was there, a manufacturer would make a panel designed to be vertical. It'd be simple enough. Maybe I'll do that and move to the North.
 
GerryB said:
I have a 200 amp GE panel, the main is left to right. If I mount it sideways I would position it so "up would be on" as far as the main. Any problem with the top row of breakers which would be positioned "down when on".
I think 240.81 would allow it.
Click to expand...

I believe it's permissible in Canada but not in America.
 
tadavidson said:
No, never. . I'd think that if the demand was there, a manufacturer would make a panel designed to be vertical. It'd be simple enough. Maybe I'll do that and move to the North.
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They use the same panels in Canada, orientation doesn't effect performance, it is just that NEC wants the switch handles to be "on" in the up position and "off" in the down position if the switch operates vertically, they otherwise work in any position.
 
kwired said:
They use the same panels in Canada, orientation doesn't effect performance, it is just that NEC wants the switch handles to be "on" in the up position and "off" in the down position if the switch operates vertically, they otherwise work in any position.
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Yes sir, I get they work but the writing is skewed. A person would wrench their neck attempting to read the breaker info. Manufacture a panel designed to be mounted vertical and problem solved and can be used in U.S.A.

I've had a few applications where a short wide panel would be advantageous.

Besides, things I'm not "used" to seeing are wrong.
 
tadavidson said:
Yessir, We use them often, I had a 200 amp 40 space in mind. Watch, since I'm gonna make one, some rich alligator will beat me to it and there will be one available soon.
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Unless you make that multi-tier levels of breakers, a 40 space panel will be pretty wide and waste a lot of valuable space needed for working/dedicated space.

We are already required to have a minimum of 30 inches wide space dedicated to such equipment, unless the equipment is wider. Anything that needs more width then that won't be welcomed by the owners and designers in many instances. They aren't always happy to give up the 30 inches minimum as is now.
 
kwired said:
Unless you make that multi-tier levels of breakers, a 40 space panel will be pretty wide and waste a lot of valuable space needed for working/dedicated space.

We are already required to have a minimum of 30 inches wide space dedicated to such equipment, unless the equipment is wider. Anything that needs more width then that won't be welcomed by the owners and designers in many instances. They aren't always happy to give up the 30 inches minimum as is now.
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Yep, probably right, they'd have to make refrigerators wider to completely hide the different style.
 
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