Multiple Breaker Hold-downs in a residential panel

P

PWDickerson

Senior Member
Location
Clinton, WA
Occupation
Solar Contractor
We have bumped up against a problem on several occasions where we need to hold down multiple breakers in a residential load center, and most load centers are designed so that only one 2-pole breaker space has the provision for a hold-down kit. We are currently working on a system with multiple Sol-Ark inverters, where we have an output combiner panel that combines the output circuit of each inverter into a single output circuit to the backup loads panel. The backfed breakers in the output combiner panel should all have a hold-down kit on them, and I can't seem to find a panel that will work for this. Anyone have any suggestions?
 
Unless your inverter is of the multimode type, the hold downs are not required. See 705.30(E) in the 2023 or 705.12(E) in the 2020
 
wwhitney said:
Looks like Sol-Ark only makes the multimode type?

Cheers, Wayne
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Wonder why? I assume that requires more components and would cost more than an interactive inverter, and as this poster found out it limits there use with some existing panels.
 
don_resqcapt19 said:
Maybe so. I don't do solar so not sure if that is a common market or not.
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Sol-Ark makes only all-in-one hybrid inverters, with PV input, battery input and charging, a grid input, a standby generator input, and built-in contactors and transfer switch to make it all work for Solar with battery back-up or completely off-grid applications. They don't have anything in the simple grid-tie market.
 
If anyone is aware of a residential load center that has provisions for holding down multiple 2-pole breakers, please chime in. Thanks!
 
PWDickerson said:
A bolt-on panel would work, but commercial gear like that is much more expensive than a residential load center.
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CoolWill said:
Yes, but it may be a necessary expense in rare cases like this because there may be no alternative.
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What size breakers are needed?

One think I like about Square D NQ series is it accepts both plug on breakers and bolt on breakers. Cost of panelboard is one thing, but they also like to hammer you with cost of bolt on breakers. They are better priced if you buy the panel, breakers, and any other items as a job rather than at "over the counter prices" But plug on breakers, other then the ones you absolutely need to be bolt on, are still lesser cost and down the road if you need to add a circuit here or there they are much better cost than bolt ons not purchased as part of a complete job order.
 
PWDickerson said:
A bolt-on panel would work, but commercial gear like that is much more expensive than a residential load center.
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Sol-arks are what $5500 a piece and you have several of them. Is a bolt on panel really a cost issue? Such a better product too.


You would need a can and a cover too, another 200 bucks


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