Panelboard VS loadcenter

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DAWGS

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Does anyone use loadcenters in commercial installs instead of panelboards? Had a situation were I was going to install a new panelboard but it needed to be flush mounted in 4" wall, so I settled with a loadcenter. I guess I am not a fan of loadcenters because I do mostly industrial installs and prefer the panelboards.
 
Depends on what the load on that item will be. Sometimes it makes good sense to use a panelboard in old work, due to width, if you need it flush. Sometimes it makes good sense to use a panelboard due to customer budget reasons. For single phase, for light commercial, I am not ashamed to use a loadcenter. Ideally, I'd like to not take air conditioning and heating load out of a loadcenter in a non-residential application, but I have already.
 
It is actually just a 70A subpanel, but I need 30 ckt, so I got a 200A main lug, I know it is heavy enough, but I just feel loadcenters are more residential grade.
 
DAWGS said:
It is actually just a 70A subpanel, but I need 30 ckt, so I got a 200A main lug, I know it is heavy enough, but I just feel loadcenters are more residential grade.
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Yes, they are more residential grade, but go look at an NQOD panel that has been installed for a number of years, and you'll find a great many plug on QO's installed in it, along with the original QOB's.
 
DAWGS said:
... I just feel loadcenters are more residential grade.
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I just finished a system study at a local plant, (6) 12.47kV-240V 1500kVA transformers feed at least 100 loadcenters among other panels.
 
jim dungar said:
I just finished a system study at a local plant, (6) 12.47kV-240V 1500kVA transformers feed at least 100 loadcenters among other panels.
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I think that a loadcenter is a cost effective option for an manufacturing facility that retools and rearranges with great frequency. They can just buy a bunch of 100 and 200 amp buss plugs, and rearrange panels at will, (or just throw them out and buy new one's).
 
mdshunk said:
I think that a loadcenter is a cost effective option for an manufacturing facility that retools and rearranges with great frequency. T
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Is the loadcenter a common thing in industrial plants for that very reason? (Ease of change and flexibility)
 
peter d said:
Is the loadcenter a common thing in industrial plants for that very reason? (Ease of change and flexibility)
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Beats me. When I worked as a factory electrician, we normally used the good 20" panelboards for the "permanent" stuff that will always be part of the building, and used junk for the stuff that got rearranged all the time. Well, maybe not junk, but you get the idea. My experience may or may not be normal, but I was a factory electrician for longer than I was a regular-ordinary electrician.
 
DAWGS said:
Does anyone use loadcenters in commercial installs instead of panelboards? Had a situation were I was going to install a new panelboard but it needed to be flush mounted in 4" wall, so I settled with a loadcenter. I guess I am not a fan of loadcenters because I do mostly industrial installs and prefer the panelboards.
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In commercial we use loadcenters and panels, is your using a loadcenter, use one that has bolt in breakers, if it makes you feel better.
 
When I hear "Loadcenter" I picture a plug in style bus in a 14.5" wide enclosure. To me that screams 'residential grade', thats why you can get them for $100.00. They are IMO mass produced cheap junk. (Yes I have one in my house :) )

I see very few of these used in commercial / industrial occupancies and when left up to me I order panelboards.
 
mdshunk said:
Beats me. When I worked as a factory electrician, we normally used the good 20" panelboards for the "permanent" stuff that will always be part of the building, and used junk for the stuff that got rearranged all the time. Well, maybe not junk, but you get the idea. My experience may or may not be normal, but I was a factory electrician for longer than I was a regular-ordinary electrician.
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Now we're getting deep. What is the difference between a maintenance/factory electrician than a "regular-ordinary" electrician??? You guys want to follow me right into the controls or stop at your terminations?
 
i hate to see panelboards anywhere except residential. i know there's the argument that you only needed to add four circuits or a copy outlet, but what really happens afterwords is out on your control... some commercial office buildings, that don't control their tenant's electrical rooms, look like a UL test facility. two-four-six-eight-twelve circuit panelboards wrapping the walls! and the next thing that happens is someone needs a 50 amp outlet and their electrician see's two open spaces and thats where it goes--without even thinking what the existing load is. and then --take a look at this mess with an infrared camera. i have seen enough problems with panelboards in residential and understand their intention---their's no place for them in commercial buildings, thats my opinion!

yes-----loadcenters----i stand corrected!
 
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charlie tuna said:
i hate to see panelboards anywhere except residential. i know there's the argument that you only needed to add four circuits or a copy outlet, but what really happens afterwords is out on your control... some commercial office buildings, that don't control their tenant's electrical rooms, look like a UL test facility. two-four-six-eight-twelve circuit panelboards wrapping the walls! and the next thing that happens is someone needs a 50 amp outlet and their electrician see's two open spaces and thats where it goes--without even thinking what the existing load is. and then --take a look at this mess with an infrared camera. i have seen enough problems with panelboards in residential and understand their intention---their's no place for them in commercial buildings, thats my opinion!
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Charlie,

Do you mean Load Centers, instead of panelboards?
 
As I said before I would rather not use the load center, and I quoted a panelboard for the job. But they want it in a certain spot, and do not want it surface mounted. So the loadcenter it will be.
 
DAWGS said:
As I said before I would rather not use the load center, and I quoted a panelboard for the job. But they want it in a certain spot, and do not want it surface mounted. So the loadcenter it will be.
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Are you aware, that the many custom panel shops, can make up a panel board, to fit just about any application, the dollars are up there, and deliver times will very, but they may be able to help when the job needs custom boards, many times we would need a replacement riser panels, in high rise electric rooms, and the custom builders came thru.
 
DAWGS said:
As I said before I would rather not use the load center, and I quoted a panelboard for the job. But they want it in a certain spot, and do not want it surface mounted. So the loadcenter it will be.
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Hmmm... perhaps I'm of the wrong impression... but what is preventing you from flush mounting a panelboard... just order a flush mount cover.
 
Smart $ said:
Hmmm... perhaps I'm of the wrong impression... but what is preventing you from flush mounting a panelboard... just order a flush mount cover.
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That is what i am trying to figure out, unless there is something he is not telling us.
 
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