Residential

[kwired]

Does the manufacturer supply closure plugs for main breakers?

Square D has them in the catalog, I have never seen one in the wild so don't know how readily available they might be.

 

[mopowr steve]

How about just getting a 100 amp main breaker of the same frame style and swap out the 200 with the 100. Keep the 200 for in the future.

 

[Another C10]

I have a 100 Amp Service and do not want to upgrade to 200 amps at this time. I may upgrade in the future to 200 amp. Can I install a panel with a 200 amp main and not use the 200 amp main breaker? I would install a 100 amp breaker and use that as the main for the panel.

This is an interesting design concept, If someone asked me this question I would have to say, unless you removed the 200 A main breaker and replace it with the proposed 100 A breaker then would I hesitantly say ok. Keep in mind If the original 200 A stayed in place which then feeds the bussing where the 100 Amp breaker resides then the distribution portion could still crank up the 200 A amp potential if planned or not, Utilities may not be equipped at the residence for the addition potential load. It almost sounds like you need the distribution of a 200 Amp Panel and not necessarily the actual additional power.

Just add a 100 Amp Sub Panel off the back of the original 100 Amp main panel, now you have more space, keeping in mind you still only have the
origional 100 A x 240V =( 24,000 Watts) to work with.

Just a thougt ..

 

[kwired]

This is an interesting design concept, If someone asked me this question I would have to say, unless you removed the 200 A main breaker and replace it with the proposed 100 A breaker then would I hesitantly say ok. Keep in mind If the original 200 A stayed in place which then feeds the bussing where the 100 Amp breaker resides then the distribution portion could still crank up the 200 A amp potential if planned or not, Utilities may not be equipped at the residence for the addition potential load. It almost sounds like you need the distribution of a 200 Amp Panel and not necessarily the actual additional power.

Just add a 100 Amp Sub Panel off the back of the original 100 Amp main panel, now you have more space, keeping in mind you still only have the
origional 100 A x 240V =( 24,000 Watts) to work with.

Just a thougt ..

I believe he is backfeeding a 100 amp breaker as the main, it will still limit load to 100 amps before it enters it's trip curve. the 200 is basically a spare breaker that sees no current.

A person could supply a 100 amp subfeed off the 200, and if ever upgrading the service conductors to 200 amps you just swap that feeder over to the previous 100 amp main.

 

[ammklq143]

Does the manufacturer supply closure plugs for main breakers?

I believe they do make one but I would probably ask the inspector if you need to first. I don't know of anything that says you can't feed a larger panel with a smaller sized service. The 100 amp breaker limits the current to 100 amps so the other panel having a 200 amp breaker is irrelevant. Maybe when you label where the panel is fed from you could label it as "Panel is fed with 100 amp breaker. Breaker number x in x location".

 

[winnie]

Repeating: In general there is no code issue with a 100A _feeder_ landing on a 200A main breaker in a panel. The 200A breaker will essentially function as a switch (although it _might_ trip before the 100A breaker feeding it).

It might confuse someone to see that '200A' number on the switch in a panel with a 100A feed, but this is not a code issue.

If rather than a feeder this is a service, then you need to have a 100A breaker _somewhere_ to protect the service conductors. There are several ways to provide this.

-Jon