Upgrading and Derating from Old Bryant/Westinghouse Panel

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WaltPVBESS

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Location
Greater Boston
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PV O&M
Hi, I’ll need to upgrade a 150A resi service to 200A and then derate to 175A at the main breaker for a planned PV install. Issue I’m running into is that this is an old BR panel and it’s not clear there are any new 200A BR panels that have a code compliant 175A main breaker as an option. Trying to avoid switching from BR to another brand and driving up material and labor costs for the service upgrade. Would appreciate others’ input before permitting plans are drafted. Thanks in advance as a first time poster.
 
WaltPVBESS said:
Hi, I’ll need to upgrade a 150A resi service to 200A and then derate to 175A at the main breaker for a planned PV install. Issue I’m running into is that this is an old BR panel and it’s not clear there are any new 200A BR panels that have a code compliant 175A main breaker as an option. Trying to avoid switching from BR to another brand and driving up material and labor costs for the service upgrade. Would appreciate others’ input before permitting plans are drafted. Thanks in advance as a first time poster.
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I don't use eaton stuff much but i thought 175 mains were no problem to get, no?

Any reason you cant do a supply side connection or add a second service panel per 230.40 ex #2 and use the sum of all breakers rule? Or if you plan to change the panel, use a 225 with a 200A breaker?
 
WaltPVBESS said:
Hi, I’ll need to upgrade a 150A resi service to 200A and then derate to 175A at the main breaker for a planned PV install. Issue I’m running into is that this is an old BR panel and it’s not clear there are any new 200A BR panels that have a code compliant 175A main breaker as an option. Trying to avoid switching from BR to another brand and driving up material and labor costs for the service upgrade. Would appreciate others’ input before permitting plans are drafted. Thanks in advance as a first time poster.
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Are you certain that the bus in the old panel is only rated for 150A? Some panel manufacturers only have a few different buses; Eaton CH panels use the same 225A buses for 150A - 225A panels.
 
Since this is residential I think you have to comply with what the POCO wants. I am in Western, MA so things may be different but most POCO will allow 100, 200, 320 (400) amp services. Used to allow 125 amp but no longer, 150 in some places and never herd of a 175 being allowed.

This information would be in the POCO regulations.
 
Eddie702 said:
Since this is residential I think you have to comply with what the POCO wants. I am in Western, MA so things may be different but most POCO will allow 100, 200, 320 (400) amp services. Used to allow 125 amp but no longer, 150 in some places and never herd of a 175 being allowed.

This information would be in the POCO regulations.
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Sounds strange. Why would the POCO care if you had a 125 or 175 main breaker?
 
WaltPVBESS said:
Hi, I’ll need to upgrade a 150A resi service to 200A and then derate to 175A at the main breaker for a planned PV install. Issue I’m running into is that this is an old BR panel and it’s not clear there are any new 200A BR panels that have a code compliant 175A main breaker as an option. Trying to avoid switching from BR to another brand and driving up material and labor costs for the service upgrade. Would appreciate others’ input before permitting plans are drafted. Thanks in advance as a first time poster.
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You could buy a CSR2175n breaker and replace the 200A breaker that comes factory installed. Torque carefully, but it's really no issue.

That said, seems like getting the PV version of the BR panel with 225A bus would work better, gives you 70A of PV with the 120% rule, instead of 65A. Probably for the same price and less hassle. (Unless you are saying you need a 175A breaker on a 225A bus because the system is that big).
 
jaggedben said:
You could buy a CSR2175n breaker and replace the 200A breaker that comes factory installed. Torque carefully, but it's really no issue.

That said, seems like getting the PV version of the BR panel with 225A bus would work better, gives you 70A of PV with the 120% rule, instead of 65A. Probably for the same price and less hassle. (Unless you are saying you need a 175A breaker on a 225A bus because the system is that big).
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Aha! This is the breaker I was searching for and not finding. Could only find the BW2175 which I could not verify is compatible with available 200A BR panels. Site survey did not determine current panel busbar rating, but panel is likely >40 years old and only has 2 open circuits available so an upgrade is needed anyways. The PV ready panel is nice, but requires more rearranging of panel and utility meter locations so these will need to be separate. Thanks all for the input.
 
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