 |
04-24-2011, 12:46 PM
|
#1
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Lake Ridge, Virginia
Posts: 3,497
|
200 Amp, 3-phase, 120-208 Volt service
It's a restaurant. The existing panel only has I think it was 30 spaces. It is full of piggyback/tandem breakers and has a sub panel next to it (60 amp/8 space). There are a total of 51 spaces for the existing circuits. So I need to replace it and I guess my question is, is it ok for me to use 2 panels which would be the main lug feed through type. They would be 42 space panels. They would be identical panels. I would feed the second panel from the lugs of the first panel. Any problems with that?
|
|
|
Join the #1 Electrician Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
ElectricianTalk.com - Are you a Professional Electrical Contractor? If so we invite you to join our community and see what it has to offer. Our site is specifically designed for you and it's the leading place for electricians to meet online. No homeowners asking DIY questions. Just fellow tradesmen who enjoy talking about their business, their trade, and anything else that comes up. No matter what your specialty is you'll find that ElectricianTalk.com is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally free!
Join ElectricianTalk.com - Click Here
|
Warning: The topics covered on this site include activities in which there exists the potential for serious injury
or death. ElectricianTalk.com DOES NOT guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information contained on this site. Always use proper safety precaution and reference reliable outside sources before attempting any construction or remodeling task!
|
04-24-2011, 12:50 PM
|
#2
|
|
Fried Bologna um um good!
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: nc
Posts: 8,092
|
Nope. You could install as many panels as you want. I assume you are getting a feed thru panel with a main in it. The main would protect both panels that way.
__________________
The more I learn the less I seem to know...... 
|
|
|
|
|
The Following User Says Thank You to jwjrw For This Useful Post:
|
|
|
04-24-2011, 12:54 PM
|
#3
|
|
Heavily Armed Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Fascistchusetts
Posts: 29,505
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by steelersman
It's a restaurant. The existing panel only has I think it was 30 spaces. It is full of piggyback/tandem breakers and has a sub panel next to it (60 amp/8 space). There are a total of 51 spaces for the existing circuits. So I need to replace it and I guess my question is, is it ok for me to use 2 panels which would be the main lug feed through type. They would be 42 space panels. They would be identical panels. I would feed the second panel from the lugs of the first panel. Any problems with that?
|
I don't see why not as long as you have a main breaker it will be a big improvment. 
|
|
|
|
04-24-2011, 12:55 PM
|
#4
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 1,762
|
I thought I read somewhere that they are making 60 circuit load centers now.
|
|
|
|
|
04-24-2011, 12:57 PM
|
#5
|
|
Fried Bologna um um good!
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: nc
Posts: 8,092
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by jefft110
I thought I read somewhere that they are making 60 circuit load centers now.
|
They are but they are big and not cheap where I am.
__________________
The more I learn the less I seem to know......
|
|
|
|
|
04-24-2011, 01:58 PM
|
#6
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Lake Ridge, Virginia
Posts: 3,497
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by jwjrw
Nope. You could install as many panels as you want. I assume you are getting a feed thru panel with a main in it. The main would protect both panels that way.
|
Why do I have to have a main breaker? The existing install doesn't have one. It has a fused disconnect in a centrally located electric room which serves the entire shopping plaza.
|
|
|
|
|
04-24-2011, 02:00 PM
|
#7
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Lake Ridge, Virginia
Posts: 3,497
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by HARRY304E
I don't see why not as long as you have a main breaker it will be a big improvment. |
Ok so why must I have a main breaker in it? I'm treating it as a sub-panel since the disconnect is located elsewhere in an electric room. I'll keep the ground and neutral separated.
|
|
|
|
|
04-24-2011, 02:23 PM
|
#8
|
|
Fried Bologna um um good!
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: nc
Posts: 8,092
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by steelersman
Why do I have to have a main breaker? The existing install doesn't have one. It has a fused disconnect in a centrally located electric room which serves the entire shopping plaza.
|
I thought it was the service. If it has a disconnect no main needed.
__________________
The more I learn the less I seem to know......
|
|
|
|
|
04-24-2011, 02:58 PM
|
#9
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: WA
Posts: 4,064
|
You should price with a main on it anyways. Might not be a huge difference? I like putting in mains as a design decision when the price is close. If it's a bid.. Money in your pocket.
|
|
|
|
|
04-24-2011, 04:13 PM
|
#10
|
|
Bilge Rat
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Fernley, Nevada (near Reno)
Posts: 2,381
|
I've done this a lot.
The first panel needs to have either sub-feed lugs or feed-through lugs.
Sub-feed lugs are double lugs where it is fed, feed-through is a set of lugs at each end.
Which one you use will depend on how you want to feed the second panel.
Feed-through lugs usually have a longer can.
It's really common around here to have two panels daisy-chained together like this.
Rob
|
|
|
|
|
04-24-2011, 04:18 PM
|
#11
|
|
Wire Ninja
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Beautiful Cumberland Valley, in PA
Posts: 16,794
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by steelersman
It's a restaurant. The existing panel only has I think it was 30 spaces. It is full of piggyback/tandem breakers and has a sub panel next to it (60 amp/8 space). There are a total of 51 spaces for the existing circuits. So I need to replace it and I guess my question is, is it ok for me to use 2 panels which would be the main lug feed through type. They would be 42 space panels. They would be identical panels. I would feed the second panel from the lugs of the first panel. Any problems with that?
|
Pretty typical arrangement where the load isn't that great, but the need for a lot of circuits is. Retail and office space are two instance where you often have a need for a ton of circuits but the overall load isn't that substantial.
__________________
One reason not to give DIY advice:
Catch a man a fish and you can sell it to him.
Teach a man to fish and you’ve ruined a good business opportunity.
|
|
|
|
| Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
|
| Display Modes |
 Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
|
