2 100 amp load centers or 1 200 amp load center?

[Qapla]

Most of the tankless I have seen here (in Fl) are natural gas not electric.

I agree with the single 200A panel and the Square D box.

 

[dstig1]

I looked at a home with a 400 amp service split to two 200 amp panels side by side... there are smaller sub-panels for the barn and pump house and a 16 breaker generator panel next to the two 200 amp panels.

I always guessed it was done this way because of cost?

Yep that's the common way to handle 400a service around here. Mostly due to the need for more breaker spaces. It is OK if the 2 panels are right next to each other, at least as I understand it, and are fed from the same point (the meter). There are limits in the code of how many switches you can flip while standing in one place to be considered OK for a main service panel. I think it is 6 switches. So 2 panels, side by side are fine.

I guess I was making an assumption that the OP was looking to put them in different areas, as there is no reason to use 2x100a panels vs one 200a panel for spaces. Running to a different building as a subpanel may have some additional restrictions I am unaware of that further prohibit this.

 

[mjncad]

With more and more technology entering the home, there will come a time when a 200-amp service entrance is going to be considered small.

 

[Pete Judd]

I have my primary 200 amp service panel mounted on the pole that I own with a 200 amp meter base, with the 200 amp breaker going to the house. The box I bought also has a small sub panel as part of the box that is also 200 amp. It feeds my "fire pump" the well if my house had a fire, I could shut the power off to the house, and still have water. It also feeds my shop with 100 amp service. I have all of your equipt, except the dryer and the water heater in the shop, but most are single use, and not used at the same time (ie
: how often do you use the table saw at the same time you use the planner?)

I also vote with a single 200 amp panel will be cheaper from the get go, and I doubt that you will run out of room in it.

Also, the state inspector has passed me every time. But some times I have had to show him the pages in the NEC that he was not aware of. If you are getting into this, get the book, or go the library, used to be cheap, but now at least 60 bucks, but worth it.

 

[ultrarunner]

With more and more technology entering the home, there will come a time when a 200-amp service entrance is going to be considered small.

With this thead fresh in my mind... I was doing some work at a 1920 Triplex... it was originally a large home and legally converted in WWII to house the influx or wartime workers...

The entire building... all three units is one a single 30 amp screw in fuse with 3 sub-fuse panels... one in each apartment with a single 15 amp fuse...

 

[dstig1]

With more and more technology entering the home, there will come a time when a 200-amp service entrance is going to be considered small.

In the past I would have agreed completely but anymore I'm not so sure. Most of the newer electronics are going hard towards low power draw and the efficiencies have really shot up the past few years. With more people using efficient lighting like CFLs and eventually LEDs, in all likelihood, plus newer TVs and PCs using less power, residential power consumption may actually decrease to some small degree. 200A covers a lot of ground. Heck, my place here is 150A and I've certainly never tripped the main with all my major power tools and welder and stuff...

 

[mjncad]

I see your point Dave; but I'd rather err on the side of caution and install a large service entrance as it's cheaper to do up front than retrofit it later.

 

[wedge40]

Thanks for all the replies. I was asking about two panels so if I needed to shut "almost" everything off but still need a little power it would be a simple matter of flipping a main. I'm in this situation in the house right now. But since it the first time in 20 years it probably isn't worth the hassle.

Here is what I'm looking at right now.
Shop Square D 40-Circuit 40-Space 200-Amp Main Breaker Load Center at Lowes.com

There is also this one.
Shop Square D 40-Circuit 40-Space 200-Amp Main Breaker Load Center Value Pack at Lowes.com

Whats the main difference?

Wedge

 

[ray66v]

The first panel uses QO breakers which is a light duty commercial line.

The second panel uses the less expensive Homeline breakers.

Both are good quality.

The QO breakers are be very sensitive. You can have problems tripping them when you operate 110 volt saws and grinders that have very high starting draws. If you go with the QO panel and this happens, you can use a hymag breaker that will buffer these nuisance trips out. Hymag breakers do tend to be somewhat expensive. The Homeline breakers will not have this problem.

Especially since it is a barn, I would go with the Homeline.

 

[wedge40]

Thanks Ray.. I always figured Square-D was Square-D. Since it will be a shop I'm going to assume that some of my tools will be rather noisy. I dont think I'd like over sensative breakers. Might be inclided to get the super glue out.

Wedge