Panel layout...

Hi folks, just wondering if people have any preferences when laying out a new panel. (I'm referring to a panel that you are populating with circuts from scratch) Do you have any favoutite way of laying out circuts, or do you just toss them in as you grab the branch circuts at random? I know this has little impact on code (aside from leaving two spots open for expansion) but I'm sorta curious how others like to do it.

Regards,

Savant

 

I try to keep the breakers grouped by amperage. It looks nice, and makes it a little easier to find a particular circuit (provided you label the panel correctly).

 

You need to pay attention to balancing the load on each leg. Typically as you move down one side of the panel every other position is on a different leg. So when installing breakers dont just slap them in anywhere. You need to balance them according to amperage. so if you have 150 amps of single pole breakers try to put 75 amps on one leg and 75 amps on the other. Double pole breakers for ranges, dryers, ac and the like use both legs and are self balancing. Grouping by amperage could cause one leg to be way more amp draw than the other

 

Quite true, although I always keep load in consideration. (but I do it subconsciously so I never really think about it) I also always do a 'custom label on a thermal printer so that there is never an issue reading the breaker listing. (nothing I hate more than trying to read a poorly written panel directory)

However, I was sorta wondering if people actualy organize their breakers at all. Like putting bedroom breakers in a group, kitchen breakers in a group etc... Outside of load considerations, does anyone give it any thought? Does anyone have any quirks that they always do when loading a panel? Or is it just 'whatever works' and is balanced?

Regards,

Savant