Help! Adding A Sub Panel!

spartiatis

We are adding a Sub Panel in a Home and was wondering do you recommend purchasing from the same manufacturer as the originial sub panel within the home?

Thank you in advance for your responses!!

mdshunk

I generally try to "match" the main panel, in both brand and model. Just makes sense to me. Bear in mind that you're not going to match an obsolete brand, but if it's a QO or Homeline, install a QO or Homeline subpanel. If it's Bryant, Westinghouse, or one of the other obsolete 1" breaker brands, then install a Cutler Hammer type BR. There's no code that the sub must "match" the main panel, and I can't even give you a really good reason why I do it that way. It just seems like the thing to do, to me.

spartiatis

Thank you for your response. It is the first time we have run into this issue and just wondering what everyone else does.

Thank you again.

Bubbles

Code and theory it doesnt matters. Busbar is a busbar. current is current, voltage is voltage, Cu is Cu

Lookswise it make sense to stay the same if you can.

jcalvin

I always tried to match them up but a lot of times I couldn't find a match or they were cost prohibitive. Pay attention to what style you are looking to match and make sure you aren't getting a panel that takes expensive or special order breakers.

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excellencee

I always try to match brand/style of panels when adding a sub panel. I was at a church camp recently that used whatever they could get donated. Not only did it look bad (astetically) but what a nightmare for the electrician having to add a circuit. (The Cutler-Hammer is full but I don't have any QOs).

Bubbles

I would find out how much the arc fault breakers are first if you need any. I could of swore the QO's where almost twice as expensive as say siemans/homeline $31 vs $55 I think? I had to send a fax on the road just 2 hrs ago and it cost $7. I was expecting like $2 ?? Damn economy!