se panel

[Chad Fabry]

Is it allowed to have a 200 amp panel with 40 circuits and only have 100 amp mains? I can't think of any reason it'd be a problem.

[Brian G]

Mains? Plural? How many are there? Is this a main lug panel being back-fed? Details man, details!

Brian G.

[Jim Katen]

Originally posted by Chad Fabry

Is it allowed to have a 200 amp panel with 40 circuits and only have 100 amp mains? I can't think of any reason it'd be a problem.

It depends on the panel. Look at the label. There'll be a diagram showing exactly how many breakers it will accommodate, including where you can put half-size breakers.

My hunch is that 40 breakers is too many for most 100-amp panels.

- Jim Katen, Oregon

[Brian G]

Originally posted by Jim Katen

My hunch is that 40 breakers is too many for most 100-amp panels.

If that's what we're talking about nobody makes a 100 amp panel with more than 24 spaces. Some manufacturers stop at 20.

Brian G.

[Chad Fabry]

Sorry, it's a 200 amp panel with 40 breakers, and a 100 amp se cable. The panel is fused at 100 amps.

[Brian G]

Well, in at least one sense that violates the manufacturers' intent, if not specs, since they make no such panel for a reason (100 amp 40 circuit). It would be pretty easy to overload such a panel, or in this case the feeders. You could always calculate the load I suppose, but that sort of slippery slope ain't for me. I would recommend installing the proper sized feeders for the 200 amp rating, whether they were actually using more than 100 amps or not at the moment. If they chose not follow the recommendation, YA is C.

They don't even make a 150 amp panel beyond 30 or 32 circuits.

Brian G.

[crusty]

If not that another option for recommendation would be to have the calcs done by a qualified licensed electrician. My guess is it won't meet the load calcs for a 100 amp service.