This Electrical Panel Is Just Right

I’ve been thinking about what service entrance device I’m going to choose for the barn project, and I think I’m going to go with this one:

CU12L500CB drawing

Square D CU12L400CB Combination Service Panel

I considered a 3-phase commercial grade service, which would be really awesome, but it’s probably too big.  We only have single-phase coming up the road from the highway, and getting PG&E to run that third wire will cost a small fortune.

A “normal” 200-amp residential service will be too small.  We don’t have utility gas out there, and instead of having propane trucked in I think I’m going to just go all-electric.  That’ll use up the amps pretty quickly.

But a class-320 service?  That’s just right!

It’s a lot larger than I need for the barn by itself, but I’m Super Sizing it with the intent that it will also serve the cabin I’m going to build, and someday a larger house as well.  There’s a county code requirement that certain types of accessory buildings and secondary residences need to share the same electrical meter.  This size of service should be large enough for everything I want to add.

I like this particular panel because it accepts my favorite QO circuit breakers.  What, you mean you don’t have a favorite type of circuit breaker?  What’s wrong with you?  Everybody who’s anybody has a favorite circuit breaker!  Right?  Doesn’t everybody?  Anyway, it accepts several QO breakers and also a pair of QDL breakers up to 200 amps each.  That’s important because the ridiculously thick conductors which I’ll need in order to get power all the way to the end of the property are too large for a normal breaker to clamp on to.

There.  More than you ever wanted to know about a breaker panel which I haven’t even bought yet.  I’m excited about it!  🙂

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