Any licensed electricians around? I'm going to be updating the panel in this house I'm working on. I was pretty set on installing a CH Eaton 200 amp panel but now I'm having some more thoughts on it. In researching the panel I never saw any real complaints besides how hard it can be to push a breaker on. But youtube decided to recommend a clip of a guy complaining about eaton panels flexing and having to replace the entire panel. They stated Eaton wouldn't warranty it either. They showed 2 but they didn't get into the details of it at all. Was it installed improperly to begin with? I don't know. I'm willing to risk it since I haven't seen anyone else in my searches bring up this issue. Basically if you work with these panels, have you experienced issues after install? The sparkies I've spoken with all like them and haven't mentioned any issues.
Find someone that will let you see an NEC. (Code manual) I’ve got components from years ago for circuit breakers etc. working with my electrician, I’ve learned I can use them because they don’t meet trip flag and arc flash code for residential electrical codes. there’s no reason not to use Eaton, Siemens, or Square D. What’s critical is getting what meets current code. Menards which is where I’ll likely be getting my stuff carries all three. I’ll likely defer to what is in the modular home for the shop when/if we go that route so I don’t have different products. like you, I haven’t heard or seen anything bad about Eaton. But I can sure find unsubstantiated claims of issues with no details. I chalk them up to Russian or Chinese bot posters.
I'm not sure I follow you on the reasoning behind the NEC manual. This will be all brand new so it's all listed and code compliant. I understand if you were referencing using older breakers etc, but I won't be. I was getting ready to order the eaton off menards today when I saw this youtube short and I was like !what?! Thought I'd dig a littler deeper and attempt to learn more. The internet search wasn't coming up with anything related to that video short. I have a square D QO in my house and I have no issues with it.
If the QO meets current NEC, I’d get it then. Brand similarities between both panels let you swap breakers if needed. That’s all. otherwise, any of the brands at menards or the electrical supply houses that meet UL standards is fine. my electrician was telling me in 2022, NEC codes changed and not to even consider buying anything electrical related until 2025 if we’re not building until 2026. NEC codes change every THREE years. So even if it was installed in 2021, that QO might no longer be 2022 compliant.
You can't swap breakers between br and ch panels and you can't swap breakers between QO and homeline. Some breakers from other brands may or may not fit but I'm not even going there yet. I plan on using eaton breakers with the eaton panel or square d with a square d panel, and if I remember correctly there are no other breakers that will work on the QO panels. I could be wrong but it's moot anyway. The eaton at menards is listed and compliant with NEC and UL. I don't care if it isn't compliant with the next set of NEC code, it will be grandfathered in unless it gets a recall. Residential panels (homeline/BR)come with aluminum busbars, the CH series uses a copper busbar another huge (imo) difference between panels. Plus bolt on vs plug in. It's this plug in eaton though that the youtuber was commenting about flex, getting hot and tripping breakers. Still looking and still can't find anyone else mentioning this issue on the interwebz though.
You totally missed my point… Since you ALREADY have a square D QO panel and it’s not giving you any issues, then Why not get an additional panel just like it for this new project. then You WILL compatible circuit breakers. I’d also recommend talking with a local electrician who would put hands on into the project to confirm anything. Someone you can have a face-to-face conversation with. if the copper bus are are more important to you, then by all means get it. But just because something was installed and new in 2021, doesn’t make it compliant with 2022 code changes. You seemed to have missed that detail too.
You seem to be assuming alot more than what I even commented on... and you miss the point of my post and that wasn't to debate about nec code. Not any of this nonsense... You don't even know what I'm doing with the house I'm working on or what I plan on doing with the house with the square D panel. you're just assuming I have my reasons for not going with Square D. No sense in explaining that. You assume I don't have a licensed electrician- I do have a licensed electrician doing the install. They never heard of the issue I inquired about. I'm done debating about NEC code. This is being installed with 2022 NEC compliancy. It will be inspected and it will pass end of that story.
I know one thing you will always find someone on the internet complaining about any product. Shop for tires 1/2 the people hate a certain tire and the other 1/2 love them.
Or people only give minimal information that get upset when others make comments based off the limited and incomplete information.
I'm not an electrician by trade but I'm in a lot of panels. They will all work and if it's code today it will be fine tomorrow. Personally the QO is the only one that doesn't feel cheap and flexible. Between the shop, garage and home I have 8 QO panels from 200 amp 3 phase to 100 amp sub panels. Never had any issues with any of them. If you can go to Menards and open the boxes give them a quick inspection and decide for yourself.
