400A Residential Panels

[FROGMAN524]

Is there a reason they’re on National back order?

 

[hallett21]

How many you need?

 

[Bigbore500r]

Is there a reason they’re on National back order?

Just one

 

[sintax]

Just one

C'mon man! You know its Trumps fault shit sucks.

 

[monkeyswrench]

I'm assuming 400a panels are the new norm for solar and E-vehicles? My buddies 7 bay shop runs a 400a panel out here, and that's the only one I'd seen.

 

[paradise]

Most electrical gear (custom) is in the 50 week lead time range still. It’s getting better and you can pay a rush with most of the mfgr but it’s not back to normal yet

 

[DWC]

The suppliers can bend as many boxes as ever. There’s only a couple of suppliers for the components and they’re an absolute wreck. It’s going on 3 years of problems. Never seen anything like it.

 

[FROGMAN524]

Can anyone find me a 400A/40 Space Square D meter panel.

 

[25Elmn8r]

I needed one in late '21 and ended up paying thru the nose for it. It was a 6 week lead time. Good luck finding one!

 

[Canuck 1]

Can anyone find me a 400A/40 Space Square D meter panel.

Checking

 

[Ladsm]

the 1200 amp panels we use at work are at a 54-56 week lead time right now. It helps to have Amazon deep pockets so they can just buy a bunch extra a year early.

 

[hallett21]

Can anyone find me a 400A/40 Space Square D meter panel.

I can get you a Siemens one

 

[ltbaney1]

me being the guy who kills the power to change an outlet, is wondering if you can "daisy chain" 2 200 amp panels together? i dont know if those are easier to get or not, just a question.

 

[hallett21]

me being the guy who kills the power to change an outlet, is wondering if you can "daisy chain" 2 200 amp panels together? i dont know if those are easier to get or not, just a question.

Short answer is no.

In theory you could / this is how the utility feeds homes. But it’s more complicated than just tying two panels together.

 

[530RL]

Tax increases on steel and aluminum imports, as well as import quotas have restricted the amount and raised the cost of raw materials available to manufacturers which has reduced the productive plant capacity in the US for Panels.

Further there is a 7.75 to 226.91 percent tax increase (depending upon type) on certain types of PA/PET resins used in the manufacture of circuit breakers creating long lead times and significant price increases.

You have to plan to buy and stock them as lead times and costs are continuing to increase. It is a real pain and is eating up lots of warehouse space across the country.

 

[FROGMAN524]

Tax increases on steel and aluminum imports, as well as import quotas have restricted the amount and raised the cost of raw materials available to manufacturers which has reduced the productive plant capacity in the US for Panels.

Further there is a 7.75 to 226.91 percent tax increase (depending upon type) on certain types of PA/PET resins used in the manufacture of circuit breakers creating long lead times and significant price increases.

You have to plan to buy and stock them as lead times and costs are continuing to increase. It is a real pain and is eating up lots of warehouse space across the country.

I’m just the client in this case but it blows my mind.

 

[FROGMAN524]

I can get you a Siemens one

I can get an Eaton today, but apparently the installing electrician will only install Square D.

 

[hallett21]

I can get an Eaton today, but apparently the installing electrician will only install Square D.

Lol I’d love to hear why. Not a shot at you but a residential 400amp panel is pretty basic.

 

[FROGMAN524]

Lol I’d love to hear why. Not a shot at you but a residential 400amp panel is pretty basic.

Yes I think it’s a cover for some other reason. Either way, builder is checking on it.

 

[Sleek-Jet]

One of the big reasons? It is nearly impossible to get ANSI grey paint right now. The world is fucked up.

 

[Nanu/Nanu]

Seems like they are way more common now than they were pre COVID.

I dont understand why your electrician is anti eaton. Eaton is legit most of our equipment in the APS power grid has eaton components. Im pretty sure its also the same company that makes e-lockers. theyre quite diverse.

Demand is a factor but sounds like there is some other things too.

 

[CLdrinker]

I thought all new residential homes have to be minium 400amp.

That’s probably the reason for shortage

 

[FROGMAN524]

I thought all new residential homes have to be minium 400amp.

That’s probably the reason for shortage

Not for me. 400A panel was an option and added 200A sub to RV garage.

 

[Joe mama]

Split main?

 

[Joe mama]

Maybe your sparky has a boat load of extra SQ D Cafi and gfci breakers.

 

[hallett21]

I thought all new residential homes have to be minium 400amp.

That’s probably the reason for shortage

200 is normally what we install.

I can count on 2 hands the number of 400amp residential services I’ve installed that are justified lol.

For some reason people think a 400amp service is like having a Merc 600 instead of a 350

 

[FROGMAN524]

200 is normally what we install.

I can count on 2 hands the number of 400amp residential services I’ve installed that are justified lol.

For some reason people think a 400amp service is like having a Merc 600 instead of a 350

I’ll be using all of the amps!

 

[Joe mama]

Installed a 600A stand up service panel on a custom. He had 5 acres and big plans. Edison didn’t change the transformer that was feeding his 200A panel. Lol

 

[Nanu/Nanu]

I’ll be using all of the amp

C'mon...all of them? Im just messing.

What have you got going on in there?

 

[FROGMAN524]

C'mon...all of them? Im just messing.

What have you got going on in there?

You never know, that’s the point. Lol.

 

[WTR&PWR]

Installed a 600A stand up service panel on a custom. He had 5 acres and big plans. Edison didn’t change the transformer that was feeding his 200A panel. Lol

If it’s a 12kV system, 400 more amps of 120/240 is only 8 more amps at 12kV. Not a huge difference

 

[DC-88]

me being the guy who kills the power to change an outlet, is wondering if you can "daisy chain" 2 200 amp panels together? i dont know if those are easier to get or not, just a question.

Just a GC here but in short I'd say that would work great until you turned too much stuff on at once . With the push to all electric with critical load panels+ batteries , multiple mini-split condensers for HVAC, 50a car chargers, induction cooktops, electric fireplaces, ADU or granny unit allowed , etc it doesn't take that big of a house to warrant the 400a from what I have been seeing. We always put 400A on the larger homes with workshops/ Rv garages, etc since I started building in the early 90's and they get utilized . I recently did one where we couldn't get a dual meter one at 380A or more and owner opted for the single 400a with house meter in his garage to keep track of the ADU rather than wait .

 

[SoCalDave]

I’ll be using all of the amps!

I could only imagine your electric bill even with solar...

 

[scottchbrite]

200 is normally what we install.

I can count on 2 hands the number of 400amp residential services I’ve installed that are justified lol.

For some reason people think a 400amp service is like having a Merc 600 instead of a 350

I have 400 amp service at my pad. I did the load calc and Riverside County approved it, no problem. Do I need it? Probably not, but I could so I did. Most of my neighbors that have built recently also do 400 amps. I did the house for electric and propane appliances, multiple electric vehicle charging circuits (CA required 1), the pool, 50 amp Rv hook ups, and my shop. I’m on 5 acres so I figured it’s better to do while building just in case.

 

[kaandemir]

It’s getting better and you can pay a rush with most of the mfgr but it’s not back to normal yet

Showbox jiofi.local.html tplinklogin​

 

[Joe mama]

I have 400 amp service at my pad. I did the load calc and Riverside County approved it, no problem. Do I need it? Probably not, but I could so I did. Most of my neighbors that have built recently also do 400 amps. I did the house for electric and propane appliances, multiple electric vehicle charging circuits (CA required 1), the pool, 50 amp Rv hook ups, and my shop. I’m on 5 acres so I figured it’s better to do while building just in case.

Better to be looking at it, than looking for it.

 

[Joe mama]

If it’s a 12kV system, 400 more amps of 120/240 is only 8 more amps at 12kV. Not a huge difference

Yep primary wouldn’t see shit at 12kv. That property had a pole on it with an old xfmr just for the dwelling marked 50KVa. It’s still there today and he’s added a 4 bay RV garage with all the fixings with plenty more to come.

 

[DC-88]

Better to be looking at it, than looking for it.

Yep, same thing goes for septic tanks/ leach fields in soil that doesn't perc very well. Much easier to overkill it the first time

 

[Sleek-Jet]

Yep primary wouldn’t see shit at 12kv. That property had a pole on it with an old xfmr just for the dwelling marked 50KVa. It’s still there today and he’s added a 4 bay RV garage with all the fixings with plenty more to come.

50kVa is a really big transformer for a single residence. Most pots for one house are 10 or 15's.

 

[YeahYeah01]

C'mon...all of them? Im just messing.

What have you got going on in there?

Lol is the a green flower involved or something? That's a lot of amps!!

 

[Oggie]

I am curious I have 2-200 amp panels at my house, a lot of my neighbors have that also. I guessing you can get more amperage out of a 400 amp panel? what other advantage are there with 400 amp service? I have 2 underground feeds and one meter 2 panels?

 

[FROGMAN524]

I could only imagine your electric bill even with solar...

Whatever it is, it’s less than state income taxes in California.

 

[FROGMAN524]

Lol is the a green flower involved or something? That's a lot of amps!!

50A electric charger for future EV, RV and adding outdoor casita/kitchen and guest house.

 

[YeahYeah01]

50A electric charger for future EV, RV and adding outdoor casita/kitchen and guest house.

Nice! Better to have and not need either way.

 

[FROGMAN524]

Nice! Better to have and not need either way.

Yes, like horsepower and firepower.

 

[Sleek-Jet]

I am curious I have 2-200 amp panels at my house, a lot of my neighbors have that also. I guessing you can get more amperage out of a 400 amp panel? what other advantage are there with 400 amp service? I have 2 underground feeds and one meter 2 panels?

What's the size of your main breaker?

 

[Oggie]

200 amp on each panel.

 

[Taboma]

200 amp on each panel.

So you have a 400A meter that immediately splits (Tapped) to two 200A breakers each feeding individual subpanels ? No 400A main breaker ?

Or are you stating no 400A main breaker, but from the 400A meter it's split (Tapped off) and extended with via underground conduit to two individual 200A sub-panels, each with a 200A main breaker with no main breakers at the 400A meter, to protect the conductors between the meter and these sub-panels ?

 

[Oggie]

I am not sure how it feeds the 2-200 amp panels. I thought electrician ran 2 underground service cables to the house thinking at first I just needed 1 200 amp panel but we quickly add too much stuff for one panel. It's nice as when I put my pool in I had a 100 amps easily available off of one of the panels to tap off of. There is still plenty of room for more breakers. I can ask the electrician when I get back up to Central Washington state (this house is by the Columbia river.) I am currently at my place in La Quinta because winter sucks up there!!

 

[2FORCEFULL]

If it’s a 12kV system, 400 more amps of 120/240 is only 8 more amps at 12kV. Not a huge difference

when i did the rv garage at the cowboy house, went with 400a.... had to up the wire size all the way to the pole... and it was only 15' away from the pole...