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07-11-2012, 05:44 PM
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#1
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Newbie
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 4
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Tankless water heater with 2 200 amp panels
Our neighborhoods builder was thinking ahead and wired all the houses for 400 amp service. We have 2 200amp panels.
I'm now looking at replacing the water heater and going tankless. The model I'm looking at requires 3 50amp circuits. It leads me to a question I haven't seen asked before.....
Is there some reason the circuits couldn't be split between the two panels? 2x50 on the first and 1x50 on the second? I guess the real question being, would there be an issue if one of the circuits was on a panel separate from the single ground connection?
I called the companies tech support line with the question and they punted suggesting I talk to my electrician. I explained there were no local dealers and I wanted to be sure before buying the unit and hiring an electrician. He gave me a wishy-washy answer that left me uncomfortable.
Any input would be really appreciated!
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07-11-2012, 05:48 PM
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#2
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Licensed Electrician
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SE Wisconsin
Posts: 3,227
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Tankless water heater with 2 200 amp panels
No reason that I can think of.
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07-11-2012, 05:50 PM
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#3
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Licensed electrician
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Maryland
Posts: 6,005
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Tankless water heater with 2 200 amp panels
Since you already have two panel you are in better shape than most. However, you may want to look at the operating costs vs using a gas fired on-demand WH.
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Answers based on the National Electrical Code. Local amendments may apply. Check with your local building officials.
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07-11-2012, 05:52 PM
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#4
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E2 Electrician
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Litchfield, CT
Posts: 3,096
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Tankless water heater with 2 200 amp panels
Quote:
Originally Posted by edentel
Is there some reason the circuits couldn't be split between the two panels? 2x50 on the first and 1x50 on the second?
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Is there a reason you want to split them up?
Quote:
Originally Posted by edentel
I guess the real question being, would there be an issue if one of the circuits was on a panel separate from the single ground connection?
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Do you have a 400 amp main disconnect of two 200 amp main disconnects? if the latter is true, then BOTH panels need to be bonded to the grounding electrode conductor.
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07-11-2012, 05:54 PM
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#5
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Licensed Electrician
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SE Wisconsin
Posts: 3,227
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Tankless water heater with 2 200 amp panels
Quote:
Originally Posted by stickboy1375
Is there a reason you want to split them up?
Do you have a 400 amp main disconnect of two 200 amp main disconnects? if the latter is true, then BOTH panels need to be bonded to the grounding electrode conductor.
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Because each panel has about 100A of stuff in it. What does it matter?
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Location...Location...Location
Answers based on the National Electric Code. Always check local amendments.
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07-11-2012, 05:56 PM
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#6
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E2 Electrician
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Litchfield, CT
Posts: 3,096
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Tankless water heater with 2 200 amp panels
Quote:
Originally Posted by k_buz
Because each panel has about 100A of stuff in it. What does it matter?
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The OP did... Unless I'm just not getting what was typed below?
Quote:
Originally Posted by edentel
I guess the real question being, would there be an issue if one of the circuits was on a panel separate from the single ground connection?
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07-11-2012, 06:00 PM
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#7
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E2 Electrician
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Litchfield, CT
Posts: 3,096
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Tankless water heater with 2 200 amp panels
Quote:
Originally Posted by k_buz
Because each panel has about 100A of stuff in it. What does it matter?
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Read the entire question before you edit the hell out of your quote. 
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07-11-2012, 06:02 PM
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#8
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Licensed Electrician
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SE Wisconsin
Posts: 3,227
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Tankless water heater with 2 200 amp panels
LOL...I saw that after I posted my comment and then edited it.
If this is a 400A service and it has 2 200A subs, then there shouldn't be any grounding electrodes in those panels.
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Location...Location...Location
Answers based on the National Electric Code. Always check local amendments.
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07-11-2012, 06:03 PM
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#9
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E2 Electrician
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Litchfield, CT
Posts: 3,096
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Tankless water heater with 2 200 amp panels
Quote:
Originally Posted by k_buz
If this is a 400A service and it has 2 200A subs, then there shouldn't be any grounding electrodes in those panels.
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How do you come to that conclusion? if the two 200 amp panels ARE the grouped disconnects, then yes, they WILL contain the grounded electrode conductors.... meaning, there is no 400 amp main disconnect.
LOL, I think we just said the same thing...
Last edited by stickboy1375; 07-11-2012 at 06:06 PM.
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07-11-2012, 06:05 PM
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#10
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Licensed Electrician
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SE Wisconsin
Posts: 3,227
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Tankless water heater with 2 200 amp panels
You have corrected me again. My inexperience with 400A services is showing. I was thinking of a 400A main outside with subs inside. Sorry. 
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Location...Location...Location
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07-11-2012, 06:07 PM
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#11
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E2 Electrician
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Litchfield, CT
Posts: 3,096
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Tankless water heater with 2 200 amp panels
Quote:
Originally Posted by k_buz
You have corrected me again. My inexperience with 400A services is showing. I was thinking of a 400A main outside with subs inside. Sorry. |
No big deal, Im used to doing 320 amp services, we install two 200 amp main breaker panels next to each other...
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07-11-2012, 06:17 PM
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#12
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Licensed Electrician
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SE Wisconsin
Posts: 3,227
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Tankless water heater with 2 200 amp panels
What we do in this situation is run the ground rods into one panel, the water ground into the other panel, a bare #4 jumper between the two panels and split bolt the jumper and the grounds together outside the panels.
As this sounds like it is a newer home, I'm going to assume that you don't have a water ground because the incoming water is in CPVC, thus the reason you only see on ground going into the panels. Is there any metal conduit between the two panels? Is there a jumper installed between the two that you aren't seeing?
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Location...Location...Location
Answers based on the National Electric Code. Always check local amendments.
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07-11-2012, 06:21 PM
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#13
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Licensed Electrical Cont.
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: NY State
Posts: 6,164
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Tankless water heater with 2 200 amp panels
Why all the discussion about sub and mains? WHY does this matter? Just curious.
Sure, you can pull the circuits from either or both panels.
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Sometimes I feel like if I answer any more questions it is like someone trying to climb over a fence to jump off a bridge and me giving them a boost.
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07-11-2012, 06:23 PM
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#14
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E2 Electrician
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Litchfield, CT
Posts: 3,096
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Tankless water heater with 2 200 amp panels
Quote:
Originally Posted by Speedy Petey
Why all the discussion about sub and mains? WHY does this matter? Just curious.
Sure, you can pull the circuits from either or both panels.
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It was in the op's original post, It seemed to be the focal point of the question asked to begin with, then the thread got really messy.
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07-11-2012, 06:23 PM
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#15
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Licensed Electrician
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SE Wisconsin
Posts: 3,227
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Tankless water heater with 2 200 amp panels
I missed that the first time too. The OP was questioning how his two panels were grounded because he only saw a ground going into one of the panels. That's how this discussion arose.
They always blame the electricians for making the mess....
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Answers based on the National Electric Code. Always check local amendments.
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