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Can I use a 200amp panel on a 100amp service / Is their a small 200 amp panel?

1085 Views 5 Replies 4 Participants Last post by  darren
So I have a 100amp service to a small area above a garage. The panel is located in a kitchen cabinet and is being moved to an interior wall. I have a service disconnect/breaker being installed next week so the panel inside will become a sub-panel. Here's that thread on the disconnect though it's pretty unrelated to this question. http://www.diychatroom.com/f18/how-long-add-service-disconnect-350178/index2/

Anyway, I'm going to leave it as a 100amp service for now which I think will be fine. I want to use a 200 amp panel inside and run the feeds in 2" conduit. This way if I need to upgrade the service later I don't have to rip open walls and ceilings. The only inside work would connecting the new wires to the panel. The panel is protected by the 100 amp breaker feeding it so that will prevent the wires feeding it from overloading. Is it okay to use a 200 amp panel with a 200amp main breaker in this scenario? This is what will be outside. www.homedepot.com/p/Square-D-by-Sch...0;jsessionid=F8DA23BCB7DB5A6913D58A7C76F9131A

2nd question. If I can do that, do they make a dimensionaly small 200 amp load center? I only need a 20 space or so panel. Every 200 amp one I see if pretty close in size. Some have smaller buses but the panel itself is the same size.
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4 wire feeding?
you can put a 200 amp panel protected by the 100 amp breaker.
You do not need a main breaker inside.

I have seen some smaller GE panels in the past, but has been a while.
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4 wire feeding?
Yes, I'm planning on using THHN, 2 hots neutral and ground.
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Eaton has a 12/24 space 200amp BR loadcenter that is only 18-3/4" x 14-3/8".
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The main lug instead of a main breaker panel didn't dawn on me before. I'm thinking something like this is perfect. http://www.elliottelectric.com/Products/Detail.aspx?v=WES&c=BR2040L200
I just wish it was available with a copper bus. Is their anything wrong with aluminum?

I'm doing the math and think I'll need 18 spaces. That 12/24 is a little to tight. I'd like to avoid loading up on tandem breakers. I'll use that space in the future should it become necessary.
I just wish it was available with a copper bus. Is their anything wrong with aluminum?
Not a thing, aluminum wire is still used to this day. We use it for panel feeders all the time.
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