Electrical Main Panel Brands

[n74tg]

My local building supply stocks QO and Homeline brand panels and breakers.  Anybody heard anything good or bad about either of these brands?  Any horror stories with any other brands?

[glenn kangiser]

I haven't heard of either of them but I don't do a lot of electrical.  One thing I like to see is that they are using an easily obtainable breaker - many use a standard style breaker that will interchange with other major brands.  

One other point is that some of the old boxes used some aluminum contacts which overheated due to corrosion or resistance buildup due to oxidation over the years and could possibly even catch fire - I assume they discontinued this type of box,

[MountainDon]

Those are both good boxes; both made by Square D. They have been quite common around here for years. The QO series is my preference, but only because the breakers are UL listed for up to 48 Volts DC (up to the 60 amp sizes, I believe). That info may not be stamped on the breakers, but it is correct. Having some DC solar circuits around here, that's important to me.

FYI, if it matters to you or anyone, the QO breakers are listed for up to 48 VDC, meaning you could use them in a 24 VDC system, but not a 48 VDC system as solar DC systems can and do go over their rated voltage at times. Probably more than you needed to know...  :-/

More FYI.    Yes there's a big difference in AC and DC breakers (and switches too). Generally speaking you should not use an AC rated circuit breaker, fuse or switch for DC power.

[glenn kangiser]

Good to know ---

The reason - DC can establish and maintain an arc much easier than AC -- Higher voltage may not stop arcing even though the breaker is tripped.

I have used Square D boxes and agree they are good.  

[MountainDon]

Yep. The on again - off again that happens as the AC current follows that sine wave 60 times a second makes it much easier to break the flow of power in an AC circuit.

[n74tg]

I put this question up on another forum too and one reply there said the Homeline brand were an aluminum buss panel as oppossed to Square D QO being copper.  Since it appears Square D makes them both, I guess they are giving us our choice.

[TBA]

I haven't used the newer Homeline models but Qwik Open has been around almost unchanged for decades so parts and pieces are easy to obtain both new and used. I'll be using QO in my home because of the aforementioned and it's ease of use.