This document discusses the differences between lighting and appliance branch-circuit panelboards and power panelboards according to the National Electrical Code (NEC).
A panelboard is considered a lighting and appliance branch-circuit panelboard if it has more than 10% of its overcurrent devices protecting lighting and appliance branch circuits, which are circuits with 30 amperes or less breakers. It must also have 42 or fewer overcurrent devices and be protected by a main breaker.
A panelboard is a power panelboard if 10% or less of its overcurrent devices protect lighting and appliance branch circuits. It may require a main breaker depending on the rating of its supply conductors and overcurrent devices. The NEC
This document discusses the differences between lighting and appliance branch-circuit panelboards and power panelboards according to the National Electrical Code (NEC).
A panelboard is considered a lighting and appliance branch-circuit panelboard if it has more than 10% of its overcurrent devices protecting lighting and appliance branch circuits, which are circuits with 30 amperes or less breakers. It must also have 42 or fewer overcurrent devices and be protected by a main breaker.
A panelboard is a power panelboard if 10% or less of its overcurrent devices protect lighting and appliance branch circuits. It may require a main breaker depending on the rating of its supply conductors and overcurrent devices. The NEC
This document discusses the differences between lighting and appliance branch-circuit panelboards and power panelboards according to the National Electrical Code (NEC).
A panelboard is considered a lighting and appliance branch-circuit panelboard if it has more than 10% of its overcurrent devices protecting lighting and appliance branch circuits, which are circuits with 30 amperes or less breakers. It must also have 42 or fewer overcurrent devices and be protected by a main breaker.
A panelboard is a power panelboard if 10% or less of its overcurrent devices protect lighting and appliance branch circuits. It may require a main breaker depending on the rating of its supply conductors and overcurrent devices. The NEC
This document discusses the differences between lighting and appliance branch-circuit panelboards and power panelboards according to the National Electrical Code (NEC).
A panelboard is considered a lighting and appliance branch-circuit panelboard if it has more than 10% of its overcurrent devices protecting lighting and appliance branch circuits, which are circuits with 30 amperes or less breakers. It must also have 42 or fewer overcurrent devices and be protected by a main breaker.
A panelboard is a power panelboard if 10% or less of its overcurrent devices protect lighting and appliance branch circuits. It may require a main breaker depending on the rating of its supply conductors and overcurrent devices. The NEC
What is a lighting and appliance branch-circuit panelboard? What is a power panelboard? Is the panelboard required to be protected by a main breaker? What is the 42-circuit rule? Why do you manufacture a 54-circuit panelboard? These are the common questions that arise when installing panelboards in accordance with the NEC. The intent of this paper is to assist your understanding in applying panelboards to meet the rules in the NEC.
The Lighting and Appliance Branch Circuit Panelboard
The first step in properly applying the panelboard rules in NEC 384 is to understand the branch circuit loads that will be fed from the panel. The number of lighting and appliance branch circuits must be identified:
"A lighting and appliance branch circuit is a branch circuit that has a connection to the neutral of the panelboard and that has overcurrent protection of 30 amperes or less in one or more conductors."
The definition of a lighting and appliance branch circuit leads to the
identification of circuits with 30A or less breakers. Panel 1 has ten 2-pole breakers (20 overcurrent devices) installed and the 20 ampere and 30 ampere branch circuits have a neutral conductor connected to the panelboard. Keep in mind the number of overcurrent protection devices is determined by the number of poles on the breaker, hence a 2-pole breaker is considered two overcurrent devices.
The Square D I-Line panelboard removes the confusion between the number of overcurrent devices and available spaces in the panelboard, since there is no defined number of spaces in I-Line construction. The NEC rules apply to the number of overcurrent devices not the number of spaces available in the panelboard. Using the information provided, Panel 1 has 4 overcurrent devices protecting lighting and appliance branch circuits.
“Electrical Shortz” The second step is to calculate the percentage of overcurrent devices in the panel protecting lighting and are produced by the appliance branch circuits: SENA Codes and Standards Group and "A lighting and appliance branch-circuit panelboard is one having more are intended for internal use only. than 10 percent of its overcurrent devices protecting lighting and appliance branch circuits." These documents only provide general Panel 1 has 20 percent of its overcurrent devices protecting lighting and appliance branch circuits, therefore guidance on the specific issue. Panel 1 is defined as a lighting and appliance panelboard. NEC 384-16 requires each lighting and appliance Circumstances branch circuit panelboard to be individually protected on the supply side by a breaker or set of fuses not greater regarding particular than the rating of the panelboard. The panelboard can be protected by either an integral main overcurrent installation issues device or an overcurrent device protecting the feeder to the panel. may need further consideration. The final restriction on the lighting and appliance branch-circuit panelboard is that not more than 42 overcurrent devices (excluding the main) shall be installed in any one enclosure.
Keywords: panelboard, lighting and appliance, power panel, 42 circuits, For more information on applying panelboards in accordance with the NEC and Listing see the following 42 circuit rule references: 1999 NEC Article 384 UL Standard 67
Visit the SENA Codes and Standards INTRANET site at http://eestandards.us.schneider-electric.com
Lighting and Appliance or Power Panelboard? (continued)
Power Panelboard If 10 percent or less of the overcurrent devices protecting lighting and appliance branch circuits were found in the panelboard, it would be defined as a power panelboard. If the panel is not a lighting and appliance branch-circuit panelboard then it is a power panelboard by default.
A power panelboard may also require line side overcurrent protection not greater than the rating of the panelboard if both of the following conditions exist:
a) The supply conductors to the panelboard include a neutral and
b) More than 10 percent of the overcurrent protection devices are rated
30 amperes or less.
A main is not required where the power panelboard is installed in a service entrance application utilizing multiple disconnects (six disconnect rule) in accordance with NEC 230-71.
So why is a 54 circuit (space) panelboard manufactured? The NEC does not restrict the number of overcurrent devices in a power panelboard enclosure. Circuit breaker accessories such as shunt trip, auxiliary and alarm switches, may take a space in the panelboard, but they are not an overcurrent device and as such are not counted as one of the 42 overcurrent devices in a lighting and appliance panel. Therefore a 54-circuit panelboard may still be applied as a lighting and appliance panelboard in limited applications where the panel is factory assembled. Listed panelboards shipped with more than 42 circuits (spaces) and not with the overcurrent devices are marked "Lighting or appliance branch circuits are not to be supplied directly through more than 10 percent of the branch-circuit overcurrent protective devices."
Summary 1) Identify the number of lighting and appliance branch circuits.
2) Calculate the percentage of overcurrent devices in the panel protecting lighting and appliance branch circuits.
3) Determine if the Panelboard is a lighting and appliance branch-circuit panelboard. If it is not a
lighting and appliance branch circuit panelboard, then it is a power panelboard.
Lighting and Appliance Branch-Circuit Power Panelboard
Panelboard 4) Determine if the panelboard supply conductors 4) The panelboard must be protected by include a neutral. either an integral main or by the feeder circuit overcurrent device. 5) Calculate the percentage of overcurrent protection devices rated 30 amperes or less 5) The panelboard is restricted to 42 overcurrent devices in an enclosure. 6) Determine if the Panelboard is required to be protected by either an integral main or by the feeder circuit overcurrent device.
Visit the SENA Codes and Standards INTRANET site at http://eestandards.us.schneider-electric.com
