I go big breakers on top down to smaller ones. I don't think it makes much difference. It does make it look like the EC put some thouht into the panel instead of anywhere. It makes some breakers that are added after the fact stand out.
On some panels it makes sence to put the multi pole breakers on top becauce the mini breaker slots are only at the bottom. So latter adding a mini does not mean rearanging the panel and legand. I think that is the reason how it really got started putting the big breakers on top. I normaly use 40 space panels so that is not a factor.
Tom
