Originally posted by Dspark:
>[b]We try to get around voltage drop by using subpanels where we can.
Would you mind throwing some numbers and locations at me?
What size in amps, feeder, number of spaces?
Where do you place the panels? What floors? How are they decorated?
I remember the little debate about whether pulling two 12-2 NM-B cables was more expensive than pulling one 12-3. Pulling one 6-3 (or even 2-3) instead of ten or twenty-five 12-2 cables sounds cleaner.[/B]
I usually spec a subpanel to a floor, at least, if the house goes over, say 3000 sq ft, or the service is at one end of a long ranch style home. Depends on expected load in that area as to what size and number or circuits for the subpanel. For that long ranch, a 125A 8-16 circuit MLO works great fed with a #2 SER cable. For locations, a utility room with adequate space for the loadcenter, or even in a guest bedroom door alcove (one that isn't used every day) seems to be approved by the builder and homeowners regularly. Painters scuff the cover and spray it the same color as everything else, or the homeowner finds some way to conceal it, if at all.
