Electrical- Panel on the outside of house versus between studs??

Question

Hi,
I would like to mount my 200 amp electrical panel. I am not sure if I should put it on the exterior or between the studs. One neighbor has it on the outside, but most have it between the studs. Are there any advantages of putting it between the studs, besides looks?

Thanks,
pb4sc

Answer 1

Since you're doing an upgrade to an existing house, between the studs can be difficult. You have to hope there are no wires, pipes, or blocking where you intend to put the new panel. Of course you can remove blocking, reroute wires, and pipes are not too likely, but it is a factor vs. just bolt the thing on the house and go.

Then you have the issue of getting the big fat mains wires in. I assume you're doing a meter/main and you'll want 4" conduit out of it up to the roof and the weatherhead. That is a lot easier to do up the sid eof the house and through the roof than inside the wall. Of course it looks nicer inside the wall. If you have underground the inside the wall option gets to be a real hassle as the conduit has to bend and come out above the foundation.

Then there is the issue of getting branch circuits connected now and in the future. With the panel between studs you'll put cable clamps in the top and bottom of the panel and fish wires up/down through the wall plates. Not a horrible task, but not really fun. With the surface mount you can go out the back of the panel and fish up or down through the wall, but you can also put in conduit outside the house and run up the wall to transition thrrough the blocking into the attic or down and through the rim joist into the cellar/crawlspace.

The between the studs look is definitely cleaner - but it is a bit more work.

Answer 2

Outside. How inconvenient. Ours in between the studs in the garage. 10 steps from the kitchen.