3 wire circuits and arc fault breakers

[homeowner in burbank]

Not a lot of selection in QO land but there is this one. Also non-CTL so only legal for old panels. They call it a quad tandem but I'd call it a triplex - QO20303020 - https://www.rexelusa.com/usr/Root-Category/Power-Distribution/Circuit-Breakers/Circuit-Breakers---Residential/Quadplex-Circuit-Breakers/Square-D-QO20303020-Breaker,-Plug-In,-Quad,-2-1P,-20A,-1-2P,-30A,-120-240VAC,-10kAIC/p/214387
I don't think the center double pole 30 is common trip as cut sheet shows two separate tandems. So I guess you could take CTL tandems and use handle ties as well for MWBC.

From their catalog page:

Not a solution, and did you look at the price? Is it molded from unicorn poo?

 

[Reach4]

Not a solution, and did you look at the price?

Did you? $108. Not cheap, but if it had solved a need, it could be worth it.

 

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[Stuff]

OP: Since you are not giving details of what you have it is hard to give you options that you are agreeable with. If you are that dissatisfied with your current panel then you should look into getting it replaced. It will cost a lot but it will be over and done with.

 

[Reach4]

Also, you might consider a subpanel. A sub panel can be a different brand and style.

 

[homeowner in burbank]

Also, you might consider a subpanel. A sub panel can be a different brand and style.

Fair point. There is a window just adjacent to the current panel, and a small return corner that leads to the garage door. I'll try to dicker with the inspector on that.

 

[homeowner in burbank]

OP: Since you are not giving details of what you have it is hard to give you options that you are agreeable with. If you are that dissatisfied with your current panel then you should look into getting it replaced. It will cost a lot but it will be over and done with.

It is a hundred amp QO panel with 24 spaces. There are something like 35 circuits in it. The buss bars are fully subscribed. The panel is packed with wire. The service comes from under ground under the driveway; it would be gruesomely expensive to upgrade to a 200 amp panel. I need to talk to the power company to find out if their existing service would support a 125 amp panel, but I am pretty sure they are hell bent to see all new services to be in 3" conduit, hence jacking up the driveway and trenching to the power company's junction.

 

[Reach4]

Another possibility is to run the new high power service to a new main box, and the existing box would be wired as an 80 or 100 amp sub-panel off of the new main box.