does it matter where your electric panel box is?

[Tina S.]

I'm updating a 1950s 2/1 900SF home in South Carolina. The electrician suggests upgrading to a 200 electrical service entry with through the roof mast and relocate existing circuits into a single EXTERIOR 40-space 200-amp panel box with a main disconnect. The panel box is currently in a corner of the kitchen and the refrigerator is pulled away from the wall to allow access to it. In the future I may put a counter there or something. Guess you could put a small shelf under it for now to make use of the space.

I don't see the problem with it, but the person who is moving into the home (a friend of mine) is freaking out over the panel box being relocated to the outside. I live in Wyoming and mine is outside so it didn't seem like a big deal to me and would give more options in an already very tiny kitchen.

What are your thoughts on location of the panel box? Thanks.

[Russell Brazil]

Man, Im always learning something new about other markets. Ive never even conceived of the breakers being outside. Thats completely foreign to me.