Electrical Panel Board

Electrical panel boards are a number one priority for any modern residential, commercial, or industrial electrical system. Electrical panel boards, also known as breaker panels, distribution boards, or fuse boxes, are the 'command center' of a building’s electrical system. Whether you are a homeowner, a tradesman, or simply curious about the safe distribution of electricity, it is important to understand electrical panel boards.

What is an Electrical Panel Board?

An electrical panel board is an enclosure containing circuit breakers, fuses, and bus bars that distributes electricity to branch circuits in a building. The panel board takes power from a main utility line and separates into subsidiary circuits to power lights, appliances, and outlets.Think of it as the control center for the electrical distribution system of a property.

Primary Roles of an Electrical Panel Board

The electrical panel board is the nerve center of a building’s electrical system, and it has several important duties. First, its primary function is distributing electrical power from the main utility supply to the various circuits in the building to ensure that power is delivered safely, and used efficiently, to where it is directly needed. Second, the panel board provides circuit protection by using breakers or fuses that automatically interrupt power in the event of fault conditions that may cause overloads or shortages. This can minimize the risks associated with electrical fires or damage to equipment. Third, the panel board provides immediate access to the electrical system through which users can monitor and control the electricity supply as they consider.

The electrical panel board also permits users to easily isolate or turn off circuits for servicing or maintenance, or to quickly switch off equipment supplying power during an electrical emergency so they can focus their attention on the emergency. This single unit combines the dispersed circuits into one easy to access unit to control and manage all electrical flow in the building, and is essential for operating safely, and effectively, in any residential, commercial or industrial undertaking.

Variations of Electrical Panel Boards

Electrical panel boards come in numerous varieties, each fabricated to fulfill certain functions based on electrical service requirements. The main breaker panel is the most common type of electrical panel, most likely to be seen in residential uses; this panel is equipped with the largest breaker used in the system, which is designed to shut down the total circuit, as well as various breaker boxes for circuits. The main lug panel does not have a main breaker; it is commonly used as a sub panel, receiving power from an upstream main panel. A sub panel itself is secondary paneling that extends the service from the main system localized in the building to other areas, such as garages or additions, providing local control of individual circuits.

The fuse box is an older style of service distribution, instead of having breaker boxes, they rely on "fuses" and replaceable fuses to reset the service. largely older systems, this feature is now obsolete due to safety and convenience. The lighting panel board is used in commercial settings to manage power distribution for "lighting" circuits. Each type of panel board has a distinct purpose in terms of managing the distribution of electrical energy for safe and effective use.

Elements of a Panel Board
 

An electrical panel board contains numerous components that work in conjunction to distribute and control electricity safely. The main component of an electrical panel board is the main breaker. The main breaker is a device that acts as a primary disconnect switch for the entire electrical system, allowing total power shut-off as needed. Electrical panel boards also include bus bars, typically made of copper or aluminum, which simply carry electricity from the main breaker to the circuit breakers in the panel and ensures overall power distribution. Circuit breakers are also switch-like devices that are mechanically connected to the bus bars; they protect individual circuits from overloads or short circuits by automatically shutting off power, in order to prevent damage to the circuit wiring. The electrical panel board also has neutral and ground bars, where the neutral wires and ground wires from the circuits are connected. It is important to have the grounding connections together for safe electrical operation and to prevent oscillating currents that could result in fire hazards. All of these components or electrical devices are enclosed in a metal cabinet or box, which protects and confines the parts of the electrical panel board, and is used for the safety of users. Arranging the components in the proper order at the electrical panel box ensures proper and safe operation for each individual circuit and consistent functioning of the entire electrical system.
 

How an Electrical Panel Board Functions

An electrical panel board is a fused box that receives electricity from the utility company through a main power line, which enters the panel and connects to the main breaker. This main breaker allows for the flow of electricity to enter the panel and can cut off electricity to the entire system when needed. From the main breaker, electricity then flows through conductive strips known as bus bars to individual circuit breakers. Each circuit breaker is then attached to a specific area or device in the building, such as light fixtures, appliances, or outlets. When everything in a system is working properly, the circuit breakers allow electricity to flow freely without the use of any fuses. However, if a circuit becomes overloaded or a circuit experiences a short circuit, the circuit breaker will automatically "trip" to cut power in order to prevent damage or fire. A panel board also includes a neutral connection and a ground connection. The neutral carries current back to the electric utility to complete the circuit, and a ground provides a path to move electrical devices into the ground in order to reduce the potential for electrical shock. So we can think of the panel board as a command center that manages, distributes, and helps protect the flow of electricity in a building.