Electric Panel
In the modern world, electricity is the necessity. Areas and people without the supply of electricity are branded backward and undeveloped. The entire house nowadays runs on electricity. From cooking to bathing to working, all of it requires electricity in one form or the other. Therefore, it’s in these interests that everyone has a connection to electricity in their homes.
Electricity is supplied to homes through a network of wires connected to a central board known as Distribution boards or panelboard or electrical panel. An electrical panel accepts the main current and distributes it into various circuits. An electric panel helps keep your appliances safe as it disconnects electricity or ‘trips’ in case of overloads, which can be caused by various reasons such as short circuits, electric shocks, heavy appliances load, etc. So basically, an overload occurs when too much current passes through a wire.
Although all-electric panels have mostly one characteristic, even then, they are of various types:
- Main Breaker Panel: Most common in households, it controls electricity distribution in different parts of a home. Also known as a distribution panel, it protects the circuits and keeps track of the panel's amperage capacity. The panel prevents circuits from getting overheated due to defective appliances or other faults. Three wires connect a breaker to various connection boxes. Main Breaker Panels are differentiated based on their amperage and the number of circuits they can handle.
- Fuse Boxes: It is made up of small circuit fuses fixed into the panel and designed to prevent circuit overloads. Found mostly homes on panels built-in '70s, these fuses short out in case of excess flow of current. There might be a need for an upgrade if the fuse boxes don't allow sufficient current to flow to the appliances.
- Main Lug Panels: These types of panels don't have main breakers, and therefore the main lug panel can also be connected to the breaker at the main panel when the main lug panel works as a sub-panel; therefore, in case of a fire, the main breaker which works as a separate disconnect at the meter can be operated thereby killing electricity.
- Sub Panels: They are used to adjust power to different parts of the home, thereby making them perfect for those homes that require multiple circuits in the same area.
- Transfer Switches A type of sub-panel useful when using backup generators. All you need to do is switch power from backup to electric through automatic or manual switches. This provides a seamless transfer of electricity without hindrance, even in power outages in outer and difficult terrains.
Now that you know that there are options from which you can choose, it's time you also know why you should have an electric panel in the first place. Here are some of the reasons to understand how is an electric panel helpful in having a comfortable and easy supply:
- Having an electrical panel can ensure that you've control over the supply of electricity inside your home.
- An electric panel acts as a guard to protect your appliances and also your electricity, and having a lack of it might prove harmful to you regardless of whether anything trips or not.
- It's also necessary for you to keep on upgrading your electric panels as in the long run, if they wear and tear, there are more chances of damages and accidents. An upgrade is needed to incase of renovations and for any more such reasons.
Now you know what different electric panels are and why you should install them in your houses, you should have an upgrade or install them in your houses by calling an expert or a technician. It might be useful to notice that we also can provide a certified electrician along with an electric panel of your choice.