It connects to the main grounding electrode (grounding rod). Grounding Busbar – The grounding busbar is where all the grounding wires from branch circuits converge.The location of the neutral busbar can vary from breaker box to breaker box, but it typically runs parallel to the hot busbars (when combined with the grounding busbar on the main breaker) or off to the side of the enclosure. Neutral Busbar – The neutral busbar connects the primary neutral source wire to all the neutral wires from branch circuits.Circuit breakers run along the hot busbars. The hot source wires connect to the hot busbars to supply power to the entire panel and any subsequent branch circuits. Hot Busbars – The hot busbars are (typically) two bars that run down the center of the breaker panel.The entire electrical panel loses power if the main disconnect switch trips or you manually turn it off. It is typically located near the top of the breaker box and acts as the main breaker for the breaker panel. Main Disconnect Switch – The two hot source wires connect to the main disconnect switch before heading to the hot busbars.The two hot source wires connect to the main disconnect switch, while the source neutral wire connects to the neutral busbar. There are typically three source wires: two hot and one neutral wire. Source Wires – Source wires are the wires that come from the meter into the breaker box from the top.There is a large opening at the top for the source wires, and along the top, bottom, and sides are popouts for branch circuits to exit. Breaker boxes typically mount on the wall and have a single door on the front. Breaker Box – The breaker box is the metal enclosure that holds all the components described below.Below we’ll go over the main parts that you’ll see in a typical home electrical panel: But each piece serves a specific purpose, and the whole system cannot work without all the components-at least not safely. When you open up the metal door of an electrical panel, it can seem like a giant mess of wires, metal bars, and breaker switches. Electrical Panels: What They Are & How They Work (Complete Guide) 7 The Components of an Electrical Panel Other types of electrical panels, while often in different positions in your home’s electrical system, operate on the same principle. When a breaker detects an electrical fault that could cause damage to your home or people, it quickly switches off power to the affected circuit. Main panel breakers act as a safety barrier between the source wires coming from the meter and the electrical wiring in your home. There are many different breaker panel sizes and types, including main panels, main lug panels, sub-panels, and transfer switches, which we’ll take a more in-depth look at later. In the case of the main breaker panel, power enters from the meter and splits off into different circuits, each with its own circuit breaker. While a single circuit can provide power to multiple rooms, each room in a house frequently gets its own circuit, and large appliances also get dedicated circuits.Īn electrical panel is a steel box that houses circuit breakers. Modern home electrical systems consist of numerous circuits that control the electricity to specific areas in the house. It’s also good to know precisely how equipment in your home works for any repair work you need. Knowing the location of your home’s electrical panel and how it works will make the entire process much smoother. More commonly, your breaker will trip, and you’ll need to reset it and restore power to the circuit. In the case of an emergency, you should know where the breaker box in your home is so you can shut off power to affected circuits. Final Thoughts The Basics of Electrical PanelsĪs a homeowner or nearly anybody living in a house, it is crucial to know about electrical panels for safety and convenience.
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