The Ultimate Guide to Types of Electrical Panels
In today’s world, electricity is at the heart of all homes, businesses, and industries around the world. From switches and outlets to consumer appliances and even controlling heat, lights, and fans, electrical systems are very important to people’s daily operations. One of the critical components of any electrical installation is electrical panels, which are used to manage the supply of electrical power to a building.
Let’s understand the types of electrical panels and how choosing the right type and size of panel is important when it comes to safety, productivity, and dependability.
What Is an Electrical Panel?
The electrical panel, commonly called the breaker panel, fuse box or distribution board, is an essential utility in the electrical system. It is equipped with circuit breakers or fuses whose function is to protect various circuits from overloading and short circuits by cutting off the power supply when a fault occurs. It also regulates the power supply within the building to prevent potential risks such as electrical fires in various parts of the building.
The common uses of electrical panels are as follows:
- Distribution: It is used in delivering electrical power from the utility company to circuits in the buildings.
- Protection: It offers protection to the electrical system by interrupting the circuit in case of overload or short circuit.
- Control: It affords an optimum point of voltage regulation of the electric supply in various regions of the house or specific appliance.
Main Types of Electrical Panels
As previously stated, there are various categories of electrical panels, and each of them is intended for various functions and uses. The main types include:
Main Breaker Panels
Main Breaker Panels are preferred electrical panels used in most homes and business structures across the world. They contain a master switch to regulate the supply of electricity in the entire electrical circuit. The main breaker is used to shut down all the circuits in the panel and thus when this one is opened, all the circuits are isolated. Such a panel is suitable for buildings where there is a need to have a central station in control of electrical circuits.
Features:
- Centralized main breaker for overall system control.
- Multiple branch circuit breakers for individual circuits.
- It is available in three categories: 100 amps, 150 amps or 200amps.
Subpanels
Secondary & Subpanels are supplementary circuits derived from the main electrical panel. They are employed to supply voltage to certain regions of the building including a detached garage, a workshop, or an addition. Subpanels can also protect originals, and they are helpful if there are many electrical loads which can easily be managed in subpanels.
Features:
- In this case they are connected to the main panel circuit through feeder wires.
- It offers a variety of circuit breakers as part of the self-same.
- Applicable for controlling the use of current and voltage of various circuits.
Transfer Switch Panels
Transfer Switch Panels are created for a connection to backup power sources that can be generators or solar power systems. They enable a transfer between the main source of power and the standby source during such events. Transfer switches can be either manual or variable depending on the situation or need that the switch will be required for.
Features:
- This makes it possible for one to change power sources.
- The surge protector helps shield appliances from power surges.
- Available in manual and automatic versions.
Surge Protection Panels
Lightning Arrester is a device which is used to protect electrical systems that supply a building with damage or destruction by lightning or spikes. They have one additional protective device referred to as surge protection devices (SPDs) to cover for expanses of voltage which may be dangerous to devices or machines.
Features:
- Integrated surge protection devices.
- Functions to avoid any form of fluctuation of voltage.
- Essential for homes with sensitive electronic equipment.
Smart Panels
Smart Panels hold additional features of circuit board that enable them to monitor and control electrical systems with the help of real time. They can be connected to the internet and can also be operated through one’s smartphone or through other home automation devices. These capabilities include enabling the tracking of the patterns of energy consumption, controlling the Smart panels remotely and compatibility with other smart devices within the house.
Features:
- Real-time energy monitoring.
- Remote control and automation.
- Integration with smart home systems.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Electrical Panels
When choosing an electrical panel, there is much which you ought to put into consideration among which include the following one. The following points should be considered:
Electrical Load
The electrical load that a building requires is an important determinant of an electrical panel to install. That means total load power and all connected appliances, lightings, and equipment should be computed to determine whether or not the panel can handle the load. It is important to seek the services of a licensed electrician to offer suggestions on the right size of the panel to use.
Future Expansion
Gather additional information about pathways to expansion the building. If there is a chance of adding more circuits or there may be the possibility that more power consumption will be needed you should select a panel that has more capacity than the current need mentioned above. This can save money for the money maker in the long run by urging them not to effect expensive changes in the future.
Type of Building
Features of the type of building and its peculiarities will determine the selection of an electrical panel. For instance, a reactor for a home may be entirely different from a reactor for a commercial or industrial building. If these distinctive aspects of your building are considered then the right panel is chosen in a correct way.
Safety Standards
Make sure the electrical panel matches the electrical code and regulation of the territorial area of positioning. This is of great importance to guarantee adequacy of the electrical circuit as well as the safety of the system. To ensure compliance with the above standards, one can engage the services of an independent licensed electrician for the installation of the panel.
Budget
Another factor that may come into play in selecting an electrical panel is the cost for the same. However, besides safety and functionality, panel selection within the given budgets is crucial. Thus, there is a wide range of choices depending on the price that should still be reasonable while the panel will meet your needs.
Features and Technology
The type of features and some of the technologies incorporated in these electrical panels should be taken into consideration. For instance, if you are considering efficiency and power monitoring option, smart panel may be ideal for your needs. It is, therefore, important to assess the aspects which you think are very apt for you and go for a panel that has such skills.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Selecting an Electrical Panel
Selecting an improper electrical panel may result in dangers, poor organizing of electricity, and expensive fixes. The following are some of the pitfalls that should be covered:
Underestimating Electrical Load
Overloading is the main issue that emanates from underestimating the electrical load since this leads to tripping of breakers and is dangerous in some cases. Selecting the right panel that affords the building power is very important and hence there is need to accurately estimate the power demands of the building.
Ignoring Future Expansion
Lack of planned expansion often means that it may be necessary to buy new bedlinen often or upgrade the existing equipment. Therefore, it is always advisable to go for a panel with extra capacity with the view of in the long run they will save a lot of time as well money.
Choosing an Incompatible Panel
They do not decide the type of electrical panels for a specific residential or commercial building or even for a specific power source. It is also important to select the right panel based on the application in question and the power source that will be used.
Neglecting Safety Standards
Failure to adhere to the statutory regulation of power distribution and electrical engineering codes would result in dangerous installation work and other risks. It is very important that the panel and installation must meet standard set.
Skipping Professional Installation
A lot of care should not be taken while installing an electrical panel; this should be done only with the help of a professional. A professional electrician should do any electrical work to avoid any future vices and innovation of the law.
Conclusion
Electrical panels are very important as they act as the distribution center of power, circuit protectors, and regulation devices of electrical loads. This is a discussion on various electrical panels and their uses so as to reach a worthy conclusion. The choice of electrical panel depends on the electrical load capacity, expected load capacity in future, nature of the building, code requirement, cost, and other additional features.
Some of the mistakes that should be prevented include underestimating the electrical load, not considering future expansion space, choosing the wrong panel, not following safety standards, and reinstalling panels on your own. So how does one choose the right electrical panel? Well, it involves a list of considerations and consultations with experts to avoid a poorly performing electrical system that may cause fire or even power outages.
Finally, the selection of good electric services includes the right electrical panel, thus, the best electrical system. The use of informed decisions helps in protection of the property and also makes the energy usage efficient and sustainable.
