Whenever you turn on a switch or plug something into an outlet, the electricity passes through your electrical panel. Its job is to regulate the flow of power in your home. It also protects your wiring from an overflow of current that could cause an accident or fire. However, it is not infallible and may fail to work properly over time due to age or environmental factors. Consequently, it is essential to know the types of electrical panels available in the market so that you can identify the best one for your house.
There are three primary electrical panel styles. The first type is called a breaker box, fuse panel, or circuit breaker box. It distributes electrical currents to the different circuits in your home and contains circuit breakers that prevent over-currents from running through them. This is the most common and is located in the garage or near the power meter.
Older homes have a second electrical panel type called a split-bus or fuse box. Unlike modern panels, these don’t have switches. Instead, they have fuses that can be screwed in and out to control the amount of electricity flowing through them. While this type of panel isn’t necessarily dangerous, it is not up to the standards set by today’s home owners and mortgage companies. It’s a good idea to upgrade these older houses to a modern panel to avoid any potential problems in the future.
Most modern electrical panels are made of steel or aluminum and have a protective plastic coating on the inside to shield any damage caused by the components in them. They have a thermal management design that takes into account the maximum and minimum operating temperatures of their parts to avoid overheating. They can even detect and automatically shut down the circuits if they overheat.
In addition to these safety features, many of these electrical panels come with user guides and instructions that are easy to understand. This is especially useful for new homeowners who might need help learning how to operate their new equipment or reset their tripped breaker. It is important to have an understanding of how your system works in order to keep it functioning correctly.
A good electrical panel should have clear labeling for the different circuits. This is important so that you can easily tell which breaker controls each circuit in the event of an emergency or when making repairs. Most electrical panels also have a main breaker that is usually marked with its amperage capacity, i.e., 100 amps or 150 amps.
There are also electrical panels with 200 amp capacities that are becoming more common for larger homes with high energy demands. If you’re looking for an electrical panel upgrade, it is worth considering these models as they provide a lot of service for the price. They are also user-friendly and can be installed without much trouble. They also have snap-open shields that allow for easy cable connections and can accommodate a wide range of cables.