Electrical Panels: The Basics – Part 1
In our last several blogs, we discussed summer remodeling projects and how the electricians at Front Range Electric can help you make your dreams for your Colorado Springs home a reality. Summer, though for some can be a incredibly busy time of year, can also be one of the best times to start your remodeling projects. To read more about how to begin remodeling and some remodeling projects to begin this summer, read our previous blog posts.
This week, we’re covering something most people overlook when they think about maintenance: electrical panels.
Electrical Panels
What Are Electrical Panels?
Electrical panels control the power to your home and protect your wiring and electrical system from damage. Electrical panels, also called breaker boxes house the circuit breakers for your home. The box that holds the electrical panel is either hung on the wall or, in many cases set into the wall. You may remember a time at home when one too many appliances were are running and suddenly the lights would go out. Someone would have to go “flip” the switch or breaker, then suddenly there would be power again. They would go to the breaker box and flip the appropriate circuit breaker on the electrical panel.
How Do Electrical Panels Work?
Electricity enters your home through the panel, which acts as a gatekeeper. It helps safeguard your system, appliances, and any devices plugged into your outlets. When something goes wrong, the panel “trips” — shutting off a specific circuit or, in some cases, cutting power to the entire house.
Main Parts
An electrical panel is made up of many parts, all of which help protect your home. These main parts include
Main Breaker
The main breaker’s basic job is to protect the in-home electrical system or circuit that it provides electricity to. This part dictates the amperage of electricity that your panel can handle.
Circuit Breakers
Circuit breakers are the switches you see inside a breaker box. They are the on-off switches that are used to control the flow of electricity. These are what must be flipped to restore power to particular circuits.
Neutral Bus Bars
The neutral bus bars serve as connection points for several wires, including the circuit’s neutral wire and, in some cases, your home’s main grounding wire. The white wires connected to the neutral bus bar carry the electricity used by your appliances and devices back to the breaker box.
Grounding Bus Bars
These connect the grounding wires to the ground bar and the grounding conductor to complete the system.
Part 1 Conclusion
Electrical panels play a vital role in protecting both your home’s electrical system and everything in it that relies on electricity. To learn more about electrical panels and whether your’s needs maintenance, read part 2 of this post.
Need Electrical Work Done?
Do you have questions about your electrical system? Are the switches of your breaker box are constantly being flipped? Are you considering a remodel of your home? The electricians of Front Range Electric are here for you. We proudly serve Colorado Springs and the surrounding areas. We’re happy to provide panel upgrades, air conditioning repair and maintenance, ceiling fan installation, hot tube connection and more. Visit our electrical panel page to learn more about our work and schedule a free consultation!