Electricity has a life-altering impact on our daily lives and the way we live at home. Nowadays, most of us worldwide rely on electricity to use our appliances and fixtures at home such as light, TV, refrigerators, computers, etc. However, without electrical panels and switches, and outlets, we cannot operate or use those devices. Moreover, without proper controls and distribution, electrical power connections can lead to high risks like fire accidents and injuries.
How Does an Electrical Panel Work?
Electrical panels are essential in every structure. It is the primary electrical control in your home and safely distributes the power supply in the building. It also houses small sub-switches going to specific areas. These sub-switches are called circuit breakers, and their function is to secure electrical safety.
Here are the reasons why we need to have electrical panels in our homes.
#1 Increase Home’s Safety
The primary advantage of an electrical panel installed in your home is that it increases home safety in electrical risk hazards. Your electrical control is secure properly in the electrical panels, such as steel insulated gasketed access doors preventing unauthorized touch.
#2 Required in The Building Code
Proper electrical panels are required and must be accessible at all times with a dead front as per National Electrical Code (NEC). The design of these requirements minimizes the safety hazards from electrical systems and equipment in the building, and the National Fire Protection Association develops this standard.
#3 Provides Consistent Power
Without a proper electrical panel installed, it is often unable to supply the consistent power that modern devices and technologies require. In addition, without enough energy, appliances at home are more likely to overload your circuits and cause frequent circuit breaker trips. So instead of troubleshooting what the problem is on your electrical wirings, it is best to place a proper electrical panel to have a consistent power supply.
#4 Secures the Essential Components of Electrical System
Electrical panels ensure that the essential components of your electricity are secured in one place and from any unauthorized touch. During emergencies, you can turn off all your electrical supplies in one location quickly and easily. It also protects from elements such as water that is highly risky for your electrical system.
#5 Allows You to Add Extra Circuits
Without an electrical panel, there is no space to add extra dedicated new circuits, which means that you cannot easily power up your appliances and devices. And most of the time, the use of electrical extensions would be the temporary or permanent solution most homeowners do, which is not a safe practice. With a proper electrical panel installed, you will have enough space and have an appropriate number of circuits to provide enough electrical circuits you need and minimize the use of electrical extensions in your home.
#6 Prevents Circuit Problems
The electricity from the utility company passes through your meter and to the main circuit breaker. And it leaves a susceptible electrical hazard to your appliances and your home from burns, injuries, or property damage.
A proper electrical panel prevents electrical shocks and protects your wiring connections from overload and heat build-up. In addition, it avoids the risk from short circuits, voltage fluctuations, faulty wiring, damaged insulation, and improper grounding.
The Safety Features of Proper Electrical Panel
The electrical panel is space to put the essential components of the electrical system. These are the primary electrical components and supplies in the electrical panel:
Main Circuit Breaker: This is the central control of the electricity flow. If there is a short overload or circuit in the wiring circuit, the corresponding breakers automatically trip to cut the flow of the electricity. Standard circuit breakers have two categories:
Single-Pole Breaker: Typically, this breaker is between 15-20amps and can handle up to 120 volts.
Double-Pole Breaker - These breakers are available in various amperages and can handle up to 240 volts.
Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters: The design of these special circuit breakers to be put in the electrical panel is for additional safety against electrocution and electric fires.
Bus Bars: There are two rows in the electrical circuit panel that connects to hot bus bars. The electricity will flow in bus bars from the main breaker to the branching circuits going to the fixtures.
Proper electrical panels should be the primary concern in every household. How we need electricity in our daily lives is the same as how dangerous the electrical circuits in our home are. At the same time, it is essential to understand the requirements and the risk associated with the electrical system. However, having a proper electrical panel in your home mitigates those unwanted risks in the long term. You can also read Electrical Safety Tips To Protect Your Building to get valuable tips and guides in your electrical system from any unwanted hazards that might occur in the future.
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