What Is an Electrical Breaker Panel?
An electrical breaker panel is a device that distributes electricity to the point of demand.
Generally, they are installed indoors, but depending on the specifications, they may also be installed outdoors.
When an overcurrent or leakage current occurs on the load side, the power supply is cut off to prevent fire or electric shock.
Uses of Electrical Breaker Panels
Electrical breaker panels are widely used in homes and factories.
In homes, they are installed to supply power to electrical outlets and lighting. You may have experienced a breaker tripping when using a hair dryer or microwave oven simultaneously. Electrical breaker panels house the breakers.
They are also installed in factories to supply power to low-voltage equipment. The application is the same regardless of where it is used. When an abnormality such as an overcurrent or ground fault occurs on the load side, the power supply is cut off to prevent fire or electric shock accidents.
Principle of Electrical Breaker Panels
Electrical breaker panels consist of bus bars, breakers, and outer boxes.
The power received from the power company’s transmission lines is branched by the bus bars. Each of the branched power supplies is input to a breaker for overcurrent protection. The purpose of connecting to the breaker is to cut off the power when the outlet on the secondary side is overloaded. To prevent electric shock from touching the inside of the distribution board, a robust outer box protects the charging part.
A breaker is a device that interrupts the power supply when the current exceeds the rated value. When the load current exceeds the rated current, the power supply is cut off to prevent damage to outlets and equipment. A painted iron box or insulating resin is used for the outer box.
Types of Breakers Used in Electrical Breaker Panels
There are three types of breakers used in electrical breaker panels: ampere breakers, ground-fault breakers, and safety breakers.
1. Ampere Breaker
The ampere breaker is an interrupting device that operates when there is an overload in the entire system. It shuts down when the power usage exceeds the contracted amperage with the power company. When this breaker shuts off, the amount of electricity used must be reduced by limiting the equipment used.
2. Safety Breaker
A safety breaker is an interrupting device that operates if an overcurrent flows in one circuit. When this breaker shuts down, it is necessary to reduce the amount of electricity used by restricting the equipment used in the compartment that the breaker is responsible for.
3. Ground-Fault Circuit Breaker
A ground-fault circuit breaker is an interrupting device that interrupts the circuit when it detects a ground fault and prevents disasters such as electric shock. Earth leakage breakers include equipment dedicated to earth leakage functions and equipment that also serves as overload protection. It is generally used for overload protection, but care must be taken when selecting.
Other Information on Electrical Breaker Panels
Maintenance of Electrical Breaker Panels
When a problem occurs with electrical breaker panels, it is necessary to repair the internal parts of the panel. Examples of problems and countermeasures are listed below:
1. When the electrical breaker panels are overheating:
The cause is a loosened screw in the charging section. Check the external appearance and retighten the screws. If the resin box is deformed due to heat, replace the outer box.
2. When the electrical breaker panels’ outer box is damaged:
If the electrical breaker panels’ outer box is made of resin, it may be damaged by impact.
3. Malfunction of the earth leakage breaker or safety breaker:
Leakage breakers and safety breakers may trip due to deterioration over time. In this case, replace the breaker and repair the electrical breaker panels.
4. Disturbance of power supplied to load equipment:
If the power supply is unstable, it may be caused by a loose charging part. Although retightening may restore the power supply, it is also necessary to consider abnormalities in connecting components such as outlets.
When repairing the inside of electrical breaker panels, it is necessary to take sufficient safety measures, such as cutting off the power supply. If you are not familiar with handling electricity, it is safer to request maintenance from a specialized contractor.