Every structure with electricity needs an electrical panel to operate. You might think of the electrical panel like a traffic intersection, directing different currents of electricity to various roads in your house. These roads are known as circuits, and each one leads to a different appliance or power outlet.
What Do Electrical Panels Do?
Electrical panels don’t produce electricity; they direct it to different parts of a property. For example, one circuit might lead to an outlet in the living room while another controls the outlet for your refrigerator.
The electrical panel connects to the central electricity grid outside of a building. It controls the flow of electricity to a property, protects outlets from overloading and helps prevent electrical fires by evenly distributing and managing the flow of power.
What Are the Main Parts of an Electrical Panel?
You can understand an electrical panel better by understanding each of its unique parts. These include the following.
The Main Breaker
The main breaker is the master key for your entire home. You can use it to turn the power on or off throughout the entire property.
Circuit Breakers
Individual switches inside the electrical panel connect to different circuits throughout the home. Circuit breakers can shut themselves off when there is a problem with the electricity. This is known as tripping. A tripped breaker can be fixed by turning it back on, but it may also require a professional to make a repair if the issue persists.
Bus Bar
The electrical panel connects to a bus bar, which is like a long highway the power runs across to reach its destination. The circuits all connect to the bus bar so the electrical panel can distribute power to the right source.
Wires and Connections
Various wires and connections throughout the electrical panel help direct the flow of power throughout the property.
What Happens if There Is a Problem With Your Electrical Panel?
Many issues can arise with an electrical panel, like a power surge or short circuiting. This happens when electricity takes a “wrong turn” and travels down a shorter pathway than it should. The result can cause a breaker to trip and electricity to shut off to a specific part of the house.
Electrical issues are best left to a professional who can safely identify the root cause and fix it. Breakers trip to cut off power and prevent a fire, but repeated issues indicate a problem with the internal wiring or connections.
Do you experience any problems with your electricity? Call an electrician at Comeaux Electrical Services for fast electrical panel repair in Lafayette, LA!
