How Does an Electric Panel Work?

Even though there is an electrical panel in every house, most people aren’t quite sure how exactly it works. In order to understand how the panel works, you first need to know what the parts of the panel are and what they each do.

Service Panel

The service panel of an electrical panel serves to perform three basic functions. These functions are to distribute electricity to all of the electrical circuits within the home, contain the electrical devices that protect individual circuits from overloading, and house a master electrical switch that can be used to turn off the power throughout the whole house. This service panel can be broken down into three different sections: the main breaker, the ground bus, and the hot bus.

Main Breaker

The main breaker is the entrance point to all the electricity of the home. It can be found at the top of the electrical panel and allows the homeowner to shut off the power to the home. The main breaker also serves to protect from electrical overloads that come from external sources.

Ground Bus

The ground bus is also called the neutral bus and is the section of the control panel where the electricity is returned after it travels through the device or appliance that needs the power. Two aluminum strips that run along the outer edge of the main electrical panel can identify the ground bus. These strips have many screws on them that are used to attach ground and neutral circuit wires.

Hot Bus

The hot bus is the section of the electrical power that has the power running through it. Two aluminum strips that run directly down the center of the main service panel can identify it. In each of these strips there is a spot where a circuit breaker can be inserted.