If the electrical system was a tree then we can consider the electrical panel boards as roots, they distribute the electricity to all the other components and they are the heart and core of the electrical system. They are vital for the electrical system and before buying a panel board one should understand their importance, their types, and key considerations when choosing them.
What Is a Panel Board?
A panel board is the root of the electrical system that is responsible for feeding power to all different partitions of the system. They feed various circuits that then subsequently provide the devices with power. It presents a way to manage and control the flow of electricity by opening or closing circuits responsible for corresponding parts in the facility.
What Are the Different Types of Electrical Panel Boards?
There are many types of electrical panel boards, it could be categorized according to usage or size. First, according to usage, we have:
Main Distribution Boards (MDB)
This panel type is a centralized panel, it distribute power to different sub-panel and circuits. They include fuses and circuit breakers in order to safely distribute power. They are used in commercial facilities, large buildings, and industrial plants.
Sub-panel
They are smaller panels branching from the main distribution boards. These are used in the power distribution to specific areas or rooms. They help manage the different circuits within the same area providing additional circuit capacity without overloading the main panel.
Main Lug Panel
It is very similar to the main panel without the circuit breaker and this type is usually used as a sub-panel that distributes power to a specific room or area.
Automatic Transfer Switch Panels
This type is your savior during outages. It is the panel type that would automatically switch the power supply from the main source to a backup generator during power outages. It ensures that the continuous power supply for critical facilities like hospitals, data centers, and emergency systems.
Three-Phase Panel
This type is commonly used in industrial applications. It is designed to handle three-phase electrical power. It provides higher capacity and efficiency than single-phased panels and it is more suitable to provide power to heavy machinery and large equipment.
Motor Control Center (MCC) Panels
In industrial environment this panel is used to control specific motors, each section is dedicated to a single motor. It Provides centralized control and monitoring of multiple motors as each section is dedicated to a single motor and includes controls for starting, stopping, and protecting the motor.
Power Factor Control (APFC) Panels
This type is vital for industries with large motors or equipment. This panel automatically adjusts capacitors, which improves power factor in electrical systems and enhances efficiency and reduces energy consumption.
Synchronization Panels
It is used to synchronize multiple generators, ensuring they operate in harmony. It controls the distribution of load between generators and manages the transition between power sources. This panel is essential for reliable and efficient power supply in large facilities with multiple power sources.
You can explore our unique collection of panel boards in the panel board section at our online store.
What Are the Functions of an electrical Panel Board?
The panel has many vital functions as we mentioned it is considered the heart and core of the electrical system and those functions are as follows:
Distribution
The electrical panel board is responsible for the distribution of the power to all the other circuits within a building or a facility.
Protection
A panel board has circuit breakers and fuses as one of its main components, they protect the different circuits from short circuits and overloads reducing the risk of electrical fires that often happen when there is a sudden power outage.
Control
Electrical panel boards help control the power flow to different parts of the building or facility, making it easier to shut off specific areas by closing their assigned circuit breaker. It is very useful in case of repairs and maintenance.
Organization
The electrical panel board helps organize multiple electrical circuits from a single central place that facilitates the maintenance, monitoring ,and troubleshooting of the whole electrical system.
Safety
As mentioned before the electrical panel board contains circuit breakers and overloads which ensures the safety of the electrical system. These devices create limits for the operations of the electrical panel and they help prevent accidents.
What Are the Main Parts of the Panel Board?
We can consider a panel board a huge puzzle and each piece is central to its function, it contains a lot pieces and we will be elaborating on each one.
Wires and Cables
If the panel board is the roots of the system then we can consider the different types of cables and wires are just like branches they are the main tool that connect all parts together.
Main Breaker
A main breaker is a large circuit breaker that controls the electricity load of a building. We can say it is a circuit breaker with the largest amperage rate in the electrical panel. It acts like the first line of defence in the electrical panel against overloading.
Circuit Breaker
They are individual breakers connected to different circuits and they have an amperage limit. If the current exceeds this amperage limit the circuit breaker will trip and stop the current to protect the electrical panel and devices from damage.
Busbars
It is a metal bar that is used to carry electricity from the main breaker to the other circuit breakers. Ground busbars provide return paths for electrical current.
Lugs
They can also be called cable terminals or cable connectors are metal devices that used to connect cables to electrical appliances, other cables, surfaces, or mechanisms.
Transformers
Transformers can be described as devices that help adjust the AC voltage whether increase it or decrease it depending on its type. It uses primary and secondary coils to change the voltage.
Relays
It permits a small amount of electrical current to control high-current loads. It can be considered a switch that is used to turn something on or off , or used to alternate between two different states. It can work on two or more circuits at once.
Enclosure
ERnclosures also referred to as panel boxes look like huge metal safes, they are metallic boxes that hold the electrical panel. They Enclose all the components of the electrical panel, providing a secure and protective housing.
Conclusion
We have gone over the function, parts, and types of electrical panel boards. The panel as mentioned is crucial for the electrical system. In El-Buroj we have a whole specialized department for Electrical Panel Boards. Our astute team of experts and engineers introduces various solutions for the Main Distribution Board (MDB), Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS), Emergency Main Distribution Board (EMDB)., Distribution Board (DB), Lighting Panel Board (LP), Power Factor Correction (PFC), Motor Control Center (MCC), Synchronization Panels. You can request a quotation today.
Contact El-Buroj for Bulk Orders
You can contact us directly via mobile for urgent inquiries or to request a quote:
Mobile Number: 920031298
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You can also visit our branches at the following locations:
Jeddah Branch: Jeddah, Al Baladeah Street, opposite Siemens Ltd.
Riyadh Branch: Al Garabbi St, Al Amal, Riyadh, opposite to Al-Rayan Hospital.
Riyadh Branch 2: Jiad Street, Al Faisaliyyah District.