CT Electrical Panels and Breaker Boxes

Electrical power enters the home through the electrical panel, and a service entrance cable carries electrical power from the meter to this panel. In multi-family dwellings, electrical power is distributed from the building panel to the individual dwellings. Single-family dwelling panels distribute electricity to the branch circuits. Branch circuits provide electricity to receptacle outlets, lights and appliances throughout the home. They are fed by the wires coming from the electrical panel.

An electrical panel may contain fuses or circuit breakers, or both fuses and circuit breakers with proper current ratings, to protect branch circuits from potential fire hazards. When used at the proper current ratings, they disconnect electric current when it exceeds the safe level for each branch circuit. This is usually referred to as opening a fuse or a circuit breaker (blowing or tripping). Many electrical panels also have main fuses or circuit breakers that can disconnect power from the entire home or from some group of branch circuits.