- 24/7 Emergency Service
- 281-880-8805
- 24/7 Emergency Service
- 281-880-8805
Conscientious homeowners take care of their homes by getting to know about the complex building systems that make up their modern home. For that reason, we offer this concise description of the electrical panel, a key component of every residential electrical system.
Homeowners may know this structure as the circuit breaker box or, for older homes, a fuse box. If unpainted to match the surroundings, the box is probably painted a metallic gray. It is a metal box, about two feet wide by either 3 or 4 feet tall, and located about half-way up the wall. While it may seem harmless, it is quite dangerous, so handle it with care.
The overhead power lines that distribute electrical energy around the neighborhood carry far more energy than a home needs. Residential power lines carry 1000 to 6,900 kilovolts (current) and between 1,000 to 2,000 amps (ability to do work). Bringing that much energy inside a home would be extremely dangerous to people and property: connecting with this much power can cause deadly shocks and dangerous fires. The electrical service panel is the buffer between the dangers of high voltage/amperage and practical electrical energy. Residential appliances use 120 volts/15 to 20 amps or 240 volts/50 to 60 amps. The panel makes electricity useful in a home.
The service panel breaks the power supply further to keep the family and property safe. If all the energy was on one circuit, the demand from our many electrical devices would draw too much energy. With this much power, the lines could overheat, or appliances would have insufficient power to function.
To remedy this problem, electricians create separate circuits throughout the home and connect each circuit to the service panel. These separate circuits provide electricity where needed at a reduced risk and at just the right current needed for appliances.
As a further buffer, the circuits are protected by a fuse, in older homes, and breakers, for homes built after 1950. Fuses and breakers open the circuit when there is a problem. This includes a problem coming from the utility lines (a lightning strike) or within the home (an overheated circuit). When something untoward happens to the electrical system, the fuse blows or the breaker trips, stopping the flow of electricity. This prevents electric shock and reduces the risk of a fire event from overheated electrical lines.
There are several reasons for serious maintenance and repairs to the electrical service panel. They include:
Older electrical panel installations limit the amount of power brought into a home. Typically, homes built before the 1980s received 100-amp service. However, newer, larger homes are built with 150 to 200-amp electrical panel service, since homes use more electrical devices.
AirPro Houston provides this concise guide for homeowners to understand the crucial role of the electrical panel, often called a circuit breaker or fuse box. The electrical service panel acts as a vital buffer, stepping down the high-voltage power from utility lines to a safe and usable level for residential appliances through a system of circuits protected by fuses or breakers. We have highlighted the importance of maintaining the electrical panel due to factors like damage, age, and increased electrical demands in modern homes, noting the difference in amperage capacity between older and newer houses.
With our four decades of experience as a residential electrician, AirPro Houston provides you with the knowledge of how to design and install electrical service panels. Call our residential electrician team at 281-880-8805.
