Glossary / Trade talk
Panel
Also called: Service panel, Breaker panel, Load centre, Distribution board
Heard most in: Electrical
The box where the incoming electrical supply is split into circuits, each with its own breaker. Its size and its spare capacity govern what else can be added to a building, which is why quoting an addition — a hot tub, a heat pump, a car charger — starts with a look inside the panel rather than at the appliance.
Related terms
- Service upgradeIncreasing the electrical capacity coming into a building, commonly from one hundred amps to two hundred.
- Rough-inThe stage where pipe, wire or duct is run through the framing before anything is closed up.
- GFCIA device that cuts the power when it detects current leaking to ground, which is what protects a person rather than the wiring.
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