Electrical Service Entrance Box

Circuit breaker service panels and fuse boxes.

Electrical service entrance box.

Breaker panels load centers service panels or breaker boxes. The service entrance equipment includes the meter meter base outside disconnect and the mast. In general this restriction in the nec encourages you to determine the circuit breaker box location and from that determine the service entrance equipment location. The main service panel is usually a gray metal box located somewhere along the inside surface of an exterior wall.

When needed the circuit breakers turn off or trip the circuits that carry power throughout your home. Abandoned sec cables may not have been properly disconnected electrocution hazard. You should not locate a box on the opposite side of the home from the meter. The main service panel is the distribution center that splits the main electrical service into individual branch circuits that run through your home to power the lights outlets and individual appliances.

An overhead power connection from the utility lines to the service entrance is called the service drop. The service drop illustrated in figure 1 has two 120v lines and a neutral conductor. Fuse box fuse panel circuit breaker panel today most homes have what is officially called the electrical service panel or simply the service panel a circuit breaker panel is not exactly the same as the fuse box because it has mechanical toggle switch circuit breakers not fuses but. Get free shipping on qualified electrical boxes conduit fittings or buy online pick up in store today in the electrical department.

What the main service panel does. Service raceway the conduit containing the service entrance conductors. Where electrical power enters a building or other source the national electrical code nec requires electrical distribution equipment rated as service entrance such service equipment usually consists of one main breaker disconnect or space for up to 6 main disconnects. Service entrance strap zinc plated steel se and seu cable 3 3 0 and 4 0 cable.

It s the steel box that holds your home s circuit breakers. The three lines may be independent conductors or housed in a three conductor cable called a triplex cable as shown in the figure. Electric service panels have a number of different names.