A load center is used in residential and light commercial applications to distribute electricity supplied by the utility company throughout the home or building to feed all the branch circuits. Each branch circuit is protected by the circuit breaker housed in the load center.
What is the difference between a load center and a sub panel?
A load center provides similar functionality in a power distribution system as a switchboard and a panelboard. Panelboards are typically deeper than load centers and can accommodate both bolt-on circuit breakers as well as plug-in breakers, whereas a load center is limited to plug-in breakers.
What does load center mean?
What is a load center? A load center (i.e., breaker box, fuse box) takes electricity from the utility source and distributes it throughout a facility to support reliable electrical distribution. The distribution of power to the various circuits is protected from over-current by the use of circuit breakers or fuses.
Are Siemens breaker panels any good?
The Siemens Residential Electrical Panel is an excellent line of breaker banks for the home. They are ergonomically designed and will come with all the accessories that you might need for installation.
Which brand of electrical panel is best?
Siemens is one of the top electrical panel brands and many professional electricians will recommend it. The quality of the materials used, the durability and strength of the panels, but also their flexibility make them a top choice for many households.
Is Siemens the same as Square D?
Square D vs Siemens Electrical Panels Both manufacturers have certified ratings for their panels, and each would have the same specs on many panels, since those are industry standards.
Is Square D QO the best?
2 Answers. Homeline is the "price competitive" model from SquareD, QO is the higher quality panel. The difference is probably mostly due to historical reasons given all the consolidations in the electrical manufacturing industry.
What type of electrical panel should I get?
100-amps is the minimum panel amperage required by the National Electrical Code (NEC), but 150-amps is increasingly common. While 100-amps to 150-amps are generally suitable for most homes, electrical panels are also available in 200- and 400-amp units.
Is Siemens or Square D better?
Square D electrical panels are also high quality. There are many electricians as well as homeowners who believe that the choice between a Square D electrical panel and a Siemens electrical panel really boils down to personal preference because they are both equally high quality.
Does circuit breaker brand matter?
Brand: Always install the correct brand of breakers in your breaker panel. While some breakers are interchangeable, many are not, even if they look the same. Replacing one brand of breaker with another can be dangerous, may void your breaker or panel warranty, and may lead to a failed electrical inspection.
Is Eaton a good electric panel?
There are many great options out there right now for residential electrical panels (Load centers) like, Square D and Siemens but a solid choice will be your Eaton Cutler Hammer Classic brand panel.
Can QO and Homeline breakers interchangeable?
Square D QO breakers are compatible with QO breaker boxes and CSEDs. Homeline circuit breakers are built with the same Square D brand quality you have come to expect at a price that makes them the best value in their class. All QO circuit breakers are equipped with the exclusive Visi-Trip indicator.
Can I use a homeline breaker in a QO panel?
Answer: No, Homeline Loadcenters will not accept QO breakers, you will need to use Homeline breakers.