Tron Solar provides a wide range of solar energy solutions, including solar panels, inverters, and other accessories. Today, we’ll discuss electric panels, a crucial component of any solar-powered home.
What Is An Electric Panel?
An electric panel, also known as a breaker box, circuit breaker, or fuse box, is the heart of your home’s electrical system. It controls the distribution of electricity from the utility grid to the various parts of your home, ensuring that each device receives the correct amount of power at the right time.
How Does An Electric Panel Work?
Electricity from the utility grid enters the electric panel, where it is then distributed to different parts of the house via circuits. The circuits, made up of wires that start from the panel, are connected to various outlets and appliances in your home, then return to the electric panel. The electric panel’s primary function is to regulate the flow of electricity to your appliances and prevent the flow of too much power, which can cause electrical issues. This is achieved using circuit breakers, which are switches that can be turned on or off to control the amount of electricity that a specific location in your home receives. In addition, the electric panel protects your home from electrical surges and shorts, which can damage appliances or even start a fire.
What Is A Circuit Breaker and What Does It Do?
A circuit breaker is a safety device designed to prevent electrical overload. Each circuit in your home is connected to a circuit breaker, which controls the amount of electricity that flows through the circuit. For example, high-usage appliances like your HVAC system and refrigerator are typically on their own circuit to ensure they have the necessary power. In contrast, lighting circuits are often grouped by room, while small appliances, such as TVs or kitchen appliances, are typically attached to their own circuit breakers. If too much electricity flows through a circuit, the circuit breaker will trip and cut off the flow of electricity. This will prevent the circuit from overheating and causing damage to your home or appliances.
What Happens When A Circuit Breaker Trips?
When a circuit breaker trips, it means that part of your home was asking for more electricity than was safe, and the breaker stopped the flow of electricity to that circuit to prevent damage. If you notice that one area of your home has no power while other areas still do, it’s likely because a circuit breaker has tripped. To fix this, you will need to locate the tripped breaker and reset it by flipping the switch back to the “on” position. However, it’s important to note that a tripped breaker can indicate a problem with your home’s electrical system, and it’s recommended that you contact a licensed electrician to investigate the issue.
Your electric panel controls how electricity is used in your home. Typically located in a low-traffic area of your home, it contains individual circuits for the various ways that your home uses electricity. If you ever try to use more electricity than is safe, a circuit breaker will trip to prevent a power surge that could damage your home. While it’s important to understand how your electric panel works, you should hire a trained electrician to do most of the electrical work around your home. Yes, you can reset a tripped circuit breaker on your panel, but you should probably leave it to the professionals to install things like new outlets or additional circuits. If you’re interested in powering your electric panel with green, clean solar energy, talk to Tron Solar today! You can get started with a free solar design and savings estimate, and then one of our experienced energy advisors can walk you through all of your solar power options and answer any questions that you might have.