What’s The Use Of A Power Distribution Board and How Does It Work?
Life in the 21st Century is heavily dependent on electricity. Electricity plays an unparalleled role in everyday sustenance from urban to rural areas. Even in households, electricity serves several purposes, including running electrical devices, charging appliances like laptops and smartphones, switching on lights and fans, cooking, and more. Electrical wirings are used to certify that the electrical input is safely transferred throughout the household without putting any individual or electrical appliance in harm’s way.
Electrical wiring has become one of the most fundamental components of our everyday life, and almost every household uses an intricate network of electrical wiring to connect various electrical appliances. However, a power distribution board is installed alongside electrical wirings to ensure that the electricity is equally and consistently distributed throughout the house.
What is a power distribution board?
A power distribution board is one of the essential components used for electrical wirings in households and office buildings. The power distribution board is usually installed where the input current from the primary energy supply line enters the household wiring system.
Conventionally, power distribution boards are equipped with one central switch used to control the flow of electricity throughout the house. Once turned off, the main switch cuts off power from all subsidiary wirings and miniature circuits. The electrical flow entering the power distribution board is divided and transferred to different parts of the house through separate wirings. These subsidiary wirings can be individually controlled using switches. A fuse or a miniature circuit breaker is also connected to the power distribution board to ensure household electrical safety.
Depending on the amperage, usage, and location, power distribution boards can be several types. Power distribution boards used for urban households usually range from transfer switches, main breaker panels, and sub-panels.
How does a power distribution board work?
A power distribution board is the most important part of an electricity supply system. Be it a commercial entity or a residential space, the distribution board houses all the circuits that supply electricity to different units/appliances. And a proper functional power distribution system is essential for safety of every place. The equipment and layout of distribution boards may differ from country to country but the basic working principle is distributing the single power supply to various points.
A distribution board has an overall system with contact breakers, a series of fuses, earth leaking units, timers and interconnecting wires for electrical distribution. There are different configurations available in these boards depending on the applications. A single-door distribution board is used for simple applications and a double-door distribution board is used for heavy-duty operations and multiple connections.
The distribution board is a uniform power hub connected to a single electrical input feed. This power is further channelled into small circuit breakers or fuses, to feed it to different consumption points. A 3-phase distribution board has Single and Double Pole MCB and RCD (residual current device) and manages the electric power to connected appliances through wiring cables.
Electricity is generated at a local power plant from where it is transmitted through cables to a central power grid. From this grid, it comes to the distribution panel of your home, complex or commercial facility. The main circuit separates this flow into several smaller circuits to supply electricity within a home.
Uses of power distribution boards
Power distribution boards are of vital importance for electrical distribution and protection at the household level.
- Electrical distribution:
As the name suggests, the power distribution board is primarily responsible for evenly distributing the electrical supply from the main supply line throughout the house. The electrical flow is divided by the power distribution board upon entering the household wirings from the main supply line. It is evenly transferred to the subsidiary connections and miniature circuits across the line.
- Electrical protection:
The other vital purpose served by the power distribution line is electrical protection to the subsidiary electrical lines and miniature circuits in the house. The power distribution board is equipped with fuses and miniature circuit breakers (MCBs and MCCBs) that prevent permanent electrical damages to connected devices and wirings from risks like circuit overloads and power surges during electrical anomalies.
What is the role of the main distribution board?
The main distribution board is where the main source of electricity is controlled for a large area, residential complex or commercial facilities like malls, factories or warehouses. A distribution board is also called a panel board, breaker panel, electric panel or DB box. Its main function is to divide the electrical power evenly among all the electrical devices. The primary functions also include power generation, transmission and distribution. The voltage is transported to numerous points and is modified step-by-step to transport the electricity through the distribution.
The main panel has the main circuit breaker from where you can disconnect the power supply of your home from the grid. It is directly connected to the power company’s supply. It is essential at the time of repair or maintenance or even to assure safety. The circuit breaker protects each miniature circuit that supplies power to a device.
Power distribution boards from Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric has an impressive of electrical distribution boxes to choose from, such as:
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Galaxy Power Distribution Board:
The Galaxy series is one of the most popularly purchased power distribution boxes from Schneider electric. The Cabinet Power design used by the galaxy series has simplified power distribution in homes and contributes to its easy handling and maintenance. The Galaxy Power Distribution Board features Power Distribution Units (PDUs) and Remote Power Panels (RPPs) to distribute power throughout the house evenly. The Galaxy power distribution board is highly configurable and provides a centralized 3-phase power distribution solution for your home.
It offers excellent cable management, design flexibility, LCD graphics display, and multiple distribution options for further convenience. In addition, the compact size and front-access servicing allow it to be easily installed and operated. All breakers and components of the Galaxy power distribution board are pretested at the factory to improve their performance and reliability.
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NetShelter Metered Rack PDU:
NetShelter Metered Rack PDU from Schneider Electric provides premium solutions to domestic power distribution through active monitoring, circuit protection, and more. The NetShelter Metered Rack PDU can detect threats like circuit overloads and warn the user with real-time tracking and user-defined alarm thresholds. In addition, the NetShelter Metered Rack PDU is equipped with a variety of input and output connections for distributing electricity at 120V, 208V, and 230V to multiple outlets. It also uses a single input power source for convenience.
Furthermore, the NetShelter Metered Rack PDU comes with LED load indication and remote management features. These allow users to effortlessly read and remotely configure the NetShelter Metered Rack PDU over the internet. The rack-mountable design makes installing the NetShelter Metered PDU easy and safe.
Schneider Electric – the one-stop destination for electrical power distribution boards
Whether you want to install a new power distribution board in your home or replace an existing one, Schneider electric has the best power distribution board solutions for you. You can choose from a wide selection of the best electrical power distribution boards from the Schneider Electric online store, available at budget-friendly electrical DB box price. You can also avail of fantastic offers and deals on various electrical appliances and components from the Schneider Electric online store. Schneider Electric store brings all the answers to your electrical requirements and solutions under one roof.
Read More:- Different Types Of Electrical Distribution Board
What is the function of a distribution board (DB)?
A distribution board (DB) is the nerve center of an electrical system. It distributes power from the main supply to different circuits and outlets in a building. A distribution board houses circuit breakers or fuses that ensure the safety of each circuit from overloads or faults. This board organizes and controls the flow of electricity. By this, a DB facilitates the efficient operation of electrical appliances and devices throughout the premises. This board allows for easy isolation of circuits in cases of emergencies or maintenance. So, the function of a DB is to promote safety, regulate electrical distribution, and ensure the reliability and functionality of the building’s electrical infrastructure.
Control Over The Electrical Circuits
A distribution board governs electrical circuits by allocating power from the main supply to various destinations within a building. These boards are equipped with fuses or circuit breakers. As a result, it regulated the electricity flow to individual circuits to ensure that each circuit breaker or fuse operates within safe parameters. In cases of overloads or faults, the DB's protective devices trip, interrupting power to the affected circuit and preventing damage to connected devices or wiring.
Managing Energy Usage In The Home
Distribution boards play a crucial role in managing energy usage in the home by regulating the distribution of electrical power to different circuits and appliances. Through the installation of circuit breakers or fuses, the DB enables users to control and monitor energy consumption by selectively activating or deactivating circuits as needed. This allows homeowners to allocate power efficiently, prioritizing essential devices while minimizing energy waste. Additionally, the DB's ability to isolate circuits facilitates troubleshooting and maintenance, ensuring optimal performance of electrical systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How do I choose the right distribution board?
Ans: You must consider various factors to choose the right distribution board. These factors include the size of your electrical system, the number of circuits needed, and the type of protective devices required (e.g., circuit breakers or fuses). You must also assess the space available for installation and ensure compatibility with existing wiring and components.
Q2. Can distribution boards prevent electrical fires?
Ans: Yes, distribution boards can prevent electrical fires by incorporating protective devices like fuses or circuit breakers. These devices detect and respond to faults or overloads. Eventually, they cut off the power to the affected circuit before it ignites a fire or overheats.
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