Safely protecting and distributing your electricity.
Load centers, also referred to as fuse boxes or breaker boxes, are used to distribute electricity throughout a building and its different receptacles. They house the main switch (which supplies the electricity to the building) and residual current devices (which trip in overload situations and other emergency conditions). The large majority of load centers are used for residential applications, both small-scale and large-scale, though they can be used in light commercial applications as well.
The two main categories of load centers.
All types of load centers from meter load centers to ground fault load centers to arc fault load centers can be divided into two main categories: main breaker and main lug load centers. Main breaker load centers are always service entrance-rated, while main lug load centers typically are not. Main breaker load centers receive incoming power through the main breaker, which goes through the load center, which then distribute power throughout its various connected circuits. The main breaker also provides overcurrent protection and can halt power flow if necessary by serving as the main disconnect.
Main lug load centers, on the other hand, do not have a main breaker. Incoming power feeds directly into the bus bars or main lugs. Circuit protection is not built into a main lug load center and a circuit breaker located further down the line of the electrical system provides overcurrent protection.
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Your next load center is waiting for you at Bay Power.
When you rely heavily on your load center, you need the best quality the industry has to offer. So whether you need a Siemens EQ load center or a Square D QO load center, Bay Power has all the top load center brands you’re looking for. Take your pick from ABB load centers, Eaton load centers, Cutler Hammer load centers, Schneider, Bryant, Murray, and more. And no matter what load center you choose, all of our products are backed by Bay Power’s one-year replacement warranty.
Main Breaker Load Centers
Main breaker load centers have a main breaker built in. This means that all incoming power from the utility goes through the main breaker before being distributed by the load center to its branch circuits. The main breaker also serves as overcurrent protection and will disconnect the load center incoming power if necessary.
Main Lug Load Centers
Main lug load centers, unlike main breaker load centers, do not have a main breaker built in. However, main lug load centers can be used when a main breaker load center runs out of circuit space. While they do not have built-in circuit protection, overload protection for main lug load centers is located remotely, or further down the line of the electrical system.
Solar Load Centers
Used in photovoltaic applications, solar load centers are used to harness solar power and distribute it throughout an electrical system’s branch circuits. These are commonly used as residential load centers though they can be used in light commercial applications as well. Solar load centers are service entrance rated equipment, and are installed close to the electrical utility.
Outdoor Load Centers
Built to withstand the elements, outdoor load centers are built to last. Outdoor load centers are typically service entrance rated, and can be either single phase or three phase load centers. The most important part of an outdoor load center is the NEMA rated enclosure that will ultimately protect it from tough weather conditions, dirt and water.
3-Phase Load Centers
Built to withstand the stresses of 3 phase power and safely protect and deliver electricity throughout lighting, heating, and other branch circuits, 3 phase load centers are used across a number of residential and commercial applications. They can be installed either indoors or outdoors in the appropriate enclosure, and are available as either main breaker or main lug load centers.
Single Phase Load Centers
A number of main breaker load centers and main lug load centers can qualify as single phase load centers. Available in current ratings ranging from 60A to 250A, single phase load centers are used in residential and commercial applications to protect and distribute power in lighting and heating circuits and occasionally motor circuits.
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