The main electrical distribution panel that receives power from the utility and distributes it to individual circuits throughout a building.

A service panel is the main electrical distribution panel that receives power from the utility and distributes it to individual circuits throughout a building, serving as the central hub for electrical distribution and protection where incoming electrical service is divided into separate circuits that supply power to different areas and systems within the structure. This essential electrical component houses the main disconnect switch, circuit breakers or fuses, and distribution buses that control and protect electrical circuits while providing a safe means to shut off power to the entire building or individual circuits for maintenance and emergency situations. Service panels are fundamental infrastructure in electrical systems where they ensure safe power distribution, provide overcurrent protection, and enable electrical system management, making them critical components for electrical safety and functionality in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings.

Service panels are utilized in various electrical distribution applications including residential homes where they distribute power to lighting, outlets, appliances, and HVAC systems through individual circuits, commercial buildings where they serve office equipment, lighting systems, and specialized electrical loads, industrial facilities where they distribute power to machinery, process equipment, and facility systems, multi-family housing where they may serve individual units or common areas, agricultural buildings where they supply power to equipment, lighting, and specialized systems, and temporary installations including construction sites and events where portable panels provide electrical distribution. Each application requires appropriate panel sizing, circuit configuration, and safety features based on electrical load requirements and building codes.

The components and construction of service panels include the main breaker or disconnect that controls power to the entire panel and provides overcurrent protection for the service conductors, distribution buses that carry electrical current to individual circuit breakers, circuit breakers or fuses that protect individual circuits from overcurrent conditions, neutral and grounding buses that provide safe return paths for electrical current, panel enclosure that protects electrical components and provides safe access for maintenance, meter socket integration in some panels that combines metering with distribution functions, and labeling systems that identify circuits and provide safety information. Proper construction ensures safe electrical distribution and easy maintenance access.

Fun Fact: The first electrical service panels used fuses instead of circuit breakers and were often called “fuse boxes,” with the modern circuit breaker panel being developed in the 1960s to provide more convenient and reliable overcurrent protection.

• Access Panel
• Breaker Panel
• Electrical Panel