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How to Wire a Service Panel: 

How to Wire a Service Panel Evergreen Contractors By: Marc Hirst Todd Hagaman Major Harding

Service Panel Overview: 

Service Panel Overview What is a Service Panel, and what is its main function? The major parts of the service panel to give you a basic understanding of how it functions. The wiring of a Service Panel

Service Panel Purpose: 

Service Panel Purpose A Service Panel is the main circuit breaker panel (or fuse box) where all the circuits tie into the incoming electrical supply line.

First, an overview of Electricity and how it travels to the panel: 

First, an overview of Electricity and how it travels to the panel Electricity is produced in JEA's generating stations by burning coal, oil and natural gas. JEA also uses petroleum coke and diesel fuels.

Fossil Fuels and Electrical Current: 

Fossil Fuels and Electrical Current These fuels are burned in a large boiler. The walls of the boiler are made up of tubes that carry water. The water turns into steam that’s piped to a steam turbine. The steam turbine is connected directly to a large electromagnet in the generator, which turns under the pressure of the steam. The rotating turbine causes the electromagnet to revolve causing the electrons to move, making electricity or an electric current.

Next Step: 

Next Step Once the electricity is produced, it is sent through high voltage transmission lines to substations. At substations, the voltage of the electric power is lowered. The power is sent to a neighborhood through distribution lines located underground or on poles.

Two different kinds of wiring options from the power pole to a home: 

Two different kinds of wiring options from the power pole to a home Service Drop The overhead service connectors from the utility pole to the house Underground Service An underground electrical service is a service where the conductors approach a home underground.

JEA’s Responsibilities: 

JEA’s Responsibilities JEA does not install or repair wiring or equipment on a customer’s premises Outside electrical contractors make repairs on private property This includes the Panels and the Wiring

Next Step of the Electrical Process: 

Next Step of the Electrical Process From this point, the electrical current flows onto private property Which is the area of concern for us as Contractors. Everything before this step is JEA’s responsibility

Electricity goes to the Service Panel: 

Electricity goes to the Service Panel Electricity enters a building through a meter. It then goes to the service panel. In the panel, the electricity is divided into circuits. Each circuit forms a loop, carrying electricity to outlets and returning to the panel. For instance, a circuit might include everything in the kitchen, while another might include bedrooms.

Two Types of Service Panels: 

Two Types of Service Panels The service panel can be either a fuse box or circuit breaker box Both house the main shutoff for the entire system. Panels provide much of the information needed to evaluate the wiring properly; including age, overall system capacity, and the number of branch circuits available in the building.

The Difference Between a Fuse Box and a Breaker: 

The Difference Between a Fuse Box and a Breaker Older homes that have not been rewired in the last 25 or 30 years, most likely have a fuse box rather than a breaker box. Fuse boxes are wired and work the same way as breaker boxes, but instead of tripping as a breaker does, a fuse "blows" when there's too much current in its circuit.

Breakers: 

Breakers Power arrives from the meter through two main power wires, each of which carry 120 volts of electricity into the house. Usually, these are black and/or red. In addition, there is a white main neutral wire, which carries electricity back to the utility. The main hot wires are connected to a main power shutoff. When you turn this off, you don't de-energize the hot wires, but you cut power to everything else in the box.

Hot Bus Bars in the Breaker: 

Hot Bus Bars in the Breaker Emerging from a breaker box's main shutoff are two hot bus bars. The 120-volt breakers are each attached to one of these bars. (This means that if one of the main hot wires gets damaged outside your house, you will lose power to about half of the circuits in your house.) Each 240-volt breaker is attached to both bus bars, giving them twice the power. When a circuit is overloaded or a short occurs, the breaker trips and shuts off power before the wires heat up and become a danger.

Wires in the Breaker: 

Wires in the Breaker The main neutral wire is connected to the neutral bus bar. This bar is connected to a system ground wire, which leads to a grounding rod. Connected to the neutral bus bar are white wires for every circuit, and possibly bare or green ground wires.

More Wires…: 

More Wires… Each 120-volt circuit has a black or colored wire leading from a circuit breaker, a white wire leading to the neutral bus bar, and possibly a bare copper or green-covered ground wire also connected to the neutral bar.

240 Volt Circuits: 

240 Volt Circuits Each 240-volt circuit has two wires leading to a circuit breaker. In addition, the 240-volt circuit has a neutral and, possibly, a ground wire, connected to the neutral bus bar.

Conduits: 

Conduits Systems with conduit or armored cable do not need separate ground wires The conduit or metal sheathing act as ground conductors.

Diagram of a Breaker: 

Diagram of a Breaker

Fuse Boxes: 

Fuse Boxes As with a breaker box, power comes in through two main power wires. (In a house with no 240-volt equipment, there may be only one of these.) Current flows through a main disconnect, in this case, a pullout block that holds a pair of cartridge fuses.

Next in line: 

Next in line The current flows through a series of plug fuses that protect the black hot wires of the individual circuits, often called branch circuits.

Note that…: 

Note that… Unscrewing a fuse disconnects its circuit.

Neutral Bus Bar: 

Neutral Bus Bar A neutral bus bar receives the main neutral wire as well as all the neutral wires for the branch circuits. A system ground wire leads from the neutral bus bar to a grounding rod outside the house.

Diagram of Plug Fuse: 

Diagram of Plug Fuse

Fuse Box Panel: 

Fuse Box Panel

How to Wire the Service Panel: 

How to Wire the Service Panel Step-by-Step

First: 

First Three utility service lines come into the panel. Two "hot" leads attach to a two-gang main circuit breaker that connects to two "hot" buss bars.

Next: 

Next Individual branch circuit breakers, rated to accept a fixed amperage of electricity, clip or slide onto the hot buss bars.

Breakers: 

Breakers Each breaker also connects with an outbound "hot" lead that supplies a circuit.

Neutral Buss Bars: 

Neutral Buss Bars The service panel has a neutral buss bar where the incoming neutral service line connects with the neutral leads of the branch circuits.

Ground Buss Bar: 

Ground Buss Bar The panel should also have a ground buss bar where all the branch ground wires screw in.

For Safety : 

For Safety In main service panels, the ground buss and neutral buss are connected together to provide a safe grounding path for both busses.

Running the cables: 

Running the cables Running electrical cable is simple in theory: pull it through holes in the framing from a junction box to the service panel.

However, actually getting cable to cooperate can be difficult and time consuming. So it helps to apply some creativity and patience. : 

However, actually getting cable to cooperate can be difficult and time consuming. So it helps to apply some creativity and patience.

Double Checking: 

Double Checking Double-check with your circuit diagrams before running any cable. Also see if you can double up runs anywhere by pulling two cables at once.

New Construction: 

New Construction In a new house or a major remodeling project, cable and boxes are "roughed-in" before the walls are insulated and drywalled.

Helpful Web Sites: 

Helpful Web Sites http://www.sce.com www.bhg.com www.heimer.com www.jea.com

Conclusion: 

Conclusion Here at Evergreen Electrical Contractors we Expect you to understand everything we just explained If you don’t, we recommend you find another job!

Questions: 

Questions ???