Commercial Electrical Panel Types and Installation Tips

Commercial Electrical Panel is a protective device that controls, monitors, and manages the flow of power in a commercial and residential installation. Proper usage can be vital for the safety of your employees, as well as can increase the value of your property. With so many different types of electrical panels, you should always seek a licensed electrician to select and install the right panel for your needs.

There are two main types of commercial electrical panels: single-phase and three-phase. These terms refer to how many wires are connected together inside each circuit breaker box (also known as a bus bar).

Single-phase Systems

One of the most popular commercial electrical panel types is the single-phase system. The single-phase system is a great option for smaller businesses or houses that don’t have a lot of electricity needs. While it is not as durable as the three-phase panel, it can be a great option based on your budget as well as the size of your project.

Three-phase Systems

Another type of commercial electrical panel is the three-phase system. It is used to supply electricity to large buildings like factories, office buildings, or hospitals. A three-phase system consists of three wires which are usually 120 degrees apart from each other, and can carry current through the load center circuit breaker box that leads back to an electric meter. The three-phase system has two live wires and one neutral wire for each phase. Typically, these wires are connected to different phases.

The main advantage of having separate phases is that it allows for more amperage to flow through the circuit breaker without overheating the wire insulation. As a result, a 3 phase commercial electrical system requires larger breakers than its single-phase counterpart in order to prevent overheating due to increased current flow through them.

Electrical Panel Installation Tips

Commercial electrical panel installation requires a great deal of attention to detail and safety measures. Even if you have some experience with electrical wiring it is always advised to hire a professional due to the volatile nature of electrical wiring.

If you’re not familiar with these things, consider hiring a commercial electrical contractor instead. They can perform all of the work correctly the first time. Saving you money and time if costly repairs are needed due to faulty wiring.

Before starting with your commercial electrical panel installation, read the following installation tips for your safety.

• Tip #1 – Make sure that your building has enough electricity running through it before installing new panels or circuits. If there isn’t enough flow through the system, it can cause problems down the road when more appliances and equipment are added later on.
• Tip #2 – Always turn off the main breaker before working on any part of your building’s wiring system – especially if you’re installing new circuits or circuits for major appliances like air conditioners that require more power than usual. This is a crucial step that many building owners forget about.
• Tip #3 – Make sure your new panel is compatible with your existing service. For instance, if you have 4-wire 120/208-volt service, then make sure the new panel has four-wire 120/208-volt service capabilities.
• Tip #4 – Ensure the breaker size matches what you need by taking the square footage of each room into account and then figuring out how many amps are needed per square foot. This way, you won’t go overboard in terms of breaker size or have too few breakers for the load requirements of each room.
• Tip #5 – When planning where to place the new panel, keep in mind where you will be running the conduit so that it doesn’t interfere with other major services such as plumbing or HVAC lines, which could cause future problems.
• Tip #6 – Commercial electrical panel installation, for the most part, is about the work that expert electricians do. So it is best to consider hiring a company that can transform your working environment by getting the installation right. Advanced Commercial Group can help you with any of your electrical service needs. You will find out how we continue to reduce electrical energy costs and make your workplace safer while doing it.