How to choose the right electrical panel for an apartment and a house

An electrical distribution panel is the heart of home wiring, so if you need to replace wiring in an apartment or house, one of the main issues is the choice of an electrical panel. In this article, we will consider the question of how to choose the right electrical panel for an apartment and a house.

Features of choosing an electrical panel for the apartment

If we are talking about choosing an electrical panel for the apartment, then in this case, usually one panel is installed, which is installed in the hallway (corridor) of the apartment. In this case, the metering panel is usually installed on the floor, in the entrance.

The metering and distribution board on the floor can be shared by several apartments. It installs apartment metering devices, a group circuit breaker and circuit breakers individually for each apartment. The case of this shield is usually made of metal, on the front side there should be inserts of glass or transparent plastic for the possibility of taking meter readings.

The choice of the metal casing of the shield is due, first of all, to the fact that the metal shields can be equipped with locking devices that prevent the penetration of unauthorized persons into the electrical panel.

The size of the shield is selected based on the number of metering devices, circuit breakers, as well as tires, through which the distribution of electricity to consumers is carried out. In this panel, a mounting plate is mounted on which metering devices, DIN rails for installing protective devices, as well as elements for distributing electricity, are mounted.

Instead of one shield on each floor of an apartment building can be installed one floor shield, in which a group protective device is mounted and electricity is distributed to several apartment metering panels. The apartment metering board can be made of metal or plastic.

A metal floor or apartment shield, as a rule, has a mounting panel on which the necessary elements are mounted. Apartment plastic metering panels are designed to install one metering device and one protective device. The choice of an apartment billboard is determined by the size of the meter.

From the meter, the cable enters the apartment and enters the apartment shield. In the dashboard, the received electricity is distributed to individual wiring lines, as well as the installation of modular protective devices to protect each of the sections of the wiring, as well as the wiring as a whole. Thus, when choosing an apartment panel, the main selection criterion is its size, namely the number of modular places for which the panel body is designed.

In order to choose the right electrical panel for the apartment, you must first determine the number of protective devices that are planned to be installed in the panel to protect the new electrical wiring. In this case, we are talking about circuit breakers, residual current circuit breakers or differential circuit breakers. Also to protect wiring and household appliances can be installed voltage relay and arrester.

In addition, a number of additional devices that provide various functions can be installed in the apartment panel. For example, a weekly timer, pulse relay, GSM relay, etc. In general, the size of the shield depends on the number of devices and protective devices installed in it, as well as other elements by which the received electricity is distributed.

Also, when choosing a dashboard, its internal volume should be taken into account - it should allow you to freely start and connect all wiring lines.

As for the material of the electrical panel, in this case, you can choose both a plastic and a metal panel. The degree of protection of the IP housing in this case does not play a role, since the shield installed in the apartment is not exposed to negative environmental factors.

The next criterion for choosing the body of the electrical panel for the apartment is its embodiment, namely, the method of its installation. There are overhead and built-in enclosures of electrical panels. From an aesthetic point of view, recessed enclosures are preferred, as they do not stand out and do not spoil the appearance of the interior.

The case of this flap is recessed into the wall, only its cover is visible from the outside. There are cases of electric panels, made under a tree, or neutral options that you can design at your discretion, for example, to glue with the same wallpaper that is glued in the hallway where the panel is installed. Thus, the shield will not stand out, and spoil the appearance.

But it should be borne in mind that the built-in enclosures of panels are suitable only if it is possible to perform the required recess in the wall. If the wall is a supporting one and it is forbidden to deepen it in order to prevent a decrease in its bearing capacity, then you will have to choose an overhead electrical panel that can be mounted directly on the wall without a recess or with a minimum recess, if this is provided by the design of the shield body.

How to choose a home electrical shield

As for the size of the electrical panel, in this case everything is the same as when choosing an apartment panel - it all depends on the number of protective devices and other devices installed in the panel. The only difference is that in a private house there can be several guards, depending on the needs and the number of structures on the territory of the private house.

The basis is always the main accounting and distribution board or metering board. In this case, it all depends on the requirements of the supplying organization regarding the type of shield and its placement, as well as personal preferences of the consumer.

The first option is to put a separate shield for the meter and an input circuit breaker, a power cable is inserted into this shield, and then the cable from this shield enters the main distribution panel of the house.

The second option involves installing the meter in the main distribution panel, and the power cable from the power line support is also put in here. If you need to connect the house to electric networks, always first of all you should contact the supplying organization that provides power supply services and clarify the existing requirements regarding the placement of the switchboard, its layout and what types it is allowed to mount.

If the home wiring diagram is not complicated, there is no need for power supply to the garage, bathhouse or other auxiliary facilities on the territory of a private house, then you can limit yourself to installing one switchboard in which the necessary protective devices and other devices for home wiring will be mounted. Otherwise, several panels can be mounted on the territory of a private house, powered from the main distribution panel.

Each separate shield for powering the house, garage, bathhouse, workshop, etc. is selected individually, based on the required number of installed electrical devices.

When choosing an electrical panel for the home, it is necessary to take into account possible negative environmental factors. Inside the house, in a dry room, you can install a plastic or metal shield of any design and degree of protection of the housing, as in the apartment.

Shields installed outdoors must be protected from negative environmental factors - precipitation, dust, exposure to foreign objects.

For outdoor installations, a metal housing with a degree of protection IP55, 65 is suitable - such shields can stand in the open without additional protection. If the shields will not be in the open air, for example, under a canopy, then you can use the enclosure of panels with protection IP44, IP54. All listed enclosures of electrical panels can be mounted indoors with a high level of humidity, for example, in a garage or bathhouse.

When choosing protected enclosures for electrical panels, attention should be paid to the number of sealed entries and their size - the range of used sections of connected cables.

When choosing an electrical panel in an apartment or house, an important criterion is the quality of the products, since the wiring is mounted for a long time, so you need to choose a proven, high-quality product from well-known brands.

See also on our website: How to assemble the electrical panel andModernization of the electrical panel in a private house