8 tips for choosing a switchboard: types of electrical panels

No. 1. Why do I need a switchboard?

Electric installation work in apartments, offices, garages and in the workplace do not do without the installation of a switchboard. Why is it needed, because before many were content with junction boxes alone? It's all about convenience and security. If you still use only junction boxes, for example, when replacing sockets you will have to turn off the entire apartment, and when you connect some powerful electrical appliances you will have to equip them with your own protective devices, and they also need a place.

The installation of switchboards prevents the risk of burning electrical appliances. Thanks to the shield, electricity is distributed evenly across all channels, eliminating excessive current flow through one of them. This device is especially important for large rooms where huge loads arise, and for residential buildings distribution boards are also necessary, given how many people use electric appliances at home today.

The switchboard is triggered not only when excessive voltage occurs, but also saves a person from electric shock.

No. 2. The main types of switchboards

A switchboard may be responsible for the safe supply of electricity to an apartment, to a floor or to a large building. Depending on the scale of the service area, the switchboards are divided into the following types:

• Main switchboard (Main switchboard) is at the head of the hierarchy; it is installed at transformer substations and at large enterprises. As a rule, it is notable for its impressive size, it is responsible for powering the whole facility, and protects it from network congestion and short circuits. The main switchboard, which evenly distributes electricity throughout the premises, can automatically switch from the main power input to the backup one;
• input switchgear (ASU) is installed at the entrance of the power cable to multi-apartment residential buildings, office centers, and production facilities. The ASU distributes the supply lines for the apartment and floor panels, keeps track of the consumed electricity, works in case of overloads and short circuits;
• emergency reserve input (ABP) is not used everywhere and is designed to switch consumers from the main power source to the backup one in the event of an accident. ABP is necessary for hospitals and other institutions where continuous supply of electricity is important. Sometimes such devices are used in cottages;
• floor shield (ЩЭ) is installed mainly in residential buildings for the distribution of power to 2-6 apartments. In such a shield, a place is allocated for modular automation and electricity meters. It can be used in office buildings;
• apartment shield (ЩК) is located at the entrance of the electric cable to the apartment, it is usually installed in the hallway, vestibule, less often - near the front door. Almost everyone knows apartment shields, they are used to protect against short circuits and overloads, to distribute group power lines and to account for electricity.The choice of switchboards of this type will be discussed.

Among other species, we note lighting boards (ЩО), which are necessary for occasional switching off and switching on of automation, such devices protect against overloads, are used in public and commercial buildings. Switchboard (ЩУ) are also installed in administrative buildings for management ventilatingheating equipment and alarm. Automation Shield (ЩА) is necessary for controlling program controllers of ventilation, heating, etc. Is there some more uninterruptible power supply shields (ЩБП), which are installed when connecting computing and medical equipment that requires a constant supply of electricity and is sensitive to voltage surges.

No. 3. Types of electrical panels by installation method

According to the installation method, distribution boards can be divided into the following types:

• overhead or outdoor. This is the most common option, easy to install, but it will slightly protrude forward in relation to the wall, which must be taken into account when choosing a place. Such shields are used in the organization of wiring of the hidden and external type, they can be made of metal or plastic. Electricians advise in wooden houses and saunas to put the shields on the invoice type;
• built-in visor It looks more aesthetically pleasing, installed flush with the wall, but installation work is more complicated. The front panel necessarily has a flange that closes the technological joint. Experts recommend choosing this option in cases where the number of outgoing lines is significantly less than the number of flap modules. Otherwise, a bale of wires will be very difficult to pass through the side walls;
• floor shields are so large that they cannot be hung on the wall. In everyday life they are not used.

It’s important for the electric switchboard to choose the right place, because our safety is at stake. The following requirements are put forward to the installation site:

• sufficient distance from fire and explosive substances;
• good natural ventilation;
• easy accessibility. An electrician in which case should make a minimum of effort to get to the shield;
• A sufficient level of natural light is desirable.

Number 4. Production material

The switchboard can be made of metal or plastic. Metal shield more resistant to mechanical damage, characterized by high durability and reliability, and at the same time a decent weight. The appearance of such products is not the worst, but still not perfect, so metal shields are more suitable for installation in garages and industrial premises.

For an apartment, it is better to choose a neat plastic visor. These are light and aesthetic devices, and responsible manufacturers produce quite durable products, which in terms of durability are not inferior to metal ones and do not require mandatory grounding. Cheap plastic guards from little-known Chinese companies tend to turn yellow over time.

On sale there are also shields made of a combination of plastic and metal.

No. 5. Protection against dust and moisture

The degree of moisture and dust protection is selected depending on the operating conditions of the equipment:

• for indoor installation shields with protection according to the standard IP21, IP31 and IP32 are suitable;
• for outdoor installation the shield must have at least IP54 protection, as well as sealed doors and hermetic cable glands.

No. 6. Types of switchboards by design

By type of design and purpose, electrical panels are divided into the following types:

• modular designed exclusively for the installation of modular equipment, consist of rails and platforms for installing tires, everything is closed outside with a metal or plastic panel;
• credentials necessarily have a platform for installing accounting equipment, which is mounted on rails or screws.Also, the design provides for the presence of modular circuit breakers;
• metering and distribution boards differ from devices of the previous type by the presence of a rail for mounting protective devices on outgoing lines. They also have a compartment for an input switching device, which is closed by a lid and can be sealed.

Number 7. Number of modules in distribution board

The fundamental difference between all the shields is the number of modules. Some people mistakenly believe that their number should be a multiple of 12, but this is not always the case: shields designed for 16 and 18 modules are used, there are even compact models in which the number of modules does not exceed 10.

To determine how many modules are needed in your case, for a start it is best to draw up a wiring diagram indicating all consumption points, this includes sockets, lighting fixtures, separately isolate electrical appliances that consume a lot of energy (air conditioning, Washer, boiler) Next, groups are defined. For lighting wiring, use circuit breakers for a current of 10 A, for a socket - 16 A. As switching protective devices, you can use not only circuit breakers, but also RCDs, or replace these two devices with a differential circuit breaker. The number of RCDs, machine guns and differential machines must be known for the correct choice of the number of modules. It is also worth considering the presence of the counter and its dimensions.

The width of one module is 18 mm, it is equal to the width of a single-pole switch. To connect a two-pole circuit breaker, you need 2 modules, a three-phase circuit breaker - 3, a single-phase RCD - 3, a three-phase RCD - 5, an electric meter - from 6 to 8 depending on its size (the width of the device can simply be divided by 18 mm).

In some cases, a dashboard for 12-16 modules is enough for an apartment. If the counter will be located in the shield, you will have to take the device to 16-24 modules. A large private home may require a shield for more than 24 modules. In large cottages, two shields are sometimes placed, since due to the large length of the wiring, one in the event of an accident may not always work quickly, or it may not work at all.

In addition, surge protectors, photorelay or automatic light-on starters can be located in the shield. If you are not sure that you can make the right choice of switchboard, then it is better to trust specialists. Most likely, help will also be needed when assembling, installing the shield and connecting all groups of electrical appliances to it - it’s better not to joke with electricity.

Number 8. Switchboard Manufacturers

Defective shields will not be able to fulfill their functions to the fullest, being incapable of even distribution of electric current across all rooms. Even such shields, if necessary, with a high probability will not turn off the damaged group of circuits automatically, so it is better to trust your safety to trusted manufacturers. Quality Leader - company ABBbut its products are expensive. Shields Makel and IEK cost a little cheaper, but the quality is very good. Shields stand out in terms of design FOTKA Greek production. It is better to bypass the name products of Chinese and Turkish production - this is not the case when you can save.

Finally, we note that, ceteris paribus, it is better to give preference to shields with a transparent door, which provide easier control over the state of the machines.