HOMEOWNER'S GUIDE TO THE RESIDENTIAL SWITCH BOX

 Some homeowners avoid the main switch box because they are afraid of getting shocked or breaking something. Although many electrical problems are best left to a licensed electrician, as a homeowner it is important to have a basic understanding of what a breaker box is and how it works. 

Understanding how the circuit breaker box works

The circuit breaker box is a kind of electricity distribution centre in a house. The main switch box receives incoming power from the mains wires on the street and distributes it to an assortment of wires serving different rooms and appliances throughout the house. It is like a large light switch with smaller switches that perform different functions. 

The inner workings of the switch panel

It is important to understand how the switch box works in case you need to quickly cut off power to the house due to an emergency situation, such as a flood or fire. Other times, it may be necessary to access the circuit breaker box to work on a circuit breaker that has broken. This can happen when the circuit board is overloaded due to too many appliances being used at the same time. Here is a summary of the components located behind the switch box door:

Main switch. This is the large switch that controls the overall electricity in the house. In the event of an emergency, the main switch instantly cuts off the power supply to the home.

Single-pole switch. This type of switch resembles a single light switch. It distributes electricity to many low amperage items within the home, such as lighting and garage door openers.

Bipolar switch. This type of switch resembles a double light switch. It distributes electricity to the higher amperage elements in the home, such as appliances and home electronics.

Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters. AFCIs are small circuit breakers that help prevent fires caused by accidental electrical discharges that do not draw enough power to trip the main circuit breaker.

Empty slots. A circuit board that is not at full capacity will have empty slots that can be used in the future for other appliances or other electrical needs.

Subpanels (or smaller switch boxes). Often, in the case of additions, the electrician will install a smaller, secondary switch box for that part of the house.

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