Load center fundamentals:
Know your load center
Every building and home utilizes electricity for lighting, receptacles, and appliance loads. A load center is used in residential and light commercial applications to distribute electricity supplied by the utility company throughout the home or building to feed all the branch circuits.
Each branch circuit is protected by the circuit breaker housed in the load center. In the event of a short circuit or an overload on a branch circuit, the circuit breaker will cut the power before any potential property damage or personal injury can occur.
Load centers are designed, manufactured, and tested in accordance with the latest applicable standards including:
- Underwriters Laboratories (UL)
- Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
- National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA)
- National Electrical Code (NEC)