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The different types of electrical panels used and existing in Canada

July 14, 2022

Dianne Russel

The electrical panel is the heart of an electrical installation in a house. In Canada, as in the rest of the world, there are different types of electrical panels that can be distinguished according to several criteria. Learn more about these different categories.

Electrical panel with circuit breaker or fuse

Fuses and circuit breakers are essential elements in your electrical panel. Their role is to protect the house against any possible anomaly in your installation. In case of a problem, they immediately cut off the power supply to avoid any risk of fire or damage to the electrical equipment.

Fused panels are present in older buildings. More modern homes have mostly circuit breakers. The difference between the two devices is that you have to replace the fuses every time they cut off the power. Circuit breakers, on the other hand, are always operational. All you have to do is turn them back on.

Model pre-equipped or to be equipped

Pre-equipped electrical panels are devices that are already equipped with all the elements in the box. All you have to do is connect the power source and the house circuit to the panel. The panels to be equipped, on the other hand, are empty boxes in which you must install all the internal elements that will compose it (differential switch, circuit breaker ...).

The advantage of pre-assembled electrical panels is that they are designed to meet Canadian safety standards. The panels to be equipped, on the other hand, offer greater customization possibilities and can be adapted to any size of installation.

How many circuits?

One electrical panel is also different from another depending on the size of the house and the installation it will accommodate. Overall, the larger your home, the larger your panel will need to be.

The size of the panel then depends on the number of rows and differential switches it will have. For example, for a dwelling of less than 35 m², a device with at least 2 rows, 2 differential switches of 25 A of type AC and 1 differential switch of 40 A of type A are sufficient. For a house of more than 100 m², you need a panel with at least 4 rows, 3 differential of 40 A of type AC, 1 differential of 40 A of type A

Trust Erco to supply and install your electrical panels

If you don't have the necessary skills, choosing the right electrical panel yourself can be dangerous for the safety of your home. That's why we recommend that you use our services for this task.

We proceed to a study focusing on the size of your home and your present and future needs in electricity. Thus, our team will propose you the best adapted box. We guarantee you an installation according to the safety standards and quality material which will ensure you serenity during many years. For your safety, entrust any task concerning your electrical installation to professionals.