page_title: Distribution board
section_title: Location and designation
hierarchical_section_title: Distribution board / Location and designation
caption_attribution_description: English: A 220 volt service panel with three (3) 100 Amp porcelain fuses. (Location: China)
context_page_description: A distribution board is a component of an electricity supply system that divides an electrical power feed into subsidiary circuits, while providing a protective fuse or circuit breaker for each circuit in a common enclosure. Normally, a main switch, and in recent boards, one or more residual-current devices or residual current breakers with overcurrent protection, are also incorporated.
  In the United Kingdom, a distribution board designed for domestic installations is known as a consumer unit.
context_section_description: For reasons of aesthetics and security, domestic circuit breaker panels and consumer units are normally located in out-of-the-way closets, attics, garages, or basements, but sometimes they are also featured as part of the aesthetic elements of a building (as an art installation, for example) or where they can be easily accessible. However, current U.S. building codes prohibit installation of a panel in a bathroom (or similar room), in closets intended for clothing, or where there is insufficient space for an electrician to gain access to the panel. Specific situations, such as an installation outdoors, in a hazardous environment, or in other out-of-the-ordinary locations might require specialized equipment and more stringent installation practices.
  Distribution boards may be designated for three phase or single phase and normal power or emergency power, or designated by use such as  distribution panels for supplying other panels, lighting panels for lights, power panels for equipment and receptacles and special uses. Panels are located throughout the building in electric closets serving a section of the building.
caption: A three-phase service drop enters through the side of this main service panel consisting of three 100 ampere fuses.
exif: {"Image ImageDescription": "<SAMSUNG DIGITAL CAMERA>", "Image Make": "SAMSUNG", "Image Model": "SAMSUNG ES55 / VLUU ES55 / SAMSUNG SL102", "Image Orientation": "Horizontal (normal)", "Image Software": "903051", "Image DateTime": "2011:02:04 16:40:52", "Image YCbCrPositioning": "Co-sited", "Image Copyright": "COPYRIGHT, 2009", "Image ExifOffset": "2338", "Image XPTitle": "[60, 0, 83, 0, 65, 0, 77, 0, 83, 0, 85, 0, 78, 0, 71, 0, 32, 0, 68, 0, 73, 0, 71, 0, 73, 0, 84, 0, 65, 0, 76, 0, 32, 0, 67, 0, 65, 0, 77, 0, 69, 0, 82, 0, 65, 0, 62, 0, 0, 0]", "Image XPSubject": "[60, 0, 83, 0, 65, 0, 77, 0, 83, 0, 85, 0, 78, 0, 71, 0, 32, 0, 68, 0, 73, 0, 71, 0, 73, 0, 84, 0, 65, 0, 76, 0, 32, 0, 67, 0, 65, 0, 77, 0, 69, 0, 82, 0, 65, 0, 62, 0, 0, 0]", "Image Padding": "[]", "EXIF ExposureTime": "1/45", "EXIF FNumber": "16/5", "EXIF ExposureProgram": "Program Normal", "EXIF ISOSpeedRatings": "200", "EXIF ExifVersion": "0220", "EXIF DateTimeOriginal": "2011:02:04 16:40:52", "EXIF DateTimeDigitized": "2011:02:04 16:40:52", "EXIF ComponentsConfiguration": "YCbCr", "EXIF CompressedBitsPerPixel": "1632263/415872", "EXIF ShutterSpeedValue": "11/2", "EXIF ApertureValue": "67/20", "EXIF ExposureBiasValue": "0", "EXIF MaxApertureValue": "67/20", "EXIF MeteringMode": "Pattern", "EXIF LightSource": "Unknown", "EXIF Flash": "Flash fired, auto mode", "EXIF FocalLength": "63/10", "EXIF SubSecTimeOriginal": "00", "EXIF SubSecTimeDigitized": "00", "EXIF FlashPixVersion": "0100", "EXIF ColorSpace": "sRGB", "EXIF ExifImageWidth": "3648", "EXIF ExifImageLength": "2736", "EXIF RelatedSoundFile": "RelatedSound", "EXIF ExposureIndex": "1", "EXIF SensingMethod": "One-chip color area", "EXIF FileSource": "Digital Camera", "EXIF SceneType": "Directly Photographed", "EXIF ExposureMode": "Auto Exposure", "EXIF WhiteBalance": "Auto", "EXIF DigitalZoomRatio": "0", "EXIF FocalLengthIn35mmFilm": "35", "EXIF SceneCaptureType": "Standard", "EXIF Contrast": "Normal", "EXIF Saturation": "Normal", "EXIF Sharpness": "Hard", "EXIF Padding": "[]", "EXIF OffsetSchema": "4216"}