Electrical Panel

What is an Electrical Panel?

An electrical panel (also called a distribution board or breaker box) is the central hub of your electrical system. It receives power from the utility and distributes it to individual circuits throughout your building. The panel houses circuit breakers and differential switches that protect each circuit from overload and electrical faults. In Elecplanner, the electrical panel serves as the container for organizing and managing all your circuit protection devices.

Adding an Electrical Panel to Your Canvas

Step 1: Open the Component Library

Click the Components button in the sidebar
Open the Power category
Find the Electrical Panel component

Step 2: Place on Canvas

Click and hold the Electrical Panel icon
Drag it onto your canvas
Release to place it at the desired location
The panel will be created with one default section

💡 Tip: You typically only need one main electrical panel per building or floor plan, though sub-panels can be added for larger installations.

Understanding Panel Sections

The electrical panel is divided into sections - horizontal rows where you can place circuit breakers and differential switches.

Default Section

Every new panel starts with one section called “Section 1”
Each section can hold multiple circuit breakers side by side
Sections help organize related circuits together

Why Use Multiple Sections?

Organizing your panel into sections makes it easier to:

Group circuits by function (lighting, outlets, appliances)
Group circuits by location (kitchen, bedrooms, garage)
Separate critical circuits from general-purpose ones
Maintain a clean, professional layout

Adding Circuit Breakers and Switches to the Panel

How to Add Components

Open the Components library
Find a Circuit Breaker or Differential Switch
Click and drag it over your electrical panel
Drop it into a specific section
The component will snap into place horizontally within that section

Organizing Components Within Sections

Components automatically align horizontally within a section
Drag existing components left or right to reorder them
Drag components up or down to move them to different sections
Components will automatically adjust positions as you move them around

💡 Best Practice: Group related circuits in the same section. For example, all kitchen circuits in Section 1, all bedroom circuits in Section 2, etc.

Moving and Resizing the Panel

Moving the Entire Panel

Click on the panel background (not on a circuit breaker)
Drag the panel to a new location on your canvas
All circuit breakers and wires will move with it

Resizing the Panel

The panel automatically adjusts its size based on:

The number of sections it contains
The number of components in each section
The components will always stay visible and organized

Editing Panel Properties

Opening the Properties Panel

Click on the electrical panel background to select it
The properties panel appears on the right side of the screen
Or double-click the panel to open properties

Selecting the Brand

The Brand property lets you choose the manufacturer:

Available Options:

Legrand (default) - French manufacturer, common in Europe
Schneider - Another major European brand

This setting:

Changes the visual appearance of the panel
Affects the appearance of circuit breakers placed inside
Helps match real-world equipment for accurate planning

💡 Note: Choose the brand that matches what you plan to install in your actual project.

Wiring the Electrical Panel

The electrical panel has several connection points:

Main Power Input

Top of panel - Where utility power enters
Connect the main power supply from your utility or generator
This feeds power to all circuit breakers in the panel

Neutral Bus

Blue connection point inside the panel
Connect the neutral wires from all circuit breakers
Also serves as the common neutral for the entire panel

Ground Terminal

Green connection point - Protective earth
Connect all ground wires from your circuits
Essential for electrical safety

Wiring Circuit Breakers in the Panel

Input Connections (from panel to breaker):

Connect panel’s main power to each breaker’s L-IN terminal
Connect panel’s neutral bus to each breaker’s N-IN terminal
This powers the circuit breaker

Output Connections (from breaker to devices):

Connect breaker’s L-OUT to your circuit’s hot wire
Connect breaker’s N-OUT to your circuit’s neutral wire
This sends protected power to your devices

Common Panel Layouts

Basic Residential Panel

Electrical Panel
├─ Section 1: Lighting Circuits
│  ├─ Circuit Breaker (10A) → Living Room Lights
│  ├─ Circuit Breaker (10A) → Bedroom Lights
│  └─ Circuit Breaker (10A) → Kitchen Lights
│
├─ Section 2: Outlet Circuits
│  ├─ Circuit Breaker (16A) → Living Room Outlets
│  ├─ Circuit Breaker (16A) → Bedroom Outlets
│  └─ Circuit Breaker (20A) → Kitchen Outlets (GFCI)
│
└─ Section 3: Appliances
   ├─ Circuit Breaker (20A) → Dishwasher
   ├─ Circuit Breaker (32A) → Water Heater
   └─ Circuit Breaker (32A) → Electric Range

Panel with Ground Fault Protection

Electrical Panel
├─ Section 1: GFCI Protected (Wet Areas)
│  ├─ Differential Switch (20A) → Bathroom Outlets
│  ├─ Differential Switch (20A) → Outdoor Outlets
│  └─ Differential Switch (16A) → Basement Outlets
│
└─ Section 2: Standard Circuits
   ├─ Circuit Breaker (10A) → General Lighting
   └─ Circuit Breaker (16A) → General Outlets

Multi-Zone Panel

Electrical Panel
├─ Section 1: Floor 1 Circuits
│  └─ [Various breakers for first floor]
│
├─ Section 2: Floor 2 Circuits
│  └─ [Various breakers for second floor]
│
├─ Section 3: Basement Circuits
│  └─ [Various breakers for basement]
│
└─ Section 4: Dedicated Appliances
   └─ [High-power appliance circuits]

Panel Sizing and Planning

Calculating Your Panel Size

Residential Buildings:

Small home (< 1000 sq ft): 100A main panel, 12-20 circuit breakers
Medium home (1000-2000 sq ft): 150A main panel, 20-30 circuit breakers
Large home (> 2000 sq ft): 200A main panel, 30-40 circuit breakers

Commercial Buildings:

Start with 200A minimum
Add 50-100A for each major appliance or HVAC system
Plan for 20% future expansion

Planning for Future Expansion

Leave empty spaces in sections for future circuits
Consider a larger panel if you plan renovations
Group similar circuits to make future additions easier

Best Practices for Panel Organization

1. Logical Grouping

By Function: All lighting in one section, all outlets in another
By Location: All first-floor circuits together, second-floor separate
By Priority: Critical circuits (refrigerator, sump pump) in dedicated section

2. Clear Labeling

Label each circuit breaker with its purpose
Use descriptive names: “Kitchen Outlets - North Wall” instead of just “Kitchen”
Update labels if circuits change

3. Safety Considerations

Place GFCI/RCD protection on all wet-area circuits (bathrooms, kitchens, outdoors)
Use dedicated circuits for high-power appliances
Ensure proper wire sizing for each breaker rating

4. Professional Layout

Arrange breakers neatly within sections
Keep similar breaker ratings together when possible
Maintain consistent spacing and alignment

Using Panels in Simulation Mode

In simulation mode:

Panel itself: Acts as the power source
Circuit breakers: Can be clicked to turn individual circuits on/off
Visual feedback: See which circuits are active
Power flow: Watch how power flows from panel through breakers to devices

This lets you test:

How turning off a breaker affects connected devices
Whether your wiring is correct
How the electrical system behaves

Safety and Code Compliance

Electrical Safety

⚠️ Important: In real electrical installations:

Always hire a licensed electrician for panel installation
Follow all local electrical codes and regulations
Obtain proper permits and inspections
Use properly rated equipment for your application

Common Code Requirements

NEC (National Electrical Code) in the United States
IEC standards internationally
Local building codes and regulations
Proper grounding and bonding requirements

Safety Features to Include

Ground fault protection (GFCI) in wet areas
Arc fault protection (AFCI) for bedrooms
Proper wire sizing for amperage ratings
Clear access and working space around panel

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Circuit Breakers Won’t Drop into Panel

Solution: Make sure you’re dragging onto the panel, not onto empty canvas
Try dropping directly onto a specific section of the panel

Components Are Misaligned in Panel

Solution: Drag each component slightly to trigger auto-alignment
The panel will automatically organize components horizontally

Can’t Move Panel Without Moving Individual Breakers

Solution: Click the panel background (not on a breaker) before dragging
This selects the entire panel as one unit

Wires Disconnect When Moving Panel

Note: This shouldn’t happen - wires should follow the panel
If it does, try reconnecting the wires after positioning the panel

Circuit Breaker - Learn about protecting individual circuits
Differential Switch - Ground fault protection devices
Wiring Basics - General wiring techniques
Simulation Mode - Testing your electrical design

💡 Quick Tip: Start your electrical plan with the panel placement first, then build your circuits outward from it. This creates a natural, organized layout that’s easier to understand and modify later!