An electrical panel — also called a breaker box, load center, or service panel — is the metal enclosure that takes incoming power from the utility, distributes it to every circuit in your home, and protects each circuit with a breaker. It’s the central nervous system of your home’s electricity.
What’s inside
- Main breaker (the master shutoff)
- Hot bus bars carrying incoming power
- Individual circuit breakers
- Neutral and ground bus bars
- Service-entrance lugs connecting to the meter
If your panel is older, full, or showing warning signs, an upgrade is the foundation for any other electrical work. See electrical panel service, circuit breaker service, and smart electrical panels for upgrade options.
