The Importance of Electrical Switchboards in Industrial Facilities
Electricity is distributed safely across commercial and industrial facilities with the help of top-class switchboards. A switchboard is a component of an electrical distribution system that separates an electrical power feed into branch circuits while providing each circuit with a protective circuit breaker or fuse in a single enclosure.
Electrical switchboards are typically designed to meet the requirements of UL891 and NEMA Standard PB2, with a maximum voltage rating of 600 Vac/Vdc and a maximum bus rating of 6000 A.
A Detailed Structure of Electrical Switchboards
Depending on the number and size of the loads to be powered, a switchboard can be made up of a single vertical structure or many structures. The main disconnects or main lugs are in the main structure, which also houses utility and/or customer metering equipment and surge protection.
Cabling is inserted in the main structure directly or through a separate pull structure. In service entry switchboards, pull structures are commonly used. Cables can enter the structure from the bottom (bottom entry) and the top (top entry).
Power is divided and sent to branch circuit protection devices before being sent to branch circuits to downstream powerloads. With the use of a cross-bus, power is transported from the main structure to the distribution structure. Switchboards are typically situated near a wall and are only accessible from the front.
The switchboard can be built to provide access from both the front and back if necessary. Rear access switchboards are easier to build and maintain, although they are often deeper than switchboards with only front access.
The main components of a switchboard structure are the frame, bus, overcurrent protective devices, instrumentation, enclosures, and outside covers. The metal backbone that houses all the other components is the switchboard frame. The bus, which is either copper or aluminium, is mounted within this frame.
The bus transmits power from the branch circuit devices to the incoming cable conductors. Each switchboard part receives power from a horizontal bus. A vertical bus, on the other hand, distributes electricity to circuit protection devices within a single segment.
An Insight into Different Types of Switchboards
General-purpose Switchboards
Integrated insulated case circuit breakers, molded case circuit breakers, fused switches, metering, and surge protection can all be found in general-purpose switchboards. A general-purpose switchboard may handle most switchboard applications.
Fusible Switchboards
Fusible switchboards are used to protect and switch feeder and branch circuits in commercial, industrial, and service entrance applications. In every panelboard unit, a switching contact structure is included that comes with an instantaneous trip element.
Draw-out Molded switchboards
Draw-out molded case switchboards have the same fundamental characteristics as a general-purpose switchboard, with the addition of the ability to draw out one or more feeder breakers. To avoid system downtime when replacing a breaker, draw-out molded case switchboards are commonly used in critical applications such as healthcare and data centres.
Switchboard Pow-R-Line XD
Draw-out capabilities in switchboards have been enhanced in recent years to include molded case circuit breakers and power breakers, commonly seen in low voltage switchgear assemblies. These switchboards have a higher density and smaller footprint while accommodating higher current-rated power breakers and have barrier cable chambers on the back.
Generator Quick Connect Switchboards
Generator quick connects switchboards are specialityswitchboards that allow a mobile generator to be connected to a building’s electrical system safely and quickly.
Determine the Perfect Electrical Switchboards
When installing an electric switchboard, safety is of utmost importance. But the safety gets compromised if the right choice is not made when installing them. The first thing to do is find a genuine manufacturer that offers quality products.
With a little bit of online research, find the right website with their contact details available on their webpage, and reach out today!
