Everything you need to know about electrical panels, how they work and the compliance requirements in Quebec

The electrical panel is an indispensable element in the electrical installation of a building or a house. It plays the role of distributing electricity throughout the area and contains the safety device in case of a problem in the electrical circuit. Find out about the types, operation and standards that electrical panels must meet in Quebec.

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The different types of electrical panels

There are 2 main types of electrical panels: circuit breaker and fuse. The circuit breaker panel is the most commonly used. The reason is that it offers more safety guarantee. If there is a problem in a particular circuit in the house, the power supply is interrupted by a circuit breaker. After the problem is fixed, you simply turn the breaker back on to supply power to the circuit again.

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The fuse panel works in the same way, except that instead of circuit breakers, fuses are installed on the panel, corresponding to each circuit in the house. If there is a problem, the fuse in question will blow, interrupting the power supply. The fuse must then be replaced before the circuit can be restored.

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Conformities to which an electrical panel must be submitted

An electrical panel is made up of several components in order to fulfill its purpose. In order to be approved as compliant and safe, the entire panel assembly must be approved. Therefore, if the empty box and each component meet the manufacturing standards, it is not systematic that their combination is compliant. The professional who performs the assembly must be accredited by a recognized certification body.

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Nevertheless, there are pre-mounted electrical panels that already comply with safety standards. In this case, it will be necessary that the professional respects the equipment according to the specifics of the panel. In other words, if the panel is designed to support 5 appliances operating at 220 V, it will be impossible to exceed this capacity, unlike the panels mounted on site where the modules can be added.

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Finally, your electrical panel must be installed in a room protected from humidity. Therefore, it is not recommended to place it in your bathroom to avoid premature damage of the panel's components, which could lead to short-circuit and fire.

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Trust Erco to supply and install your electrical panel

For all work concerning your electrical panel and your electrical installation in general, you can trust Erco. We have a professional team qualified to perform a new installation or a replacement of your old electrical panel.

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If you need to upgrade your existing panel to use new electrical appliances in your home, you can also call on our services. We perform a field survey to evaluate your needs. We then add modules to your panel to accommodate new appliances.

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We also check the panel and the entire electrical installation in a house you have just bought. This will guarantee maximum safety and a serene use of your electrical appliances. Finally, we ensure the regular maintenance of electrical panels and the replacement of worn components by others that comply with the standards in force in Quebec.

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