Maintaining Panelboards

Working in a control room of a TV station is exciting. The person on the desk gets to communicate with the news anchors that are live on air. There is rarely a dull moment when delivering live news bulletins. This rhythm was broken recently when out of nowhere the panelboard, which controls the studio equipment, short-circuited. Most people know panelboards as the electrical boxes that you only remember when a certain socket or light switch trips... Read More

How To Talk Your Way Into Getting A New Panelboard

“It’s a fossil,” said Bob, referring to the venerable old panelboard with which he was working unenthusiastically. Bob was less than impressed to be working with a panelboard which looked like it had been designed by deranged dinosaurs. The problem was that the old panelboard, which had probably been great 30 years ago, before Bob was born, had absolutely nothing in common with modern electrical systems or power technologies. Irving, his fellow... Read More

The Basics Of Panelboards

Panelboards are used in commercial power systems as control systems. Usually, there’s a panelboard for power, and a separate panelboard for lighting. Occasionally, you may see a panelboard that does both, in smaller systems. First and most importantly- a panelboard isn’t just a fuse box or a collection of on/off switches. It’s a much more highly evolved, better organized, control and safety system used to manage major power supply systems. This... Read More

Why Maintenance is Important on Panelboards

Panelboards are very important parts of our homes and buildings but we often don’t realize how much maintenance and attention they need. Often locked away in the attic or basement, this key component of the building’s electrical system is sometimes left there to gather dust for years before an electrical failing reminds us of its importance. But even if we never experience power failings in our homes, we need to pay attention to our panelboards,... Read More

Panelboards – What You Need To Know

Panelboards (also known as: fuse boxes, electrical panels, distribution boards, etc.) are in their most basic sense, the connection point between your supply of electricity and the things the electricity will power. You power supply will be separate into circuits which usually divide into the different areas of a building that are being powered, or with regards to specific electrical components that need power. panelboards come in a variety of different... Read More

What are Panelboards for Data Centers?

Power is an essential, as well as an incredibly complex and potentially dangerous, part of every data center. One item housed within every data center is a panelboard. It is important for anyone involved in maintaining and servicing a data center understands what panelboards for data centers are and how they interact with all the other equipment within the data center. Panelboards for Data Centers At its simplest definition, panelboards are a component... Read More

Underwriters Laboratories Inc. and Panelboards for Data Centers

Over time, panelboards have changed from a simple housing that is an assembly of fuses, switches and circuit breakers to the utilization of supporting a variety of different complex electrical equipment. Today’s panelboard designs support a variety of electrical supply systems with over current protections for many short-circuit capabilities, resulting in a complex marking system. Underwriter Laboratories Inc. plays an important role in the... Read More

The Importance of Panelboards in Data Centers

Power is an essential part of data center operation with the electricity usage costs regarding such facilities having doubled in the period from 2000 to 2006; contemporarily there are no signs of this trend slowing. Power is not only expensive for data centers; it can also be extremely problematic. Equipment housed in data installations such as computers, servers and storage devices are extremely sensitive to unexpected changes in electrical voltage,... Read More

Upgrading Power and Panelboards for Data Centers

Many data centers built before 2001 are likely no longer able to properly power and cool their IT systems. According to recent statistics, today’s data centers and server rooms consume up to 30 times more energy per square foot than an “average” office building. And that number will continue to climb as more and more companies have their own data centers and server rooms. Many business owners report their biggest hurdle to expansion... Read More

Types of Panelboards

There are two main types of panelboards, distribution or lighting and appliance. The primary focus of this article is distribution panelboards. They can be enclosed or open although the vast majority of distribution panels encountered in the real world are enclosed. There are six NEMA type specifications for enclosures. These NEMA enclosure types apply to all enclosures – not just panelboard enclosures. NEMA Spec Panelboards Type 1 enclosures... Read More

Understanding Ground Bars

Ground bars, also called neutral bars, are widely used in both residential and commercial electrical service panel boards. Their purpose is to terminate all the white return wires (or white wires) from the multiple load circuits in the building. Ground Bars and Circuit Overloads Ground bars don’t actually have a lot to do with circuit overload protection. That job is performed by the circuit breaker. Besides the white wires inside the panelboard... Read More

Carbon Crisis and its Effect on Data Center Design of the Panelboards

Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution during the 18th century, rising levels of global atmospheric CO2 have been progressively recorded. Over the last few decades however, this trend has began to cause real concern within both the scientific community, and the general populace. Mounting apprehension has consequently pressured governments to react, and as a result: regulatory bodies have been formed in many regions; new emission laws and... Read More

The Importance of Panelboards Regarding Electricity Distribution and Safety

In the modern world, the continuous and reliable distribution of electricity is extremely important for residential, commercial, industrial and infrastructural utilization. At the consumer end of the electrical supply chain switchboards and panelboards are responsible for not only the appropriately regulated energy distribution within an installation, but also for the safety of employees. For this reason, some authors have gone so far as to say that... Read More

Power Supply Manufacturer Products and Services

Power supply manufacturers provide a wide variety of products and services for customers. Power companies offer utility solutions for commercial and noncommercial clientele. If the standard products do not fit what the customer needs then custom products can be made my most power supply manufacturers. Power supply manufacturers are available to give the best service to its customers. Products sold by Power Supply Manufacturers Power supply manufacturers... Read More

Keeping Cell Tower Transfer Panels Online

Just about every American today, regardless of age, owns a cell phone and utilizes it on a daily basis. In order to keep those cell phones working, cell towers are required in a variety of places, and are located in both typical locations, such as highways to unusual locations like church steeples. To keep those cell towers online, cell tower transfer panels are required. Understanding a Cell Site A cell site is the term that describes a location... Read More

Panelboards, Right-Sizing Data Center Redundancy as a Means of Energy Management

Data centers generally act as large warehouses, which store a company’s IT equipment, and important data. As such, these installations must be highly protected from adverse events such as ‘brownouts’ which may cause component damage, or result in data loss. A method which is utilized by most facilities to protect equipment and panelboards and saved data is redundancy. Redundancy basically refers to non-utilized data center components... Read More

The Construction of Panelboards

Panelboards, also known as distribution boards, are used to house electrical circuit breakers while also controlling light, heat, and power circuits. The actual construction of panelboards can vary and there are many sizes available. Modifications can also be made for existing or customized panelboards. panelboards include the can, the interior, bus bars, labeling, and dead front and trim. panelboard Can The can, or box, on a panelboard gives... Read More

Strict Building Codes for Elevator Panelboards and the Effects on Safety and Inspection

  Building Codes for Elevator panelboards Before 2008, building codes mandated that elevators had to be inspected once every two years. This changed after a series of highly publicized accidents that left the public uneasy about elevator safety and inspection processes. When New York City updated building codes in 2008, all elevators to be inspected once every year. Going further, codes were put in place that made it mandatory for the building’s... Read More

Power Distribution and Panelboards for Data Centers

Advances in Technology Technology is everywhere today. From MP3 players to accessing the internet for research for work, data storage, the cloud and server densities are ever increasing. As a result, server rooms and data centers are requiring more and more power than ever before. Ultimately, this leaves IT professionals searching for information on how to best decide on how to handle what is often referred to as “high density computing”... Read More

Photovoltaic Panel Installations and Ground Bars

NEC Panel and Ground Bar Regulations The National Electric Code is what electricians and electrical engineers follow to maintain safe electrical environments for their customers. Within the National Electric Code are guidelines that electricians can follow to meet or exceed the minimum safety standards in terms of grounding and the use of ground bars. These standards are the base minimum that is required, but most electrical engineers and electricians... Read More

Panelboards: What the National Electrical Code Says

panelboard Electrical Code The National Electric code (NEC) is the standard operating procedure manual in the United Sates for the safe installation of electrical wiring and equipment. While it is not a United States law, the NEC is commonly referred to and mandated by state and local law. Therefore, the NEC sets up the minimum compliance standards for all types of electrical components, including electrical panelboards. Article 408: Chapter III:... Read More

NEC Article 408 and Panelboards for Data Centers

Every piece of equipment that runs on electricity today needs to follow different legal and industry standards in order to run safely and efficiently. One of those industry standard organizations is the NEC. What is the NEC? The NEC (National Electrical Code) is a regionally adopted standard that provides guidelines for the safe installation of electrical wiring and its corresponding equipment. While the NEC does not provide any legally binding regulations,... Read More

Panelboards for Protection and Safety

Dealing with electricity and electrical parts can be dangerous. Injuries and fatalities can result if the proper precautions are not taken when working with power equipment. Panelboards help protect from overcurrents and provide circuit control. They can only be accessed from the front, which adds to the protective aspect of panelboards. panelboards for Different Environments There are panelboards available that are safe for damp or wet areas, indoors... Read More

Panelboard Selection

Most people are familiar with panelboards and may not even know it. Commonly known as “circuit breakers,” panelboards are found in every home, often in the basement or in a utility closet, and control the flow of electricity. Many don’t even think about it until a circuit breaker is “tripped” and the flow of electricity to a specific part of the home is lost, resulting in a trip to the panelboard to make that section... Read More

Panelboards and Voltage Requirements

A panelboards is defined as a part of an electrical supply arrangement that separates electrical power input into subsidiary circuits. It also has a protective circuit breaker or fuse for each circuit, in an enclosure. This is a fairly simplified description of panelboards, which are a very common and vital part of any industrial facility. They can be open (not included within an enclosure) or enclosed in a suitable cabinet. NEMA Recognized Panelboards There... Read More

Panelboards and the Industrial Circuit Breaker

The term panelboards covers two types of electrical panels: distribution and lighting/appliance. Distribution panels divide electrical power into subsidiary circuits. Lighting Control Panels do much the same thing but are usually dedicated to providing the power for a building’s lighting system. In most industrial applications they are three-phase although single-phase lighting panels are used occasionally. Lighting panels generally carry less... Read More

Open Compute Projects Makes Another Step Forward with Design and Panelboards for Data Centers

The Open Compute Project, started by Facebook earlier this year, is now gaining partners, momentum, and a real organizational structure. While the initiative is currently focused on Internet companies with large “scale out” styles of infrastructure, more and more companies are joining the project with the long-term project idea of open source hardware, such as panelboards for data centers, which could ultimately expand to the enterprise... Read More

Modular Data Center Design and Panelboards for Data Centers

The data centers of some of the biggest and most successful companies in the world utilize modular data center designs. Companies such as Microsoft, Facebook, and Amazon all take advantage of modular data center designs to make their data centers both efficient and flexible. When a modular data center design is utilized, it takes into account all aspects of a data center, including items like cooling systems, power services, and panelboards for data... Read More

Maintenance for Panelboards for Data Centers

Just about every piece of computer equipment requires regular maintenance. From a basic CPU to panelboards for data centers, it is important to keep every part of a business’ computer equipment up to date, running properly and available for use. Keeping a Data Center Online To keep data center services online and available, IT professionals work hard to ensure that all components of the facility are maintained and healthy. Data centers are incredibly... Read More

Panelboards for Elevator Controls in Buildings

In order for elevators to work properly, there has to be behind the scenes equipment to keep it operational. The controls are kept in panelboards to be accessed only by maintenance staff. Elevators are common in most buildings from corporate offices to hospitals to apartment complexes, and panelboards are necessary for keeping all of the operational controls contained, safe, and accessible only by the correct people. What is Kept in Elevator Control... Read More

Including Panelboards for Data Centers in Remodels and Designs

If you have commissioned the design of a data center, regardless of the means of powering the facility, there are safety standards and power consumption issues to consider. Running a data center safely and up to code standards will require the best equipment from outlets to panelboards for data centers. Electrical consumption may also be affected during the design phase by choosing equipment that your engineers can work with. In the past, electrical... Read More

How to Select the Appropriate Panelboard

Selecting the right panelboards for your needs is important for a number of reasons. The panelboards is what controls the arrangement of the circuit breakers and the arrangement can be flexible depending on the structure and design of the panelboards. There can be more balance on the electrical load contingent upon how flexible the circuit arrangement is. Factors to Consider For Selecting a panelboard When selecting a panelboard there are a few... Read More

Grounding Panelboards for Data Centers

According to research, nearly 90 of all the issues related to IT equipment installation are internal to the facility, while only 10 percent are related to electric service. It is also important to point out that 75 percent of all issues arising within a facility are related to grounding or making appropriate grounding, which directly affects the reliability of IT equipment system performance. panelboards for Data Centers There are three main dangers... Read More

High Density Computing and Panelboards for Data Centers

Why We Need More panelboards There are a wide variety of computing technologies in play today. IT managers are constantly trying to do more with less. This push towards high density computing means there are new and more complex power needs in server rooms, including panelboards for data centers. What is High Density Computing? Data centers usually contain multiple racks of flat servers. To keep those systems cool, air is drawn in at the front of... Read More

Electrical Systems Company, Is a Distribution Board the Same Thing as Panelboards?

When you hear someone speak of panelboards they are most likely speaking of a distribution board for electrical currents coming into a structure. When the current of electricity enters your home or business one of these units is there to dispense the proper amount of juice to exactly where it needs to go in the home. This is all done using fuses and breakers to connect the circuits and control the allotted amounts each circuit receives. An electrical... Read More

Advances in Technology and Panelboards for Data Centers

Advances in Technology and panelboards for Data Centers One of the main problems that data centers have faced in the past has been the availability of space with equipment and panelboards for data centers. With advancements in technology and a decrease in data center component size this is however, no longer the case. Centers are met with a new challenge; the reduction of energy consumption within their facility. Reducing Energy Consumption Reducing... Read More

Carbon Dioxide Increases an Emphasis on Cooling for Panelboards

Carbon Crisis and its Effect on Data Center Design of the panelboards Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution during the 18th century, rising levels of global atmospheric CO2 have been progressively recorded. Over the last few decades however, this trend has began to cause real concern within both the scientific community, and the general populace. Mounting apprehension has consequently pressured governments to react, and as a result: regulatory... Read More

New Jersey Manufacturer of Panelboards and Custom Power Solutions Plans New Corporate Headquarters

February 26, 2008 East Coast Power Systems, a Keyport, NJ-based manufacturer of electrical components such as panelboards, utility cabinets, switchboards, cam locks and industrial control panels, has announced its planned relocation to a new corporate headquarters in Tinton Falls, NJ. Tinton Falls, NJ (PRWEB) February 26, 2008 — East Coast Power Systems has finalized the design of its new state-of-the-art corporate headquarters and manufacturing... Read More

Cooling Strategies and Panelboards for Data Centers

It is a constant battle for data center and IT managers. How do you keep data center equipment cool and functioning properly? There are several different strategies you can take to keep your data center equipment cool and how to implement panelboards for data centers properly for safe computing. No cooling strategy is ever perfect. This is especially true in today’s day-to-day ever-changing and complex data center management. Some design challenges... Read More