overcurrent protective devices

The Basics of Switchboards, Switchgear, and Panelboards By Garth Stevens, PE – Article 240 of the National Electrical Code (NEC) covers overcurrent protection and notes that all electrical conductors shall be protected. Overcurrent protective devices (OCPDs) consist of fuses and circuit breakers. Both were patented by Thomas Edison — the circuit breaker in 1879 and the fuse in 1890. Although fuses were the first OCPDs to be widely used in homes and commercial buildings, circuit breakers have also had a rich history of protecting electrical installations and are very common today. This article covers the basics of panelboards, switchboards, and switchgear, which are the threeRead More →