An electrical circuit breaker panel is the main electrical circuit distributor inside of a home. The circuit breaker panel can provide a home with up to 200 amps of power. In order for electricity to flow into a home, a circuit breaker panel is needed. Electricity is provided by a utility company, to an electrical meter, through an electrical disconnect, and then into a home's circuit breaker.
Most circuit breakers contain two rows of switches. Each switch corresponds with a different portion of a home. The main breaker is generally larger than all the other switches inside of the breaker panel, and this switch will effectively cut power to an entire home if it is turned off.
Legally, homes must have a circuit breaker panel that can provide at least 100 amps of power. Older homes may still have circuit breaker panels that are only capable of 60 amps, though these breaker panels cannot power most modern electrical devices. Installation-wise, homes that have numerous electronic devices should be equipped with 200-amp breaker panels. Otherwise, the demand for electricity from various devices cannot be met by a home's breaker panel.
