An electrical panel (or breaker panel) is where all the breaker switches are located. And that’s just what they are; switches that can be flipped. There’s likely a “main” circuit breaker that controls the power to the entire house, but you’ll also see individual breakers, responsible for providing the electricity to various parts of your home. Each circuit breaker has a lever that can be turned “on” or “off.” Each breaker should have its own label so you can identify the area of the house affected.

Each circuit breaker is designed to trip when the circuit is overloaded. This is a definite safety device. If the breaker didn’t trip and shut off the power, there could be trouble. Each breaker is designed to carry a certain amount of current. If it carries too much, the wires could overheat and possibly catch fire.