How Does an Electrical Service Work? Electrical Service Panels Explained

The term “Electrical Service” can be confusing for many electricians. What does it consist of? Why are there different sizes? Why do we have overhead and underground services? Where does the service start/stop and where does the building power take over? In the latest episode of Electrician U, Dustin answers several of these questions surrounding the topic.

0:00 Introduction
1:15 ELECTRICAL SERVICE
4:53 SINGLE PHASE & THREE PHASE
15:20 OVERHEAD / UNDERGROUND
19:13 DIFFERENT SIZES OF SERVICES
24:31 DIFFERENT WIRE AND RACEWAYS

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#electrician #electrical #electricity

In the simplest terminology, the electrical service is the point at which power from the utility enters the residence/structure. Usually this takes the form of a utility transformer, which steps down the power to something we can use (say 120/208v or 277/480v). That transformer consists of a primary side (coming from the power generating station) and the secondary side (that which is at a much lower voltage) going to the building itself. As with all electrical circuits, each side of the transformer consists of a complete loop (or circuit) that allows the flow of electrons to return to its source. Different sizes of loads require different sizes of services. A house for example, since it is not large in size, will have a service from 125a to 200a, while a commercial building can have a service up in the thousands of amps depending on the size of the building and what’s being powered. Something to consider is the ground. Electrical services do not have a grounding conductor with them (normally). We derive the ground at the point of utilization. Most utility companies will disperse their power in three phase, dropping two of them off to be used at single phase installation (like a residence or smaller commercial space) and using all three phases at the larger commercial/industrial applications. Most residential power circuits do not require three phase to operate, so the utility doesn’t typically send three phase to residential neighborhoods. The commercial/industrial installations require three phase to be more efficient with all of the different items needed to make the building operate- lights, large and small motors, receptacles, equipment, etc.
When it comes to grounding the system, there are 3 basic items to remember. The Grounding Electrode is the item used to connect the system to Earth- like a ground rod, or grounding plate, or Ufer ground. The Grounding Electrode Conductor physically connects the Grounding Electrode to the system, usually in the form of a wire. The Equipment Grounding Conductor is what we would normally associate with the ground wire connecting our electrical equipment together. It is meant to bond all of our equipment together and leave everything with a safe alternate path of grounding.
Overhead and underground services are available, and you will see both used frequently. While newer installations will put the service underground, the older ones you normally see overhead. Aesthetically, it is much more pleasing to the eye not having to see the overhead wires and poles, and technology/equipment have become much better in the recent era to allow us to dig them in. The meter itself is also considered part of the electrical service as this is where the utility can measure the amount of electricity being used and charge accordingly.

[deweyplanck]

I’ve been an electrician for a long time and the question I would like to see answered is how electric produces the energy without any loss of mass in the circuit.

[Anamnesis]

I've worked in construction for years, though not as a laborer, and it's incredibly challenging to find simple explanations of how things work if you don't become an apprentice or go to trade school. You're doing an incredibly valuable thing here by explaining this stuff in plain language.

[bernsfindsandmore]

I have never been so intrigued by electricity until I became a homeowner. I used to perform receptacle and switch change outs while working with my dad but all I would do was remove and replace never thinking or knowing if it was wired correctly. Thanks to Dustin, I have received the right amount of education that has opened my eyes and give more respect to the trademen/women who make it happen so that we can live comfortably. Thanks, keep these videos coming...

[nathaliapolischuk]

I'm 9 months into my pre-employment Electrical program through IBEW in Manitoba Canada. Just want to say that I'm so grateful to have discovered your channel. I'm sure you get this a lot, but the work and effort you have put into this is just incredible and definitely surpasses the lectures I'm getting in class in terms of both quality and information communicated. I've subscribed and I have a feeling I will be watching your videos for years to come as I work through my apprenticeship. Thank you so much :) <3.

[propmonkey]

Thanks for your videos. You are a natural teacher. I came across your channel two months ago while I was studying for my ETCP Entertainment Exam (concerts, theatres, events). In the exam the had code questions which is not something I was really shown in the past. We mostly deal with NEC 520/530, I found myself watching a lot of your videos to really understand the basics or the building blocks. It’s made me understand it all much better. One thing I haven’t seen you cover is harmonics. This was a topic that was stressed during my exam prep. While I understand the concept enough to get by, I’d love to see more in-depth explanation and some examples.

[scottyanke]

Great explanation! Regarding overhead vs. underground - In MN it's getting more and more rare to find overhead lines to buildings, or even within a town. We consider that mostly more reliable. In our part of the country it's very, very rare to have disruptions because of weather. Farms still tend to be overhead, but residential service is underground, and we don't worry about high wind, ice storms, tornadoes, etc. taking out the power. Local power companies are finding it saves them money, especially for repairs.

[PrevMedHealth]

I’m not an electrician. I got interested in this while reading about about electrical charging for a vehicles. This was REALLY helpful.

[taylorlightfoot]

Much more concise, love how quickly you've integrated feedback and corrected mistake in same diagram used in the last video. This video was pretty much perfect.

[ThreePhase]

As someone who got laid off 6 months ago, having worked as a Commercial Electrical Apprentice for the last 4.5 years, your videos are entertaining as always and factually accurate as well. Thanks for the great content.

[Ben_electric]

Here in the Midwest we have to deal with tornadoes and crazy storms, but not earthquakes. Falling trees have ripped services apart. I've seen cases where the whole breaker panel and meter have gotten ripped off the walls. So our AHJ and power company force us to go underground for all new and rebuilt residential services.

[papayaco]

I would love a video on how to calculate the electrical load of a service using both the standard and optional methods. Also how to properly use a clamp multimeter to read all phases and how accurate this option is. When trying to determine if someone needs to upgrade their electrical service what is the best and most accurate method to use? Thank you and love your channel!

[ish_tv]

Thanks for this vid bro!. I’m a Local 1 NYC plumber. You’ve answered questions I was ashamed to ask my local 3 bros. Salute.

[markanderson]

Excellent video. I passed it to my apprentice electrician class.

[SarahJohnson-fqxz]

This explained it Soo much better than my coworkers or even school instructors have. I appreciate u Dustin!!

[flybennu]

Congrats on your career and your channel, man. Really glad this stuff is out here & can't wait to throw some support. You're great at breaking things down in a way that's easy to understand. Inspiring stuff!

[rogerk]

Great video Dustin! I am going to share this!
Maybe a future clip can go into UFER’s? On new additions or new construction. Are they allowed everywhere? Are grounding rods better? Thanks for all the info. I didn’t know that the main breaker meant for each bus but now it makes perfect sense. Thanks for that knowledge as well.

[edwardsmith]

This is great for anyone trying to get a basic comprehension of 3 and single phase service entrances!
Well done!

[Sparky-wwre]

Excellent video, Dustin. Keep em coming. Last year when I was running the Cat 6 cables in a newly built 3 story apartment complex in Charlotte, NC as a subcontractor, I saw a lot of larger apartment complexs with a very large disconnect, sometimes one on each end of the building, that was labeled like "1200 amps, 208Y/120 volts, 3ø" then of course each unit inside would get 208/120 volt single phase while the elevator and main HVAC system would run 208 3 phase with or without a neutral
As it would be extremely uncommon for 3 phase to be found in a residential situation, unless there was a home workshop where the homeowner is running his own woodworking business and had a bunch of heavy duty air compressors and lathes that requires 3 phase, or it was a custom built luxury home that is exceptionally large, and the utility company would allow it.

[TRAjim]

Excellent video! How about a video on cautionary tales regarding “power strips”? Overloaded power strips, plugged into a 15 amp outlet, cause many house fires

[AllTrac]

Another great vid man! In the "why we don't add up breakers" video you said you were gonna go more in depth on the standard and optional load calculations. In that still In the plans for an upcoming video?