A switchboard is an electrical system that controls the distribution of power to loads. Depending on the size of the load and the facility, it can consist of one or more vertical structures that contain main disconnects, circuit breaker panels or branch circuit protection devices. The structure may also include monitoring and control equipment, surge suppression devices and other equipment specific to the installation.

Typical switchboards are designed to supply power to large commercial or industrial facilities. They can also be used in smaller buildings or homes. In addition, they can be used to feed panelboards that distribute power to smaller loads.

The first step in wiring an electrical switchboard is to determine where you will place the circuits. You can use AutoCAD or other drawing programs to create a schematic layout of the wiring. The diagram will help you organize your wiring and keep track of each circuit as you work.

Next, draw each of the circuits on your schematic with a wire. The wire should be drawn in a color that will easily be identified by other electricians or maintenance personnel. A light green or gray color is a good choice for a neutral wire that will connect to the ground, while darker colors are better for heavy-duty wiring.

Once you have the circuits drawn, label each of them to make locating the wires easier later. This will also ensure that you don’t accidentally tack on a cable that is not part of the circuit you want to run.

You can also trace the cables with a pencil and add labels to the Romex sheathing to identify which wires go to each outlet or device. A permanent marker will work for this purpose.

When wiring a multiwire branch circuit, make sure that all of the branches are connected together. This is because splitting apart the wires could cause the breaker to trip, resulting in an overload that could be dangerous.

A circuit breaker or RCD is an automatic protective device that switches off electricity flow when it detects an abnormal condition. These devices come in different shapes and sizes. They are similar to fuses and can be set to operate on single or double poles, but they are more reliable due to their auto-operation and reset capabilities.

The breaker should be rated to handle the current of the circuit and to protect against overloads. It should also be able to safely shut off the current to all of the wires on the circuit if there is an overcurrent.

The electrical code requires that the wiring be colour-coded. This helps with the easy identification of the wires, which is especially important when working with insulated conductor bars or other insulation that can be damaged by the bending of the wires. This makes it easier to find and replace lost or damaged wires, so you can keep the electrical system running smoothly.