Each wire powers one “bus” (copper vertical leg) inside the main service panel. That’s why you usually see two columns of circuit breakers (or fuses) when you open your service panel door.

This single circuit might power the lights in your living room or feed receptacles in your kitchen. Single-pole breakers take up one slot in your home's electrical panel and typically protect 15 ...

The panel also protects the home’s electrical system by housing fuses or circuit breakers which will turn off the power in the event of an overload or short circuit, potentially preventing ...