Blackout Electric | Oregon & Washington
Panel Upgrades
The invention of the first electrical panel, also known as the electrical distribution board or breaker panel, cannot be attributed to a single individual. Instead, it was a gradual development in the field of electrical engineering. However, Thomas Edison and his companies played a significant role in the development and commercialization of electrical distribution systems in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Thomas Edison’s contributions to electrical systems included the creation of the first practical direct current (DC) electrical distribution system in the 1880s. This system used fuses and rudimentary circuit breakers to protect electrical circuits, which can be seen as early components of modern electrical panels. Over time, as alternating current (AC) systems developed, pioneered by Nikola Tesla and George Westinghouse, electrical panels evolved to accommodate the changing technology and increased demand for electricity in homes and businesses.
The modern electrical panel, as we know it today, with circuit breakers and organized distribution of power, has been refined over the years through contributions from many engineers and companies in the electrical industry, incorporating advancements in safety, reliability, and functionality.