COMPONENTS OF A CONTORL PANEL

Name: Douglas Ntabo Memba

ADM NO: CEEPS23/4280

Group: B

No Component Description Diagram

1 Fuses  Act as protection devise that disconnect the circuit

incase there is overcurrent or short circuit hence

prevent damage.

 It also contains fuse links which melts when the

current exceeds the related value.

dashboard which helps in quickly determine the state

of a system.

Function

 Used to indicate the operational condition whether

the machine is running or stopped.

 Used to indicate if there is an interlock and the

safety status of the system

 Helps to determine if there is fault or normal

condition

Types of pilot lights

 Status indicators lights

 Multicolor pilot lights

 Blinking/flashing pilot lights

3 Switch Is a simple yet essential components used in flow of

current by opening and closing of circuit

Types of switches

 Toggle Switch—It features a lever that flies

between two positions to open or close a circuits.

Mainly used in household, light switches, control

panels and machinery.

 Push Button Switch—They are activitaed by

pressing a button
 Mainly used to start/stop control or as reset button in

machines.

Usage: Elevator buttons or computer power buttons

 Rotary Switch—A rotary switch is rotated to

selected different circuits

Mainly Usage: Volume controls and dimmers

 Limit Switch—Used to detect the presence or

absence of an object or to monitor the movement

of machinery.

Used in-Conveyor belts, doors and automated

machinery to stop at specific points.

 Pressure switch- is a pressure switch is triggered

when a certain pressure level is reached, in opening

or closing the circuit.

4 Wire Labels Are essential tools used to identify and mark wires and

cables in electrical and electronic systems

Types of wire Labels

 Pre-printed wire labels—Are labels come with

pre-printed text or code like “Hot”, Neutral or

Grand.

 Blank wire labels—They can be written on with a

marker or pen, allowing for customized

 Cable ties with labels—Are often used in high

density wiring situation.

5 Timer Used to measure time in various applications allowing

for the automatic starting, stopping

Commonly used in electrical, industrial, automotive

and household

Types of Timers

 Mechanical timers like old-fashioned oven timers

 Digital timers

 Programmable timers—This timer allows the user

to set specific on/off times or schedules for

controlling systems or devices.

6 Relay Is a type of switch that is operated by an electromagnet

Used to control a high-power circuit with low power

signal

Types of Relay

 Electromechanical Relay (ENR)—Most common

type of relay used in the armature to physically

open or close contacts

 Solid state Relay (SSR)—used in semiconductor

components e.g: Transistors, Thyristors, used in

fast switching and long lifespan are needed.

when heated therefore opening or closing the

contacts

 Mainly used for the protection of motors or

circuits that require protection from excessive

heat.

7 Contactor Is an electrically controlled switch used for switching

an electrical circuit on and off

Types of Contactors

 Ac Contactors—used in control Ac (alternating

Current)

 DC Contactors—Used in direct current used in

battery charger and DC motor control

 Auxiliary contactors—used in conjunction with

main contractors to expand functionality

8 Push Buttons A push button is simple electrical component used to

complete or interrupt circuit when pressed

Types of Push Buttons

 Momentary push buttons—used in doorbells,

alarms and computers

 Latching Push Button—Used in toggling like

turning on or off lights

panel where visibility in dark environment.

9 Wire Is a mechanical connector used to attach a wire to a

Lugs/terminal terminal hence ensuring a secure and reliable electrical

lug/cable Lug connection.

They are mainly used in marine, automotive.

Types of Wire lugs

 Ring Terminal Lugs— They have a circular ring at

the end that can be screwed.

 Spade terminal lugs—They have a forked shape

that allows for quick and easy connection to a

terminal by slipping the spade over the terminal.

 BuH Connector—These lugs are used to connect

two wires inside the connector

 Bullet connector—They have cylindrical, bullet

like shape are typically used for quick connect.

10 Bus Bar Is a metallic strip or bar used to distribute electrical

power to different circuit within an electrical system.

They are both used in low-voltage and high-voltage

systems.

Types of Bus Bars

 Solid Bus Bar—Made up of single piece of metal

such as copper or aluminum

hollow center which allows them to carry current

more efficiently.

 Flexible Bus Bar—Made up of flexible metal

strips that can bent at different configurations,

mostly applied in transformers and movable

equipment.

 Insulated Bus Bar—Covered with an insulating

material to prevent accidental contact and enhance

safety.

Materials used for Bus Bars

 Copper

 Aluminum

 Steel

 Brass
11 Wires Are conductive materials, typically made of copper,

and aluminum, that are used to transmit electrical

power or signals.

Types of Wires

 Conductor Wires—Basic wires used to conduct

electrical current, mainly used in residential wiring

electrical panels.

 Insulated wires—These wires are coated with non-

conductive materials like plastic, rubber, and

insulating materials to prevent electrical shocks.

 Bare wire—They are wires without any insulation

 Twisted Pair Wire—They are wires consisting of

two conductors twisted together to cancel out

electromagnetic.

 Coaxial Cables—Consist of a central conductor an

insulating layer e.g TV cable.

 Flexible wires—Made up from multiple small

stands of wire twisted together to allow for

flexibility and movement

the end of wire

They often made from materials like tin-plated copper,

brass or aluminium

Types of wire ferrules

 Insulated ferrules—They are plastic insulation

around the metal body

 No insulated ferrules—They are made solely of

metal without any additional insulation.

 Single ferrules—A single wire ferrule is designed

to terminate a single wire.

 Twin ferrules—Designed to hold two wires

together in one termination main multiple wires

can be useful when multiple.

number of occurrences of events or pulses.

Mainly used in tracking of time events, traffic lights

and digital clocks.

Types of Counters

 Binary counters

 Decade Counters

 Up/down counters

 Ring Counters
14 Enclosure Is a protective housing designed to enclose electrical or

electronic components.

Types of enclosures

 NENA Enclosure- Widely used in electrical and

electronic equipment

 IP Rating Enclosure—Defines the level of

protection provided by the enclosure against dust

and moisture.

 Outdoor Enclosure—Are built to withstand

environmental challenges such as rain

 Industrial enclosure—Industrial environments are

designed to protect equipment from harsh

conditions such as high dust levels.

15 Cable They are simple yet incredibly effective fastening tools

Ties/Zip ties used for securely and organizing cables and wires.

Types of cable ties

Standard cable ties-Are common type are typically

used for general binding

Heavy duct cable ties- They are used for more robust

where higher tensile strength is required.

Releasable cable ties—They are temporary

installations where the bundle may need to be adjusted

or reconfigured.
 Colored cable ties- are used when color-coding

16 Dust Panel Is a protective feature used in electrical and electronic

systems to prevent the accumulation of dust and dirt.

Types of dust panels

 Mesh/perforated panels—Made of metal with a

small holes allow air circulation while blocking

larger particles

 Solid panels—These filters trap dust while still

allowing airflow to be maintained.

 Sealed enclosure—Enclosure with dust-light panels

is designed to provide complete protection from

dust ingress.

 Ventilated dust panels- these allow the airflow to

cool the equipment while still blocking dust

particles like dust.