What Is a Feeder?
A feeder is a circuit that carries power from a service disconnect or distribution panel to another panel, equipment group, or building area. A feeder includes ungrounded conductors and may include a neutral and equipment grounding conductor. Its size and protection depend on the electrical load, conductor length, and installation conditions.
Quick Facts About Feeder
Category
Power distribution circuit
Used for
Supplying downstream panels and major loads
Common confusion
Often mistaken for a branch circuit
Also called
Feeder Wire, Feeder circuit
Often discussed with
Electrical Service Upgrade
Key Takeaways About Feeder
- A feeder supplies a downstream panel or major equipment group.
- Conductor size must match the connected electrical load.
- A feeder is not the same as a branch circuit.
How Feeder Works
A feeder moves power from a service disconnect or main distribution panel to a downstream panel or dedicated equipment. The downstream panel divides that power among branch circuits. Feeder conductors carry the combined demand of the circuits they supply.
Related glossary terms: Electrical Load, Load Center, Service Entrance.
Feeder design considers the connected load, conductor material, installation path, and voltage drop. A load center may receive feeder power and distribute it to lighting, receptacles, or equipment. The service entrance supplies the building from the utility, while a feeder distributes power after that point.
From the Service Electric team
When we inspect a feeder during an electrical service upgrade, we trace its source, destination, and connected load. We check conductor condition, terminations, panel compatibility, and the grounding path. Our team also looks for heat damage or loose connections that could affect reliable power distribution.
Feeder in Practice: A Real-World Example
A home addition may receive power through a feeder from the main panel to a separate panel near the new rooms. That downstream panel can then serve the addition’s lighting, receptacles, and dedicated equipment.
Related Services
Related Terms
Electrical Load
Electrical Load is the amount of power that connected devices and equipment draw from an electrical…
Load Center
A Load Center is an enclosure that receives electrical power and distributes it through circuit breakers…
Service Entrance
A service entrance is the point where electrical power enters a building from the utility system…
Voltage Drop
Voltage Drop is the reduction in electrical pressure that occurs as current travels through a conductor…
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Have Questions About Feeder?
Contact Service Electric for practical guidance on Feeder and related 24 hour electrician work in Victoria.