In a typical residential setup, electrical appliances in a house are connected to an electric meter through a series of wiring and circuits. Here's a general overview of how the connection is made:
Service Entrance: The electrical power is supplied to the house from the utility grid through a service entrance. This entrance usually consists of overhead or underground cables that connect to the electric meter.
Electric Meter: The electric meter is a device installed by the utility company to measure the amount of electricity consumed by the household. It usually has a display that shows the total kilowatt-hours (kWh) used. The meter is typically located outside the house, often on an exterior wall.
Main Service Panel (Load Center): The electric meter is connected to the main service panel, also known as the load center or distribution panel. The main service panel is usually installed indoors, and it acts as the central hub for distributing electricity to various circuits throughout the house.
Service Entrance Cable: The service entrance cable connects the electric meter to the main service panel. It consists of three main wires: two hot wires (usually black or red) and one neutral wire (usually white or gray). In some cases, there may also be a separate grounding wire (green or bare copper) for safety purposes.
Circuit Breakers: The main service panel contains multiple circuit breakers or fuses, each responsible for protecting a specific circuit in the house. These circuits distribute electricity to different areas, rooms, or specific appliances. The circuit breakers provide protection by automatically disconnecting the power in case of overcurrent or short circuits.
Branch Circuits: From the circuit breakers, individual branch circuits run throughout the house to supply electricity to outlets, switches, and light fixtures. These circuits are typically installed using electrical wires, such as non-metallic sheathed cable (NM) or armored cable (AC). The wiring is concealed within the walls, floors, or ceilings of the house.
Outlets and Appliances: At various locations in the house, electrical outlets are installed to provide power for appliances, electronics, lighting, and other devices. The outlets are connected to the branch circuits and typically have a hot wire (connected to the brass-colored terminal), a neutral wire (connected to the silver-colored terminal), and a grounding wire (connected to the green or bare terminal).
In summary, the electrical appliances in a house are connected to an electric meter through a network of wiring, circuits, and a main service panel. The electric meter measures the electricity consumed, while the main service panel distributes power to different circuits and protects against electrical overloads.