Dual contactor electrical panelboard assembly, systems and methods

Abstract

A panelboard assembly includes a plurality of subpanel assemblies and three power distribution blocks (PDBs). Each of the subpanel assemblies includes a branch breaker assembly electrically connected to a three-phase power supply and configured to be electrically connected to a group of loads. The branch breaker assembly includes a plurality of branch circuit breakers, each configured to switch on or off an electrical connection to a respective one or more loads in the group of loads. Each of the three PDBs is associated with a phase of the three-phase power supply. The three PDBs are disposed downstream of the power supply and upstream of the breaker assembly of each of the plurality of subpanel assemblies. Each PDB is configured to receive electrical power through a single bus and distribute the received electrical power to the branch breaker assembly of each of the plurality of subpanel assemblies via separate buses.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A panelboard assembly, comprising:
 a plurality of subpanel assemblies electrically connected to a three-phase power supply from a main breaker assembly, wherein each of the subpanel assemblies comprises:
 a contactor assembly electrically connected to the three-phase power supply; and 
 a branch breaker assembly electrically connected to a load side of the contactor assembly and configured to be electrically connected to a group of loads, the branch breaker assembly including a plurality of branch circuit breakers, and each of the plurality of branch circuit breakers is configured to switch on or off an electrical connection to a respective one or more loads in the group of loads, 
 wherein the contactor assembly is configured to connect or disconnect power to the branch breaker assembly and to the group of loads all at once; and 
   three power distribution blocks (PDBs) electrically connected to the three-phase power supply, wherein each of the three PDBs is associated with a phase of the three-phase power supply, wherein the three PDBs are disposed downstream of the main breaker assembly and upstream of the contactor assembly of each of the plurality of subpanel assemblies, wherein each of the three PDBs is configured to receive electrical power through a single bus and distribute the received electrical power to the contactor assembly of each of the plurality of subpanel assemblies via separate buses.   
     
     
         2 . The panelboard assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an enclosure enclosing the plurality of subpanel assemblies. 
     
     
         3 . The panelboard assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of subpanel assemblies is switched on and off through a photoresistor. 
     
     
         4 . The panelboard assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a branch panel dead front covering at least a portion of each of the branch breaker assemblies, wherein the branch panel dead front further includes one or more slots providing access to at least one of the branch breaker assemblies. 
     
     
         5 . The panelboard assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the main breaker assembly is electrically connected to the plurality of subpanel assemblies, the main breaker assembly configured to switch on or off an electrical connection to the three-phase power supply. 
     
     
         6 . The panelboard assembly of  claim 5 , further comprising a main panel dead front covering at least a portion of the main breaker assembly, wherein the main panel dead front further includes one or more slots providing access to the main breaker assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The panelboard assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a mounting board, wherein the plurality of subpanel assemblies are mounted on the mounting board. 
     
     
         8 . A panelboard assembly, comprising:
 a main breaker assembly configured to be electrically connected to a three-phase power supply;   a plurality of subpanel assemblies electrically connected to the three-phase power supply from the main breaker assembly, wherein each of the subpanel assemblies comprises:
 a branch breaker assembly electrically connected to a load side of the main breaker assembly and configured to be electrically connected to a group of loads, the branch breaker assembly including a plurality of branch circuit breakers, and each of the plurality of branch circuit breakers is configured to switch on or off an electrical connection to a respective one or more loads in the group of loads; and 
   three power distribution blocks (PDBs) electrically connected to the three-phase power supply, wherein each of the three PDBs is associated with a phase of the three-phase power supply, wherein the three PDBs are disposed downstream of the main breaker assembly and upstream of the branch breaker assembly of each of the plurality of subpanel assemblies, wherein each of the three PDBs is configured to receive electrical power through a single bus and distribute the received electrical power to the branch breaker assembly of each of the plurality of subpanel assemblies via separate buses.   
     
     
         9 . The panelboard assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising an enclosure enclosing the plurality of subpanel assemblies. 
     
     
         10 . The panelboard assembly of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the plurality of subpanel assemblies is switched on and off through a photoresistor. 
     
     
         11 . The panelboard assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising a branch panel dead front covering at least a portion of each of the branch breaker assemblies, wherein the branch panel dead front further includes one or more slots providing access to at least one of the branch breaker assemblies. 
     
     
         12 . The panelboard assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the main breaker assembly configured to switch on or off an electrical connection to the three-phase power supply. 
     
     
         13 . The panelboard assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a main panel dead front covering at least a portion of the main breaker assembly, wherein the main panel dead front further includes one or more slots providing access to the main breaker assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The panelboard assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising a mounting board, wherein the plurality of subpanel assemblies are mounted on the mounting board. 
     
     
         15 . A panelboard assembly, comprising:
 a plurality of subpanel assemblies electrically connected to a three-phase power supply, wherein each of the subpanel assemblies comprises:
 a branch breaker assembly electrically connected to the power supply and configured to be electrically connected to a group of loads, the branch breaker assembly including a plurality of branch circuit breakers, and each of the plurality of branch circuit breakers is configured to switch on or off an electrical connection to a respective one or more loads in the group of loads; 
   an enclosure enclosing the plurality of subpanel assemblies; and   three power distribution blocks (PDBs) electrically connected to the three-phase power supply, wherein each of the three PDBs is associated with a phase of the three-phase power supply, wherein the three PDBs are disposed downstream of the three-phase power supply and upstream of the branch breaker assembly of each of the plurality of subpanel assemblies, wherein each of the three PDBs is configured to receive electrical power through a single bus and distribute the received electrical power to the branch breaker assembly of each of the plurality of subpanel assemblies via separate buses.   
     
     
         16 . The panelboard assembly of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the plurality of subpanel assemblies is switched on and off through a photoresistor. 
     
     
         17 . The panelboard assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising a branch panel dead front covering at least a portion of each of the branch breaker assembly, wherein the branch panel dead front further includes one or more slots providing access to at least one of the branch breaker assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The panelboard assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising a main breaker assembly electrically connected to the plurality of subpanel assemblies, the main breaker assembly configured to switch on or off an electrical connection to the three-phase power supply. 
     
     
         19 . The panelboard assembly of  claim 18 , further comprising a main panel dead front covering at least a portion of the main breaker assembly, wherein the main panel dead front further includes one or more slots providing access to the main breaker assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The panelboard assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising a mounting board, wherein the plurality of subpanel assemblies are mounted on the mounting board.