What is a panelboard primarily designed for?

A panelboard is primarily designed to distribute electrical power to various circuits within a building. Its main function is to serve as a central point where electrical power is divided into subsidiary circuits and is equipped with overcurrent protection devices like circuit breakers or fuses. This makes it essential for managing the electrical needs of an establishment efficiently.

The choice about placing the panelboard in a cabinet for assembly does not accurately reflect its primary purpose. While panelboards can indeed be housed in cabinets, this feature is more about ensuring protection and organization rather than defining its core function. The core role of a panelboard is about distribution and management of electricity.

The other options highlight various capabilities and applications of electrical components but do not encapsulate the function of a panelboard correctly. For instance, lighting and heating control refers more to dedicated control systems rather than the broader role of panelboards in distributing multiple types of circuits. Similarly, controlling only power circuits or providing distribution for mobile homes and vehicles are narrower uses of electrical systems that fall outside the established scope of what panelboards are designed to do, missing their more comprehensive application in residential and commercial settings. Thus, it is clear that the defining aspect of a panelboard lies in its capacity to organize and distribute electrical power effectively to all necessary