Panelboard product attributes

A panelboard is rarely one product. It is usually ordered as an interior, a box and a front or trim, each with its own catalog number, and the three must match in size and style. Supplier price files often list the parts separately with no link between them, or list a factory-assembled unit that hides which components it contains. Either gap leads to missing or mismatched pieces on site.

The electrical ratings need care as well. Bus ampere rating and main breaker rating are different values, and a main-lug-only interior has no main device at all. Short-circuit current rating depends on the installed branch devices and any series-rated combinations. Pole spaces, circuit counts and the branch breaker types that fit the bus are often written in ways that cannot be compared across brands.

This template records assembly role, ratings, configuration, enclosure and compatibility as separate governed fields. With it, a quote desk can build a complete panelboard order, confirm it suits the service voltage and available fault current, and check each value against the manufacturer's ratings label or selection guide.

The panelboards & load centers attribute template

18 candidate fields in 5 groups, ordered the way a record gets built: identify the item, capture its specifications, then record fit and the evidence behind any claim. 12 are marked Core: without them the item cannot be identified or filtered. Example values show the expected format only; they do not describe a real SKU.

Identity

Which exact item, variant and pack this record describes.

Check before use: Preserve leading zeros and punctuation, validate against the manufacturer record, and check the GTIN check digit and packaging level before linking.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Manufacturer Part Number manufacturer_part_number	Identifier	Core	PB42-225-208-MB
GTIN / UPC gtin_upc	Identifier	Channel / evidence	081234542207

Technical specifications

Measured or rated values that must travel with their unit and test conditions.

Check before use: Store the number and unit separately. Convert only when the source unit and test conditions are known.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Main Device Amperage main_device_amperage	Number · A	Core	200
Bus Ampere Rating bus_ampere_rating	Number · A	Core	225
System Voltage system_voltage	Controlled list · VAC	Core	208Y/120 VAC
Short Circuit Current Rating (SCCR) short_circuit_current_rating_sccr	Text	Core	22 kA rms sym at 240 VAC
Enclosure Type (NEMA) enclosure_type_nema	Controlled list	Core	NEMA 3R
Enclosure Dimensions (H x W x D) enclosure_dimensions_h_x_w_x_d	Text · in	Buyer decision	44.00 x 20.00 x 5.75 in

Selection attributes

The type, material and option choices buyers filter and compare on.

Check before use: Map supplier wording to a governed vocabulary only after checking the source text and which variant it applies to.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Assembly Role assembly_role	Controlled list	Core	Panelboard interior
Main Type main_type	Controlled list	Core	Main breaker (MB)
Phase & Wire Configuration phase_wire_configuration	Controlled list	Core	3-phase, 4-wire
Pole Spaces pole_spaces	Number	Core	42
Bus Material bus_material	Controlled list	Core	Tin-plated copper

Fit & compatibility

What the item mounts to, mates with, replaces or works alongside.

Check before use: Keep model and series qualifiers. A similar-looking part is not a verified fit until a source says so.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Mounting / Cover Style mounting_cover_style	Controlled list	Core	Surface
Breaker Type Accepted breaker_type_accepted	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Manufacturer's 1 in plug-on branch breakers (series per panel label)
Plug-On Neutral plug_on_neutral	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Yes

Evidence & compliance

Listings, standards, classifications and origin claims that need a document behind them.

Check before use: Link the manufacturer document or label with its edition or date. Never copy a certification from a neighboring SKU.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Suitable for Use as Service Equipment suitable_for_use_as_service_equipment	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	Yes (when main device is installed)
Country of Origin country_of_origin	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	United States

Normalize supplier values

The same value arrives in many spellings. Map each raw string to one governed value, and keep the raw text beside it so a reviewer can see what the supplier actually wrote.

Often missing from supplier files

These fields are commonly absent from price lists and basic feeds, even though the information usually exists in a datasheet, label or installation manual. Treat an empty value as a request for evidence, not as permission to fill it from a similar model.

• Compatible box and front (trim) catalog numbers
• Main and branch lug wire range (AWG/kcmil)
• Bus ampere rating held separately from main device amperage
• Feed-through / sub-feed lug provision
• Series rating combination reference

Questions the record must answer

Buyers and counter-sales reps choosing panelboards & load centers ask questions like these. Each one needs a specific field, sourced for the exact variant.

• Which box and front go with this interior?
• Which branch breakers can I install in this panel?
• Is this panel rated for the available fault current at our service?
• Can this panel serve as service equipment, or do I need a separate disconnect?

From supplier file to record

1. Resolve identity first. Link the supplier SKU, manufacturer part number and packaging identifiers without merging distinct variants or pack sizes.
2. Extract with the source attached. Pull values from rows, tables and datasheets, keeping the raw text, unit and page or row reference.
3. Map to your classification. Assign the ETIM, ECLASS, UNSPSC or internal class your company licenses, and keep the supplier's original terms.
4. Review, sync and watch. Hold conflicts and safety-related values for a category expert, write approved values to ERP or PIM, and recheck when the supplier sends a new file.

For the full method, see how to build a category attribute template and the category catalog gap audit.

FAQ