Network Parameters
Every ElectroBoard project has network parameters that describe the type of electrical supply. They drive the available bus bars, the device connection options, and the validation rules.
Grounding System
The earthing system defines how the neutral and protective conductors are arranged. It determines the bus bars in the panel and the protection rules. The letter codes follow IEC 60364-1.
TN-S — recommended
Separate neutral (N) and protective-earth (PE) conductors all the way from the supply source. The safest system for residential installations.
Bus bars in the panel: N + PE (separate)
TN-C-S — most common in practice
A combined PEN conductor from the source that splits into N and PE at the building's service entrance. The typical system in most apartment blocks.
Bus bars in the panel: N + PE
PEN split point. In the board settings (the gear icon) you can declare, for TN-C-S, where the PEN conductor splits into N and PE: "Upstream" — the split is already made in the building's main switchboard and your board receives separate N and PE (a typical apartment); "In this board" — a combined PEN enters the board (a private house fed from an overhead line) and the split is made here. This clears the false "PEN switched before the split point" warning on apartment boards. The safer "In this board" option is armed by default so a real hazard is never silently hidden (IEC 60364-4-41 §411.4.2).
TN-C — legacy system
The neutral and protective earth are combined into a single conductor (PEN) along the whole run. Found in the old housing stock.
Bus bars in the panel: PEN only
⚠️ Warning: In a TN-C system you cannot use an RCD or RCBO — the combined PEN makes residual-current protection ineffective, so it will not trip correctly.
TT — for private houses
The neutral (N) comes from the source, while the protective earth (PE) is the site's own earth electrode. Used when there is no reliable earth from the network.
Bus bars in the panel: N + PE (separate)
IT — for special installations
Isolated neutral. Used in industry and medical facilities, where the first earth fault must not cause a disconnection.
Bus bars in the panel: N + PE
Phase Configuration
| Configuration | Phases | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Single-phase | L | Apartments, small installations |
| Two-phase | L1 + L2 | Rarely used |
| Three-phase | L1 + L2 + L3 | Private houses, commercial buildings |
The phase configuration defines which conductors are available and how the load is distributed. In three-phase mode ElectroBoard shows the phase load balance and warns on a significant imbalance.
Voltage
Standard values:
- Single-phase: 230 V (phase-to-neutral)
- Three-phase line voltage: 400 V (phase-to-phase)
- Frequency: 50 Hz
Allocated Power
In the project settings you can set the allocated power — the maximum power your electricity supplier permits. It is entered in kW or in A.
Typical example values:
- One-room apartment: 5 kW
- Two- to three-room apartment: 7 kW
- Private house (1-phase): 10 kW
- Private house (3-phase): 15 kW
When the panel's total load approaches or exceeds the allocated power, the inlet-load indicator in the toolbar changes and the validation panel shows the corresponding warning.
Short-Circuit Source
To compute short-circuit currents (see Automatic Checks → Fault Currents), ElectroBoard uses the supply-source parameters. Set them in the board settings (the gear icon) under "Short-circuit source", from a measurement report or from the network-operator data. Input modes:
- Unknown — computed from typical network values (a safe default estimate).
- Measured Ze — the phase-to-PE loop impedance at the inlet (Ω), from a test report; the line impedance
Z linecan be entered separately if needed. - Prospective current at the inlet — the expected short-circuit current at the inlet (kA), declared by the network operator.
- Transformer — the supply transformer rating (kVA) and its short-circuit voltage
uk(%); the short-circuit current is estimated from these.
For a TT system, the earth-electrode resistance RA (Ω) is entered as well — it is required for the touch-voltage check.
When no values are given, the calculation falls back to typical values and the corresponding results are marked as "assumed".
Network Presets
When you create a project, ElectroBoard fills in the network parameters from a preset. The available presets are:
- Apartment (Ukraine): TN-C-S, 1-phase, 230 V, 50 Hz
- House (Ukraine): TN-C-S, 3-phase, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Europe (standard): TN-S, 3-phase, 230 V, 50 Hz
By default a new project is created with TN-C-S, 3-phase, 230 V, 50 Hz. You can change any parameter manually through the settings panel (the gear icon) in the editor.
How Network Settings Affect the Board
| Parameter | Effect |
|---|---|
| Grounding system | Determines the bus set (N, PE, PEN) and the permitted device types |
| Phase configuration | Determines the available conductors (L / L1+L2+L3) and load balance |
| Voltage | Affects current and voltage-drop calculations |
| Allocated power | Sets the inlet-overload warning threshold |
| Check regime | Determines which norms the panel is checked against and what the warnings refer to |
Standards
The panel's regulatory base is set by the "Regime" row in the board settings, "Validation" section. There are two regimes:
| Regime | Norms | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Ukraine | Ukrainian national standards | Panels in Ukraine |
| IEC | IEC 60364 | Panels built to the international standard |
The regime determines which checks apply, with which thresholds (for example, the permissible voltage drop or the typical fault current at the input), and which documents the messages refer to (for example, "IEC 60364-4-41 §411.4.2"). Until a regime is chosen explicitly, it is assumed from the interface language — the board settings show a note about this; click the regime you need to confirm it. If a regime change would hide some warnings, the editor first says how many and asks for confirmation. In the English edition, validation refers to IEC 60364 by default.
For each standard ElectroBoard stores metadata — its name, country, and whether a local clause reference is bundled. When a reference library is available, the links in the validation messages become active and a click opens the matching clause of the norm.