Strictly speaking, there is still a difference.
In terms of appearance and structure, electric control cabinets and distribution cabinets (switchboards) are of the same type, and electric control boxes and distribution boxes are of the same type.
The electrical control box and distribution box are sealed on six sides and are generally wall-mounted. There are knock-out holes on the top and bottom of the box to facilitate the entry and exit of wires and cables into the electrical control and distribution box.
Electrical control cabinets and distribution cabinets are sealed on five sides and have no bottom. They are generally installed on the floor against the wall.
The switchboard is generally sealed on two sides, and there are also three, four and five sides. The switchboard is installed on the floor, but the back cannot be against the wall. There must be space for operation and maintenance behind the switchboard.
The specific sides of the switchboard must be sealed. Please make a request when ordering. For example, if five switchboards are installed side by side and continuously, only the left side of the first one needs a baffle, the right side of the fifth one needs a baffle, and the left and right sides of the second, third, and fourth ones are all open. If a power strip is installed and used independently, there needs to be baffles on the left and right sides.
In most cases, the back of the switchboard is open. There can also be a door at the back according to user needs, which can prevent dust and facilitate operation and maintenance.
From a functional perspective, distribution panels, distribution cabinets and distribution boxes belong to the same category, and electrical control boxes and electrical control cabinets belong to the same category.
Generally speaking, the distribution board distributes electric energy to lower-level distribution cabinets and distribution boxes, or directly distributes electric energy to electrical equipment. Distribution cabinets and distribution boxes directly distribute electric energy to electrical equipment. , sometimes power distribution cabinets are also used to distribute electrical energy to lower-level distribution boxes.
Electrical control boxes and electrical control cabinets are mainly used to control electrical equipment, and also have the function of distributing electric energy to electrical equipment.
Knife switches, knife-fuse switches, air switches, fuses, magnetic starters (contactors), thermal relays, and sometimes current transformers are mainly installed in distribution cabinets, distribution boxes and distribution panels. , voltage transformers, ammeters, voltmeters, watt-hour meters, etc. In addition to the above electrical components installed in the electric control box and cabinet, intermediate relays, time relays, control buttons, indicator lights, transfer switches and For switches and control equipment with other functions, some even install frequency converters, PLCs, microcontrollers, I/O conversion devices, AC and DC transformer regulators, etc. in electrical control boxes and electrical control cabinets. Some even install temperature, The pressure and flow display instruments are installed on the electric control box and electric control cabinet.