Which statement best describes a feeder in an electrical system?

• A. It distributes power from service equipment to subpanels or distribution points.
• B. It is the same as a branch circuit.
• C. It is the same as the service disconnect.
• D. It is a grounding conductor.

Answer: (A)

Feeder conductors are the main supply lines that carry power from the service equipment (like the main panel) to distribution points such as subpanels or other panels further in the system. They are the larger, primary runs that feed power into the next stage of distribution, rather than delivering power to a single device. This is different from branch circuits, which are the individual runs from a panel to outlets and fixtures; feeders handle power for multiple loads by feeding a panel or distribution point that then branches out. They’re also not the service disconnect, which is the switch or breaker that interrupts all power, nor a grounding conductor, which provides a return path to earth for fault currents. So describing a feeder as the path that delivers power from service equipment to subpanels or distribution points captures its role in the system.