Hovedutganger

Hovedutganger is a Norwegian term used mainly in electrical engineering and building services to denote the main outgoing connections from a central distribution point, such as a hovedtavle (main distribution board) or a fordingsskap. Each hovedutgang functions as a feeder that delivers power to downstream circuits, subpanels, or equipment. They are protected by overcurrent devices (fuses or circuit breakers) and sized according to conductor rating and the expected load. In practice, hovedutganger are planned to balance load across available phases and to provide safe separation between high-power circuits and auxiliary circuits. The labeling typically identifies the destination or circuit number.

In installations, a set of hovedutganger originates from the main distribution board and may feed subpanels on different floors or zones within a building. In larger industrial setups, hovedutganger correspond to major feeders that supply machinery or process lines. The concept can also be applied in other systems with a central hub and multiple downstream connections, though the electrical usage is by far the most common. Related terms include hovedtavle (main distribution board), fordelingstavle, feeder, and utgangskrets.

The term emphasizes the role of these connections as the primary pathways for distributing power from a central point to downstream elements, as opposed to individual socket outlets or small branch circuits.