December
2009
Basics About A Circuit Breaker
Circuit breaker helps in preventing overload of any electrical circuit. A single board of circuit breaker contains number of circuit breakers for different circuits. A circuit breaker can be used anytime and it works automatically. An added advantage if using a circuit breaker is that it can be switched back or reused. People who were using fuse earlier are now switching to circuit breaker.
With the increase in popularity of circuit breakers, it is designed in different sizes and patterns. According to your need, you can take a simple circuit breaker or a high voltage circuit breaker (capable of cutting the power supply in whole society). But all of them perform same work of stopping the electric flow to tackle a hazardous situation. Various circuit breakers differ in the technique they use for halting the flow of electric current. Three types of circuit breakers are used very often and now we will learn more about them.
Electric current flows by means of a filament in a fuse box. Whenever there is a overloading in circuit, the filament gets heated up and is disintegrated to stop the current flow. One drawback of fixing a fuse box is the fuse could not be reset and you need to replace it.
In Magnetic circuit breakers, electric current passes through a coil near a magnet-operated switch. By passing through the coil the current creates a magnetic field which then pulls the switch magnet, closing the switch when the current increases more than a safe level.
A bimetallic circuit breaker consists of two strips of different metals. As electric current start flowing through these strips they also start expanding. But if the amount of electricity exceeds above a limit, these strips start bending till it trip the switch.
Before the distribution of electricity inside your house, it passes through a circuit breaker. If circuit breaker finds it more than required, that can cause overheating in wires then it ceases the flow and don’t allow it to go further.
Generally in homes, electricity flows via copper wires. Copper wires get extremely heated up when the flow of current increases more than a limit. This overheating can even lead to a firing in house. To prevent that situation, circuit breaker comes into action. They don’t allow the current to pass further and prevent overheating.
When the electrical power goes off in a single room, you can easily determine which single circuit has shut down as other appliances or lights in the house are still working. After finding out which circuit was interrupted, you can find out the cause of the disruption.
Scott Rodgers is a writer with ample experience in electricians work all across the nation. His exemplary guidance has generated business for a lot many Cardiff by the Sea Electricians and Carlsbad Electricians .