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A circuit breaker is a overcurrent device. It prevents fire.
An electrical circuit is only as strong as its weakest link. When the voltage rating of a device is exceeded, it arcs. Current overloads are less obvious and easier to create. When the current rating of a device is overloaded, the device gets hot, eventually burning up. This can cause a fire.
You want your breaker to be your weakest link, because it is designed to safely handle overcurrent situations. If your breaker is not the weakest link, wiring or a wiring device in your home will fail first, possibly setting your home on fire.
Some things to remember:
- A breaker is a safety device. It is there to protect conductors and equipment.
- Only a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) breaker will protect people from a shock or electrocution.
- If it pops, something is wrong. Chances are it is not the breaker! It is against the NEC to reset a breaker unless you know it was an overload condition. If it is a short-circuit, it must be fixed before resetting.
- Do not replace a breaker with a larger one. The circuit it is feeding cannot handle the extra current and will burn up before the new breaker trips.
- If a breaker trips frequently, chances are it is overloaded. Look into splitting the circuit it powers into multiple circuits on multiple breakers.
- If in doubt, call an electrician. Negligence is fatal with electricity.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoNever heard it termed that way before but it could be what the electrical trade refer to as a junction box. This is where splices are made to different parallel circuits on the same branch circuit.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoTo trip if there is an overload such as 40 amp on a 30 amp breaker
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The function of a breaker is to protect the wire that is connected to it. With out this protection an overload or short circuit fault would not be able to isolate the fault current from the supply voltage.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoIt is, in effect, a "safety valve" for electrical current. All circuits are wired, of course. The wire is of a specific gauge (weight). Larger gauges can carry more current, but every gauge of wire has a maximum safe level it can carry. A fuse or breaker (both fulfill the same function), is designed to trip to "Off" (breaker), or "blow out" (fuse) if that current level is exceeded at all. If the current level is exceeded with no breaker or fuse, the wire overheats to the point where it will set the materials around it (your HOME) on fire. That's what they prevent.
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoA Circuit Breaker Panel is a electrical safety panel that controls electricity to different appliances to a building. If there is an electrical fault, the circuit is immediately broken for safety.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoIt is a device that monitors the current flowing through a circuit and opens (trips) when an over-current situation is detected over some very short period of time.
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoAn electric circuit breaker is switch that is used to protect electrical circuit from a short circuit or overload.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoa box where you break circuits...
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If an electrician have a circuit that pulls a load of 10 amps what size breaker must that circuit be protected by?
If you are talking about a breaker in a house panel then a 15 amp breaker would be used. It is the smallest amperage breaker that you will find in a house panel.
What is the smallest size circuit breaker found in the normal home?
The biggest circuit breaker in any home is the main breaker located in your main breaker panel that is installed where your electrical service cable comes into your home.
Can you use any other brand of circuit breaker in conjunction with a Challenger circuit breaker?
A Murray or similar breaker would work but most inspectors want the brand breaker to match the brand panel.
What circuit breaker to install for 10 amp 250 volt circuit?
You need a breaker rated for 10 amps and 250 volts. The breaker must also fit properly in your panel.
Will a square d circuit breaker fit in Allen bradley panel?
No, the Square D designed breaker can only be installed in a Square D manufactured panel.
What is installing a circuit breaker?
It is inserting a breaker into a service panel.
What is a sentence with the words circuit breaker in it?
Example sentence - We hired an electrician to at the circuit breaker and install an updated panel.
Where is the circuit breaker for a 2005 Chevy Venture?
which circuit breaker? either engine compartment or r.h. dashboard panel
If an electrician have a circuit that pulls a load of 10 amps what size breaker must that circuit be protected by?
If you are talking about a breaker in a house panel then a 15 amp breaker would be used. It is the smallest amperage breaker that you will find in a house panel.
What is the meaning of MCCB panel Electrical Engineering?
Main circuit circuit breaker
What is the place in a home that contains circuit breakers?
The breaker panel.
What is the place in a home containing circuit breakers?
The breaker panel.
What is the smallest size circuit breaker found in the normal home?
The biggest circuit breaker in any home is the main breaker located in your main breaker panel that is installed where your electrical service cable comes into your home.
What do I do if there is no circuit breaker for outdoor light?
If you have a light that is not being powered through a circuit breaker or fuse, you should call a qualified electrician to remove this circuit from the panel's bus and install a circuit breaker for it. Without an overcurrent protective device (circuit breaker or fuse) you have a potential fire hazard.
Is the main circuit breaker is a sum of the sub circuit breaker?
Typically yes because that is what makes sense. However, the subpanel could have the same size breaker as long as the panel were rated for that amperage and the wire sizes were appropriate.
Can you use any other brand of circuit breaker in conjunction with a Challenger circuit breaker?
A Murray or similar breaker would work but most inspectors want the brand breaker to match the brand panel.
What is the difference between a run and a circuit?
run in a electrical system means a wiring & conduit runs coming from Panel Board Circuit Breaker to its branch circuit loads in a circuit. while circuit is a designated number of branch breaker in a panel board where power load was individual connected.
