The entire electrical system in your home or business is centered around your electrical panel, or breaker box. There is a good chance that you have experienced how circuit breakers work, and have probably flipped one on and off. Most people, however, do not understand how and why these breakers do what they do. Rather than just being an annoyance, circuit breakers actually function as your first line of defense against dangerous changes and fluctuations in electrical current. Your circuit breakers are designed to shut off the flow of power whenever a circuit becomes overloaded. In most cases, you can just flip the break back to the on position. When you have more serious problems, however, you may need to get in touch with an electrician to help troubleshoot the problem for you.
The Fundamentals of Circuit Breakers
A circuit breaker is very similar to a fuse, in that it will stop power from flowing through a circuit whenever the circuit becomes overloaded. Unlike a fuse, however, a circuit breaker is designed to be used multiple times. Rather than relying on a thin wire, circuit breakers utilize thermal and electromagnetic sensors to detect dangerous changes in electrical current. In the past, only one of these protective measures was used. Most modern circuit breakers are made to utilize both in order to provide you with the most power protection possible. Whenever your breaker flies to the off position, all you have to do is flip it back to the on position. Before doing this, you should try to determine what caused it to flip in the first place. This is most commonly an electrical device that was turned on shortly before the broken flipped. If you have a breaker that trips frequently, you will want to get in touch with an electrician to assist you. If your breaker has become damaged, it may be incredibly hazardous if not replaced.
Additional Protection
In addition to basic circuit protection, many homes are also equipped with other measures designed to protect you from dangerous levels of electrical current. GFI outlets, for example, are now required in most areas whenever an outlet is in a room that is frequently wet. This includes kitchens, bathrooms, outdoor and garages. A GFI outlet is designed to detect small changes in electricity, shutting off power to that specific outlet if a problem is detected. This can save lives whenever electrical devices come into contact with water. If you live in a home without GFI outlets, or have GFI outlets that are not functioning properly, have them tested by a local electrician. They will be able to install and replace any outlets that are necessary.
Because of how important it is to maintain a safe and functional electrical system, you should pay close attention whenever you have issues with one of your circuit breakers. In most cases, you should be able to quickly troubleshoot and determine what caused the circuit to overload. This could be a vacuum, an air conditioning unit, or any other electrical appliance. In most cases, you will need to replace your appliance. In the case of your air conditioning unit, you may need to have an electrician come out to install a dedicated circuit for your air conditioning system. Regardless of what is causing your breaker to trip, pay attention and be grateful to have this breaker system to protect you from potential shocks and fires.
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