You hear about circuit breakers, especially when you’ve got electrical problems. Often the circuit breaker is the first place you go to troubleshoot an outage. If the power goes out, you check to see if the breakers have been tripped and power cut off. But many people don’t understand the actual purpose and workings of a circuit breaker.
Circuit breakers are first and foremost a safety device in the home to prevent electrical currents from getting out of control and causing damage or putting you and your family in danger. They’re a last resort that kills the power to any part of the house where a faulted current is being utilized.
Below is some information about circuit breakers and how they work.
What Are Circuit Breakers For?
A circuit breaker is a safety device. It has the job of preventing excess electricity from surging and causing damage. It does this by interrupting the flow of a faulted current and cutting the electricity to that circuit before damage can be caused or danger can arise. This box has a control to your entire home’s electrical set up, allowing you turn electricity to different parts of the home off and on.
How Do Circuit Breakers Work?
Circuit breakers utilize an electromagnetic strip inside the system to detect electrical problems. They detect dangerous currents and switch the power to them off automatically the stop the flow of electricity and shut off anything connected to that particular current. So, if an appliance is running a dangerous current in the kitchen, then power will be cut to that portion of the house to prevent damage.
How Do I Restore Power Using My Circuit Breaker?
Circuit breakers are designed to cut power off as needed, but you’ll need to manually restore it. It won’t do that on its own. Open the panel to the circuit breaker (usually located in the basement) and flip any switch that is in the off position in order to restore power. If for some reason this doesn’t restore power, it’s likely a larger issue that needs to be handled by a professional.
Related Questions
Are there different kinds of circuit breakers?
There are a few types of modern circuit breakers. These are standard, GFCI, and AFCI with some types having dual functionality but all are designed to kill power as needed to faulted currents.
How many outlets can my circuit breaker support?
This depends on the amp level of your breaker and what you’re running on your outlets. Generally, a 20-amp breaker can handle power to about 10 outlets depending on what’s plugged into them.
If you have questions about circuit breakers or electrical services for your home or business, Bratcher Electric in Wayne can help. Our commitment to customer service shows in more than 50 years of providing the highest quality electrical services to residents throughout Michigan. As top-rated electrical contractors our services include backup power systems, rewiring, code upgrades, and more! Call and speak to an electrical specialist today, Free!