Quite simply, so you don't put too much current on the wires than they can handle. They also provide protection from 'ground faults', which is when the 'hot' and neutral wires touch. This causes a spike of current (because the resistance drops to near zero) and the breaker senses that too, or it should when it functions properly.
A circuit breaker ensures that a circuit cannot draw more amps that are rated for the breaker. It protects the circuit wires from overheating and arcing so that a fire or shock hazard does not result.
A circuit breaker is an overcurrent protection device. It is designed to interrupt a circuit in the event of either an overload current (due to too heavy a load) or a short-circuit fault (direct line-to-neutral or line-to-earth fault).
Just as the name implies. It breaks the circuit, in other words,it throws the breaker.
Circut Breaker
There are two main devices. One is the circuit breaker. It provides a dual function where in it can detect short circuits with its internal magnetic sensor and overloads with its internal bi metallic strip. The other device is a fuse. It operates by melting a fusible link, that breaks the fault current that is in the circuit, when a high current rush through the fuse.
There are two conditions that would cause a breaker to trip off. One is an overload of the circuit and the other is a short circuit on the circuit. The heating element within the breaker is what monitors for circuit overloads.
The definition of MCB is a miniature circuit breaker, it trips if there is a line to natural fault. Ill add some extra information about the different types. RCD - residual current device = This is what you could separate you're circuits up with by inserting 1 of these in you're consumer unit (if you have lets say 10 circuits it goes like this... rcd-mcb-mcb-mcb-mcb-mcb-rcd-mcb-mcb-mcb-mcb-mcb-main switch. you see the rcd's control 5 circuits each, if 1 of these circuits had an earth fault on it, the rcd will trip and 5 of them circuits will go off, which means you have to keep tripping in you're rcd with an mcb 1 at a time to see which circuit the fault is on. RCBO - residual current breaker with overload protection- These can be installed in place of mcb's and rcd's, the rcbo is an mcb and rcd in 1 breaker. For example, i have installed a consumer unit full of these, in this case if a circuit forms a fault then its only that circuit that goes off. I hope this extra piece of information helps you along and best of luck. <<>> In electrical terminology MCB stands for Miniature Circuit Breaker.
Electrical discrimination is when a smaller circuit breaker (fuse) located closer to an electrical fault, operates before a bigger circuit breaker which is further away from the fault. This then stops disruption to other circuits by knocking out the fuse which not only knocks out the fault, but all the other circuits with no faults on them.
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circuit breaker
When installing a circuit breaker, you size the breaker based on the wire size. The breaker should be matched to the ampacity of the wire to ensure proper protection against overloads and short circuits. The device being controlled by the breaker is not a determining factor in sizing the breaker.
Merlin Gerin is a brand of circuit breaker. This type of unit is used in homes and office buildings as a way to protect electric circuit from causing damage due to short circuits or overloads.
MCB, Miniature Circuit Breaker is electric switch which is used to protect against short circuits
Electrical circuits are protected by: 1) Fuses 2) Circuit Breakers and/or 3) Fusable links
Circut Breaker
Each device has its own special use. Glass fuses can protect circuit at very low amperages. They are usually used to protect printed circuit boards and control panel circuits. Breakers protect circuits from short circuits and overloads. These devices are used in service distribution panels to protect the wires that feed the loads. Circuit breakers can be from 15 amps up into the thousands of amps.
There are two main devices. One is the circuit breaker. It provides a dual function where in it can detect short circuits with its internal magnetic sensor and overloads with its internal bi metallic strip. The other device is a fuse. It operates by melting a fusible link, that breaks the fault current that is in the circuit, when a high current rush through the fuse.
There are two conditions that would cause a breaker to trip off. One is an overload of the circuit and the other is a short circuit on the circuit. The heating element within the breaker is what monitors for circuit overloads.
They protect the downstream components from spikes in the eletrical system.CommentFuses and circuit breakers do not protect against 'spikes', which are near-instantaneous voltage increases. Fuses and circuit breakers are overcurrent protection devices, which protect appliances against excessive current due to overloads or short circuits. CommentFuses and circuit breakers are used to protect the wire feeder that supplies the load. A load could be connected to a circuit that would cause an increase of amperage above what the wire is rated for. If this condition happens the fuse or circuit breaker will open the load from the supply service.
The purpose of a circuit breaker is to protect electrical circuits from short circuiting.