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Fuses and circuit breakers are meant to protect your home's wiring from the heat generated from fault-currents and over-currents. Over-currents happen when you exceed the amperage the fuse or breaker is rated for over a period of time (IE: drawing 20 amps on a 15 amp circuit breaker). When this occurs a fuse or circuit breaker will open the circuit so the wiring in your home will not be damaged. Over-currents happen when electricity finds a path, other than the one intended, to ground. When this happens there is very little resistance to slow the flow of electricity and the amperage through the circuit can exceed the fuse or circuit breakers rated capacity by several hundred times . These type of faults cause the fuse or circuit breaker to open the circuit very quickly.

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14y ago
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14y ago

Circuit breakers protect your home by stopping the flow of electricity if there is too much amperage draw. If there were no circuit breakers installed, then you could overload wires; when too much is plugged into a circuit, or the circuit shorts out, the wires can heat up very quickly and cause a fire. Circuit Breakers prevent this by disconnecting the circuit before the wires get hot enough to catch fire.

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11y ago

A circuit breaker sets a limit on the amount of amperage that can be applied to the circuit's conductor. This is why wires and breakers have amperage ratings. The wires ampacity is matched to the breakers ampacity. If there is a higher that normal amperage capacity, than what the wire is rated for, the breaker will trip the circuit open.

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16y ago

Homes should have circuit breakers so that you can slow down voltage in electronics.

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9y ago

A circuit breaker can be reset, and it responds faster.

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Q: Why is it important that homes have circuit breakers?
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Related questions

When did circuit breakers replace fuses in homes?

1950's


How do fuses or circuit breakers help protect homes?

During an electrical fault, be it a short circuit or circuit overload, fuses and breakers are designed to open at a specific amperage. This opening of either device eliminates a fire hazard before it gets a chance to start. This is how fuses and breakers protect the home.


Which circuit breaker to use for the plugs and geysers?

It is recommended to use a circuit breaker with a rating of 15-20 amps for plugs and geysers in residential homes. However, it is important to consult an electrician to determine the appropriate circuit breaker size based on the specific electrical load requirements of your plugs and geysers.


When were disposable fuses used in homes?

From the beginning of electricaly wired homes (aprx. 1880) until about the late 50's or early 60's. They were replaced with circuit breakers because circuit breakers will trip a lot faster when a short occurs and can be re-used as apposed to having to be thrown out and replaced after a short.


Are homes on a series circuit?

No. Plugs, lamps and 220 V a.c. items are in parallel with the breakers.CorrectionAll loads are in parallel with the supply voltage, but in series with the circuit breakers or fuses.


The purpose of the SEC's circuit breakers rule is to?

The purpose of the SEC's circuit breakers rule is to:


Where can Square D circuit breakers be purchased?

Square D circuit breakers can be purchased from various homeware and DIY stores such as Home Depot or Lowes. Websites that specialise in circuit breakers such as Circuit Breaker Service or All Breakers do sell them as well.


What breakers are compatible with ge breaker boxes?

GE circuit breakers with catalog numbers ranging from THQL1115 through to THQL1150 can be substituted like for like with Cutler-Hammer circuit breakers coded CL115 through to CL150, ITE Siemens circuit breakers coded Q115 through to Q150 and Square D circuit breakers coded HOM115 through to HOM150. These are single pole breakers. GE circuit breakers with catalog codes from THQL2115 through to THQL2150 can be substituted with Cutler-Hammer circuit breakers CL215 through to CL250, Square D circuit breakers HOM215 through to HOM250 and ITE Siemens circuit breakers Q215 through to Q250 of the same amperage and voltage. These are double pole breakers.


Where are the circuit breakers on a 2000 chev Tahoe?

most circuit breakers are under the hood near the battery. major breakers. you have to unscrew cover.


Is gold used in circuit breakers?

Certainly not in the case of high-voltage circuit breakers. Probably not in low-voltage circuit breakers, as copper is a better conductor and has a higher melting point.


3 pole circuit breakers?

3 pole circuit breakers are used for 3 phase lines


What breaker boxes are compatible with GE circuit breakers?

GE circuit breakers with catalog numbers ranging from THQL1115 through to THQL1150 can be substituted like for like with Cutler-Hammer circuit breakers coded CL115 through to CL150, ITE Siemens circuit breakers coded Q115 through to Q150 and Square D circuit breakers coded HOM115 through to HOM150. These are single pole breakers. GE circuit breakers with catalog codes from THQL2115 through to THQL2150 can be substituted with Cutler-Hammer circuit breakers CL215 through to CL250, Square D circuit breakers HOM215 through to HOM250 and ITE Siemens circuit breakers Q215 through to Q250 of the same amperage and voltage. These are double pole breakers.