Circuit breakers - and fuses - were both invented to protect electrical items from being damaged by taking too much current (amps), something which is also known as an over-current fault condition. How a circuit breaker works
When an over-current fault condition occurs, which is the same as saying the current gets bigger than the circuit breaker was designed to carry, it's mechanism causes its switch contacts to open, which cuts off the supply of current. When that happens the circuit breaker is said to "trip".
When whatever fault condition in the protected circuit has been repaired, the circuit breaker can be "Reset" by pressing a button to close its switch contacts. The contacts should then remain closed until another over-current fault condition occurs in the circuit it is protecting, which would cause the breaker to trip again.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of circuit breakers?
To give the same over-current protection, circuit breakers can be designed to trip much faster than an ordinary fuse but they are generally larger in size and cost more to make.
However circuit breakers are reusable and can easily be reset after they have tripped - provided, of course, that the fault condition in the protected circuit has been repaired.
A fuse is a protective device that destructively opens when the current flow exceeds a preset value. It is usually designed as a low value resistor that heats up and melts at the specified current value. Once the fuse blows, it must be replaced.
A circuit breaker is a protective device than non-destructively opens when the current flow exceeds a preset value. It is usually designed as a tripping relay/switch that can be reset and reclosed when the fault is cleared.
In both cases, the design can provide for different preset values as a function of time. It depends on whether the intended load pulls a larger startup current than when it runs, such as a motor, which can easily pull four times their run current when they startup. The protective device is selected for the specific type of load, and for the rating of the conductors supplying it.
How a fuse works
When an over-current fault condition occurs, which is the same as saying the current gets bigger than the fuse can carry, its internal "fuse wire" gets so hot that it melts and breaks apart, which cuts off the supply of current. When that happens the fuse is said to have "blown".
After whatever caused the over-current fault condition in the circuit has been repaired, a blown fuse must either be replaced with a new one or, if it is the type of fuse which can be rewired, it must be repaired using the correct size of special "fuse wire".
A new fuse should then remain in place un-blown until another over-current fault condition occurs in the circuit it is protecting, which would then cause the new fuse to blow.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of fuses?
To give the same over-current protection, fuses are generally cheaper to make and smaller in size than circuit breakers.
However an ordinary fuse cannot blow as quickly as a circuit breaker can "trip".
Some equipment may require special "quick-blow" fuses so that damage can be prevented when an over-current fault condition occurs. Quick-blow fuses cost much more to make than ordinary fuses but must sometimes be used where a circuit breaker would be too expensive and/or too large in size.
Further notes about fuses:
Some one-time fuses look like small cylinders with a metal cap at each end; others look like a small cylinder with a metal screw-cap on one end like a light bulb. One-time fuses for vehicles, known as "fuse-links", have small bodies made of plastic and two metal blades which push into fuse slots in the vehicle's fuse box.
If a one-time fuse blows it should only be replaced by a new one of the correct size (Amps) for the circuit. The ones which screw in have different sized screw-caps for each size of fuse, with matching sockets to ensure that only a fuse which is the correct size can be screwed into the fuse holder. Similarly, fuse-links have different sized metal blades and matching slots to ensure that a given slot can only accept the correct size of fuse link.
A circuit breaker is a switching device which can make,brake and carrying (or trip the circuit) that specified over currents for a small interval of time . There is a different types of Circuit Breaker's are there 1.According to their arc quenching media these are divided into 4 types a) Oil circuit breaker b) Air blast circuit breaker c) SF6 circuit breaker d) vacuum circuit breaker 2. According to their services the circuit breaker can be divided as a) Outdoor Circuit Breaker b) Indoor Breaker 3. According to the operating mechanism of circuit breaker they can be divided as a) Spring operated Circuit Breaker b) Pneumatic Circuit Breaker c) Hydrolic Circuit Breaker 4. According to the voltage level of installation these are divided into 3 types a) High Voltage Circuit Breaker b) Medium Voltage Circuit Breaker c) Low Voltage Circuit Breaker.
Where I'm from, it's called a "circuit breaker".A circuit breaker.
No. The breaker must protect the circuit components such as wiring, outlets and switches that are connected to the breaker. Therefore if you have a 30 amp circuit as dictated by its components you need to protect it with a 30 amp or less breaker.
A circuit breaker protects the wires that the devices are connected to. If the devices that are connected to the circuit are 20 amps the wire size should be #12 wire fed from a 20 amp breaker. This breaker should not trip unless the circuit is overloaded or a fault occurs on the circuit. If the devices that are connected to the circuit are15 amps the wire size should be #14 wire fed from a15 amp breaker. This breaker should not trip unless the circuit is overloaded or a fault occurs on the circuit. Putting 20 amp sockets on this 15 amp circuit will work but the circuit is limited to the amount of load that can be plugged in. You will not get the full capacity of the 20 socket because the breaker will trip at 15 amps.
No, a circuit breaker is a safety device that is used in a circuit to limit the amount of current in an overload or short circuit condition. The number on a breaker is the top end current that the breaker will handle before opening the circuit.
An alternative to using a fuse is to use an electrical circuit breaker.
The circuit breaker for the headlights is intergrated with the headlight switch.
handling the circuit breaker
An alternative to using a fuse is to use an electrical circuit breaker.
An alternative to using a fuse is to use an electrical circuit breaker.
A circuit breaker is a switching device which can make,brake and carrying (or trip the circuit) that specified over currents for a small interval of time . There is a different types of Circuit Breaker's are there 1.According to their arc quenching media these are divided into 4 types a) Oil circuit breaker b) Air blast circuit breaker c) SF6 circuit breaker d) vacuum circuit breaker 2. According to their services the circuit breaker can be divided as a) Outdoor Circuit Breaker b) Indoor Breaker 3. According to the operating mechanism of circuit breaker they can be divided as a) Spring operated Circuit Breaker b) Pneumatic Circuit Breaker c) Hydrolic Circuit Breaker 4. According to the voltage level of installation these are divided into 3 types a) High Voltage Circuit Breaker b) Medium Voltage Circuit Breaker c) Low Voltage Circuit Breaker.
is there an error if the upstream circuit breaker is 16A TP and the downstream circuit breaker is 16A TPN?
Where I'm from, it's called a "circuit breaker".A circuit breaker.
A circuit breaker may trip due to an overload of electrical current or a short circuit. To prevent this, ensure that the circuit is not overloaded by using appropriate electrical devices and avoiding the use of too many appliances on the same circuit. Regular maintenance and inspection of the electrical system can also help prevent circuit breaker trips.
A non-auto circuit breaker is a circuit breaker with the trip element removed. Basically, it is a modified circuit breaker that is now a disconnect switch (glorified disconnect switch).
A circuit breaker does not have a wire fuse in it.
There isn't, the contacts in a circuit breaker are plated with silver.