Often referred to as the thermal breaker, the electrical breaker is more commonly found today to protect an electrical network from over-voltage. It truncates current flow right away on detecting a fault, which prevents excessive electricity from flowing to the home. This is the main reason why most homes in the US and other countries have an electrical grid. In simple terms, a breaker creates a safety barrier around a panel, containing several electromagnets that the utility company controls for just such a purpose. The utility company uses special equipment to manually control these electromagnets, which are referred to as contacts.
The Contacts
The electricity flows through a series of contacts that are known as conductors. They are made of two kinds of metals: iron and manganese. When a surplus of electricity flows, it may overload the contacts and cause them to break. When this happens, the current will then be directed to a circuit breaker, which will trip the circuit. If any appliances or other circuits are in the way, they will be damaged.
Types of Electrical Burners
Electricians use two types of electrical breakers in different applications. The first is known as the thermal type, which works by burning excess electricity in the electric circuit in a fuel-efficient and safe manner. The second is called the magnetic breaker. Magnetic burners use the movement of magnets to flip the switch, causing the current to be cut off. Both of these are commonly used in residential and commercial settings.
The Burners
The electrical system contains several elements, which are responsible for carrying electricity throughout a home. It is when one element malfunctions that a whole circuit is affected. For example, when appliances turn off while the electrical system is not running, this results in a short circuit in the electrical system. When this happens, there is a possibility of fire. This may result from an overload of electricity, from overheating or even damage from water leaks and static electricity.
Circuit Breakers
When electricity needs to be disconnected from the electrical system, it passes through a series of circuit breakers. There are usually three types of circuit breakers. One of them, known as the main breaker, is responsible for absorbing the power. The secondary breaker, which is usually a bridge rectifier, stops the flow of electricity when there is a break in the connection between the main and the secondary circuits. Finally, the load breaker protects against surges in electricity that might occur during heavy loads.
Safety Features
On modern breaker boxes, there are several safety features that protect the equipment. For instance, there is overload protection and short-circuit protection. These features will ensure that the electricity is cut off when the box is opened accidentally. Similarly, the panel prevents electricity from flowing when the breaker box is open because the panel prevents the electricity from flowing into the wire loops inside the box.
A Good Electrician For The Job
Any good electrician is familiar with all kinds of electrical gadgets. For this reason, if you are hiring an electrician, ask him about the features of the circuit breaker. Since an electrician knows about many different kinds of appliances, he will have a good idea whether your appliances need any kind of extra safety features. If you are hiring an electrician from a reputed electrical company, he will provide you with all the information that you need to know about the electrical appliances that you have in your home.
He will explain to you the differences between the main circuit breaker and the short-circuit breaker. He will also tell you why it is advisable to use the main circuit breaker. It is vital that you learn as much as you can about the appliances and circuits in your house before you try to fix anything else. An electrician is the best person for this job because he knows all the possible dangers that can occur if improper procedures are followed.