What is a Circuit Breaker?
A circuit breaker is a switching mechanism that may be operated either manually or automatically to cut off the flow of electricity when it detects an abnormal current or fault in an electrical circuit, therefore reducing the overloading and short circuit situations.
Circuit breakers are often employed in household, industrial, and commercial electrical setups so as to protect items from harm. They are crucial for preserving both the electrical infrastructure’s security and that of the connected devices.
- Circuit Breakers serves the same function as fuses but unlike fuses they are not destroyed/burn when activated or triggered .
- Unlike fuses, we do not need to replace them and can simply be reset once the fault has been recognized.
- When an overload occurs, a circuit breaker will open the circuit to prevent any type of harm .
- They contain a switch to return to the closed position once they have been flipped.
Circuit Breaker
A circuit can be damaged which will reduce its reliability. Therefore, electrical circuits need to be protected using circuit protection devices. These will help a lot in boosting the performance of electrical tools. Plenty of devices such as fuses, chokes, decoupling capacitors Zener diodes, protection diodes, etc, can be utilized for the protection of circuits. Circuit breakers are also used for the same purpose in electrical systems.
A circuit breaker can be defined as a type of switching device that prevents damage to the electrical system by acting as a switch and that interrupts the current flow. This article will take a closer look at circuit breakers along with various types, we will study their advantages and disadvantages, examine their operational principles, and more.
Table of Content
- Circuit Breaker
- Working Principle
- Types
- Advantages and Disadvantages
- Applications
- How to test ?
- How to replace ?