Circuit Breaker

A circuit  breaker is an electrical component which prevents overload on an electrical circuit. Circuit breakers have replaced fuses in many electrical applications. A circuit breaker board contains a number of circuit breakers, one for each electrical circuit.

A circuit breaker is automatically operated and can be used over and over. A fuse can only operate once, and then has to be replaced. A circuit breaker can be switched back, or re-set, which is done either manually or automatically.

Types of circuit breaker

The circuit breaker comes in a variety of sizes, from the simple switch found in circuit breaker panels to the high voltage circuit breaker responsible for the electrical shut-off of an entire city.

Every circuit breaker has a common function, however. A circuit breaker detects a fault in the voltage. Once the circuit breaker detects the fault, it must open and interrupt the flow of electricity. The contacts must be separated, and this is done in a variety of ways, including a trip solenoid.