Circuit breakers and fuse boxes are similar in that they interrupt electrical circuits in your home when they’re overloaded. This important safety feature can prevent electrical fires and damage to your appliances. And yet, there are some big differences between circuit breakers and fuses that are important to keep in mind. Let’s take a look at some of these differences and what they might mean for your home.
Fuse Boxes
A fuse box is a metal container that stores fuses, which are metal strips encased in glass tubes. Fuses are plugged directly into circuits that go through the fuse box. When one of those circuits overloads, the metal strip in the fuse melts and breaks the circuit. This is known as a “blown fuse.”
When a fuse is blown, it needs to be replaced by a fuse that matches the amperage rating on the fuse box. Replacing a fuse is relatively simple; all you need to do is pull out the blown fuse and plug a new fuse into its place. You can usually find new fuses at a hardware store. If you have trouble finding the right fuse for your fuse box or you’re not comfortable replacing a fuse, contact Mister Sparky for assistance.
Fuse boxes were once common in homes, but they’ve been mostly phased out in favor of circuit breaker panels. You might still have a fuse box if you live in an older home. To find it, look for a metal box in your basement, garage, or utility room. It should be easy to open from the front and will contain fuses connected to your home’s main circuits.
Circuit Breakers
Circuit breakers are similar to fuses in that they interrupt the flow of electricity through your home’s circuits. A circuit breaker contains a bi-metal strip that is connected to a circuit. When the circuit overloads or detects a short circuit, the heat from the excessive electricity causes the metal strip to expand and trip a switch, breaking the circuit. The circuit breaker can then be reset by flipping the switch back into its proper position. This restores power to everything connected to that circuit.
As we said before, circuit breaker panels have largely replaced fuse boxes in most modern homes. Not only are they far more convenient and easier to use, but they are tripped by short circuits as well as overloads. This provides some extra protection for your home.
Even though resetting a tripped circuit breaker is easy, a frequently tripped circuit breaker is a sign that something is wrong with your home’s electrical system. It could be that your electrical panel isn’t powerful enough for your devices and appliances, or you might have some faulty wiring that is causing short circuits and overloads. You might also have an outdated electrical panel that needs an update. In any case, don’t hesitate to contact Mister Sparky for assistance. Our electricians will be happy to inspect your home’s wiring and get to the bottom of your electrical issues.