A Complete Guide to Circuit Breakers

How Does a Circuit Breaker Do Its Job? 

A circuit breaker is designed to cut off the flow of electricity when it surpasses a certain threshold. The rating of your circuits is crucial, as it determines how much electricity they can safely carry as well as how much they can safely stop. 

In most cases, the switches on your panel will each control a distinct room in the house.  

A switch represents your: 

• Kitchen 

• Laundry room 

• Master bedroom 

• Garage 

• Etc.   

If you manually shut off a specific switch or it triggers independently due to an overload of power, the electricity will be shut off from the entire room, turning off all lights and devices. 

What Kind of Circuit Breaker is Best for Your Home?? 

Since breakers are designed for different purposes depending on your home’s power requirements, you need to consider your unique needs to install the correct types of breakers. 

Standard Circuit Breakers 

The two types of circuit breakers. Include: 

• Single-Pole, the most common type of circuit breaker that supplies 120 V and can support up to 30 amps 

• Double-Pole, made of two single-pole breakers that supply 240 V and can support up to 200 amps 

Double-pole breakers are typically intended for larger appliances such as washing machines and water heaters. 

GFCI Circuit Breakers 

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters, or GFCI breakers, are intended to shut off power to the entire circuit. These are necessary for spaces throughout the home such as hallways, bedrooms, and kitchens.  

AFCI Circuit Breakers 

These kinds of breakers are an important safety measure to prevent electrical fires in your home. The breaker detects unintentional electrical bursts and immediately cuts power to the damaged circuit. This is important to have in your panel, as standard circuit breakers are only designed to respond to a constant change in heat rather than a sudden increase in energy or temperature.  

CAFCI Circuit Breakers 

CAFCI breakers, or Combination Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters, have the dual capability of protecting against sudden spikes like AFCI circuit breakers while also monitoring consistent heat levels like standard circuit breakers. 

What Causes a Circuit Breaker to Trip? 

A circuit breaker may trip, or shut off electricity, due to electrical overload. This can occur when there is too great of an electrical load on a circuit as a result of too much energy consumption due to appliances, devices, and lights. This is why it’s important to know what your outlets can safely power. 

While You’re Here > Why Does My Circuit Breaker Trip on Hot Days? 

Can a Circuit Breaker Go Bad? 

Like any other part of your home, a circuit breaker will inevitably go bad. When it does, you want to take care of replacing it ASAP. That’s because a faulty circuit breaker can lead to electrical fires and an increased risk of electrical shock. It’s good to have a fire extinguisher on hand in these cases because you never want to put water on an electrical fire. 

If your circuit breaker is around thirty years old, it may go bad just because of old age. Other reasons your circuit breaker may be on its last legs include: 

• Electrical surges 

• Extensive water damage 

• Physical damage (I.e., a baseball or fallen tree limb) 

Are Circuit Breaker Brands Easily Interchangeable? 

While some circuit breaker brands can function in conjunction, this is not always the case and may put your home at risk of an electrical fire. While we highly recommend consulting with an expert, like a member of our team at Axiom Power, be sure to investigate the following parameters if you decide to DIY. 

• Load Capacity – ensure to use the same size for parts that fit one another 

• Model Number – If the replacement part uses the same model number, it’s more likely to be compatible  

• Brand – Your box may list compatible brands, but keep in mind that the older your box is, the less likely it is to be compatible with other manufacturers 

If you feel even the slightest doubt, you are much better safe than sorry calling in a professional. Our team at Axiom Power will help you out with No Problems, Just Solutions. 

How Do You Replace a Circuit Breaker? 

Unless you have extensive electrical knowledge and the right tools and protective gear for the job, we advise against trying to Google your way through a circuit breaker replacement. You’re not only putting yourself in danger, but you are also putting your family and home at risk.