Wednesday 25 June 2008

The Importance of Having a Circuit Breaker

A circuit breaker is an essential part of the electrical wiring in your home because it is a safety feature. If there is too much electricity running through the wiring, a breaker of this nature will cut the power until an electrician is able to make the necessary repairs. These devices help to prevent a fire in the home when there is a possibility of too much power.


Some appliances use a lot more electricity than others. Therefore, they need a heavier amp circuit. Most appliances are connected using 110 voltage. Electric heaters and electric water heaters need a higher level of wattage and are therefore connected on a 220 circuit. The electrical panel has spaces for a variety of breakers. Most of these panels contain spaces for both 110 and 220 amp breakers. The ampage for the breakers cannot succeed the recommended limit of the panel.


When you have fuses in the panel and they blow because of too much power, you have to replace the fuses. They cannot be reused. When you have breakers in the panel, too much power just causes the circuit to break. When this happens, you can reset the breaker by just clicking it on again.


Breakers are more expensive than fuses. The cost of a breaker can range from $25 to $100, while fuses are really cheap, costing less than $2. Most homeowners have breakers in the panel because of the safety factor in giving peace of mind. They are also recommended by electricians and since you do need to have the electrical wiring inspected in a new home before you can get the electricity connected, it is very likely you will not get the approval you need without having a panel with breakers.


For more information on electrical outlets and other related topics, visit Electric World at http://www.electricworld.info.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Miguel_Martin