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Breakers & Fuses

OVERVIEW

Understanding Circuit Breakers

A circuit breaker is a crucial electrical safety device that halts the flow of electricity whenever excessive current is detected. These devices come in different capacities, such as low voltage, medium voltage, and high voltage circuit breakers. Each type is specifically designed to manage a particular range of power, guaranteeing both the safety and efficiency of your electrical system.

Circuit Breakers vs. Fuses

Power surges and current overloads can pose significant risks to your property. They can harm your appliances, disrupt the electrical flow, or even trigger a fire. Every property is equipped with an electrical safety device that utilizes fuses or breakers to prevent overheating, alleviate stress on your system, and safeguard your home.

If you are considering upgrading your panels from fuses to breakers, the following insights may help ease your decision. Fuses are considered outdated and were commonly used in homes built before 1960. Not only are they antiquated, but they also require replacement every time they blow. In contrast, breakers can simply be reset and reused after experiencing a surge that causes them to “trip.” While breakers do need to be replaced eventually as they age, this is a task that one of Kalahari Electrical’s skilled technicians can manage affordably.

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Circuit Breaker Panel: The Heart of Your Electrical System

The circuit breaker panel serves as your home’s main distribution point for electrical circuits. It houses several circuit breakers that control different areas or components of your house, allowing you to manage your electrical usage effectively.

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters: Essential for Safety

Ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) are critical components of your electrical system. They’re designed to protect you from electrical shocks by cutting off the power when they detect a discrepancy in the current flow.

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Why Your Breaker Trips

What Should I do if my Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping?

tripped breaker indicates that it has been turned off to protect the circuit from overheating or a potential short circuit. It’s essential to identify the reason behind the tripped breaker and address it to maintain the safety of your electrical system.

When a surge of energy overloads a circuit, such as from a lightning strike or an outlet drawing excessive current, the breaker acts as a safeguard by switching to the OFF position. To restore your power, follow these three simple steps:

Turn off all lights and appliances affected by the outage. Switch everything to the OFF position. If your TV has lost power and doesn’t have a manual OFF switch, unplug it. It’s advisable to ensure that no electronics are using electricity when resetting the circuit breaker (as outlined in step 3) to prevent further damage. The sudden influx of power could negatively impact devices like your home computer, fan, or gaming system.
Locate your circuit box and look for the breaker(s) that are in the OFF position. Some circuit breakers may show a red or orange color when switched OFF.
Flip the breaker from OFF to ON. Then, you can turn the appliances and devices back on that you switched off in step 1, and everything should work properly. However, if your circuit breaker continues to trip, it may be time to seek assistance from a professional like Kalahari-Electrical.

If you feel uncomfortable or unsure about handling your circuit breaker on your own, our experienced electricians are here to help. We will assess the tripping mechanisms in your system and find the best way to reset it.

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What’s Causing the Trip?

How do I Find What is Tripping my Circuit Breaker?

If your circuit breaker keeps tripping, there could be a serious issue, often caused by general wear and tear on the circuit breaker itself, that may require installing a new one. If your circuit breaker continues to trigger the tripping mechanisms because of issues caused by wear and tear, the underlying problem is typically one of the following with your circuit breaker:

Short Circuit: A short circuit is a common and potentially dangerous problem with circuit breakers. This is when a “hot wire” is contacting a neutral wire in an electrical outlet, which causes an overload of current to flow through the circuit, creating heat. The circuit breaker automatically shuts off in cases like these to prevent an electrical fire.
Overloaded Circuit: Another common occurrence is a simple, overloaded circuit. If your electrical system or certain circuits can’t handle the amps coming through the circuit, it will flip the breaker and possibly damage electronics or even start a fire.
Ground Fault: This is when a hot wire and bare ground wire are both touching the metal box housing them. This sets off a chain reaction that pushes more electricity through the circuit than it’s supposed to hold for normal operation, which repeatedly trips the breaker. A ground fault, or ground fault surge, will usually burn an outlet.

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Whether considering options for new construction or seeking repair for your current breakers and fuses, Kalahari Electrical Services is right for the job. We can identify the right solution for your specific energy needs and property type. Our team ensures that your new circuit breakers get installed properly and can deal with the continuous current demands of modern electrical systems.