Home Electrical Circuit Breakers
| The importance of some
vital house wiring circuits |
| |
Summary: When properly installed, the electrical wiring in your home is protected by a circuit protection device. Home wiring in the past was commonly protected by fuses. Today, modern house wiring is protected by circuit breakers which are installed in electrical service panels. |
Residential Circuit Breakers
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Circuit breakers serving your house wiring circuits are intended for switching and protection of your home's wiring from high temperatures caused by excess current higher than the rating of the wire.
While thermal-magnetic circuit breakers are the key element for overload and short-circuit protection of your electrical system, there are potentially dangerous conditions that do not involve overcurrent.
The following circuit breakers should be utilized to provide further protection. |
Combination Arc-Fault Circuit
Interrupters (AFCI)
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Combination AFCIs protect against all
three possible types of arc fault: line-to-ground, line-to-neutral arcs,
and series arcs and thus significantly reduce the risk of electrical
fires. They feature a unique LED trip indicator, providing a valuable
analysis tool to help to pinpoint the type of trip and reduce the time
spent debugging the house wiring circuits. |
Branch/Feeder Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCI)
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AFCIs are new electrical safety
devices used for some of the house wiring circuits that provide protection
against arcing faults. These devices recognize characteristics unique
to arcing and de-energize the circuit when an arc fault is detected.
Arc faults may occur for many reasons such as worn electrical insulation
or damaged wire, misapplied or damaged appliance cords and equipment,
loose electrical connections, or driving a nail into a wall and having
it inadvertently hit a wire. The possibility of arcing grows as a home
ages since age and time will contribute to the possibility of these
conditions occurring. |
Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI)
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GFCIs are an effective means of preventing
severe electrical shock. GFCIs are installed serving required house
wiring circuits to protect areas of the home where electrical appliances
or products may come into contact with water, such as the kitchen, bathroom
or laundry. They are designed to protect against severe electrical shock
or electrocution from ground faults. Ground faults occur when the electrical
current in an appliance strays outside its normal path, and the human
body becomes part of the path through which the electrical current may
flow. |
Circuit Breaker and Surge Arresters
Also Other Basic House
Wiring Circuits
More about GFCI Receptacles and
How They are Wired:
Home Electrical
Circuit Breakers top
of page
GFCI
Electrical Code Requirements
Wiring a Single GFCI - with photos
GFCI Wiring the Feed-Through Method - with photos
GFCI Tailed Wiring Method - with photos
