All You Need To Know About Breakers
Anyone who owns a home or rent one must have basic electric knowledge so they don't have to rush to an electrician Vancouver to fix every tiny issue. One of the basic problems homeowners face is the flipping of circuit breakers. Before you go on to understand why circuit breakers flip, you must understand what they are and how they work.
What Is a Circuit breaker?
A circuit breaker is an electrical switch that helps protect against damage caused by the abnormal current flow. It is an automatically operated switch that interrupts the flow of current to prevent any damage. It detects a fault in the current and automatically flips to stop the electricity from flowing and potential damages. Electric systems are interconnected and linked to a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker is an important component that helps add safety to your home.
If there is no circuit breaker, your wires will not withstand an abnormal flow of current, which can lead to fires and severe damage to your electrical appliances. If there is an abnormal flow of current in the wires, it is necessary to break the circuit and stop the current from going into the house and other electrical circuits. The circuit breaker can immediately stop the flow of current before you can get help from an expert. More importantly, a circuit breaker can hold off damages before an Electrician Vancouver comes to help you out.
The circuit breaker is an automatic switch that flips on its own and then goes back to its initial position to continue the current flow. The GFCI outlet is one of the most common circuit breakers out there. They have been very helpful in the prevention of mishaps.
How Does A Circuit breaker Work?
A circuit breaker is made up of two kinds of contacts called fixed contacts and moving contacts. When the breaker is not flipped, it is in normal condition. This means that the two contacts are in connection, and the current is flowing. When that happens, the electrodes engage with the help of the pressure from the spring and stay engaged.
If there is a fault in the circuit or an abnormal flow of current, the breaker will trip, which means that the two contacts will disconnect from each other, and the circuit will open. The current cannot flow if the circuit is not complete. This mechanism helps prevent damages, resulting in the flipping of the circuit breaker.
Components of a Circuit breaker:
Universally, all circuit breakers are made the same way and typically use the same components. There are five components that you are sure to find in all kinds of circuit breakers.
Trip Unit - The trip unit is the operating tool that opens when there is an overload of current or if there is a short circuit.
Operating Mechanisms - If you are to flip the breaker yourself, you can use this mechanism to switch the breaker on and off mechanically.
Arc Extinguisher - The arc extinguisher helps extinguish the arc if there is a fault in the current flow.
Contacts - The contacts are connectors that connect with each other to allow the flow of current when the circuit is closed.
Frame - The frame is the exterior part of the circuit breaker that houses the internal components of the breaker and keeps them safe.
Types of Circuit breaker
There are multiple types of circuit breakers out there. Each circuit breaker is differentiated on its arch quenching mechanism:
1. Vacuum Circuit breaker - In the vacuum circuit breaker, the arc is quenched in the vacuum. These kinds of breakers are better for medium voltage usage.
2. SF6 Circuit breaker - The SF6 circuit breaker has high levels of electronegativity. This helps the circuit absorb free electrons.
3. Oil Circuit breaker - The contacts of this circuit breaker are submerged in insulation oil. They are the oldest types of circuit breakers.
4. Air Circuit breaker - The air circuit breaker uses air to protect the electrical circuit from damage when there is an abnormal current flow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do circuit breakers flip?
You might have noticed that your circuit breaker flips on its own, but you might not understand the reason why. There are several reasons why your circuit breaker trips. Let's take a look at some of them:
Current Overload
If there is an overload of current in your wires, your circuit breaker will likely trip to stop the flow of current. When the circuit breaker trips, the circuit will disconnect, preventing the current overload from damaging your wires and appliance.
Overload on a Circuit
Overloading a circuit can also result in your circuit tripping. You cannot overload a circuit more than it can carry. If you overload it, you might end up heating the circuit breaker, which can cause it to trip and break the connection. Unless the circuit is complete, it will not flow.
Short Circuits
A short circuit is a dangerous occurrence, and this happens when a hot wire comes in contact with a neutral wire. If this happens, the amount of current in your wires will amplify, which can cause the circuit breaker to trip and prevent any damages.
Ground Fault Surge
This is similar to a short circuit as here, the hot wire touches a ground wire, and that can cause a surge in the current that can cause the circuit breaker to trip.
Arc Fault
If there is a fluctuation in power, you can find sparking between two connection points in an electrical connection. When this happens, the circuit breaker trips to stop the current flow, and prevent damages.
Faulty Circuit breaker
A circuit breaker will not last you an entire lifetime as it can go bad and malfunction. If your circuit breaker is not working properly, you might experience the flipping of your circuit breaker. You might not be able to identify a faulty circuit breaker on your own. Call in an electrician Vancouver to help you.
What should you do if a breaker is repeatedly tripping in your breaker box?
If your circuit breaker trips, you must first turn off all the appliances, including the lights. Unplugging all appliances will take the pressure off the electrical usage. If you do not do that, you might damage the wiring and other electrical devices.
Once you have taken the load off the electricity, you can turn your circuit back on manually. You can reconnect all your appliances when you do this, and they should work fine.
But if your circuit breaker keeps on tripping, it can be a big problem. It can mean that the circuit breaker is completely worn out and not working properly. Or, there can be other reasons such as short circuits, overloaded circuits, and the ground fault. If such a thing happens, it is always best to let experts handle the situation. An electrician Vancouver can help you fix the issue if you reach out to them. They have the right knowledge to help you properly. One more thing you can try is to change the circuit breaker and see if the new one is able to withstand the load.
What to do if the circuit breaker keeps tripping even after removing appliances?
If your circuit breaker continues tripping even after removing all the appliances, there may not be a power overload. There may be other reasons for the circuit to break. It can be due to a faulty breaker, a short circuit, or something else entirely.
If you have a GFCI circuit breaker and it keeps on tripping, then it is very likely that you have a ground fault. If the electric flow leaves its original path and grounds, that can be a ground fault and cause the circuit breaker to trip. If this happens, you must contact an electrician Vancouver right away, which will help you address the situation easily. An expert will help you out and make sure there are no dangers.
Conclusion
You might understand the working of circuit breakers, but that does not mean that you can solve the problems on your own. It is always best to reach out to an expert who has the right skill set to deal with electrical concerns. An electrician Vancouver is trained and has the right tools to help you fix your problems. Reach out to them as soon as you experience issues with your breakers, and they will help you accordingly.