What is a circuit breaker?
Q: What is a circuit breaker?
A: A circuit breaker is a device designed to shut off an electrical circuit when too much current is flowing.
Q: What usually causes a circuit breaker to shut off?
A: Too many devices being plugged in or a short circuit usually causes a circuit breaker to shut off.
Q: Where are circuit breakers usually installed?
A: Circuit breakers are usually installed in the electrical panel.
Q: What is inside a circuit breaker?
A: There is usually an electromagnetic coil and a bimetal strip inside a circuit breaker.
Q: What happens to the switch inside a circuit breaker when too much current flows through the electromagnetic coil?
A: It pulls on the switch, shutting the power off.
Q: How does the bimetal strip in a circuit breaker work?
A: It will bend and pull on the switch if it gets too hot, reacting to extended periods of too much current.
Q: What is the difference between a circuit breaker and a fuse?
A: A circuit breaker does the same job as a fuse, but a circuit breaker does not need to be replaced to be reset, except in severe cases such as very high-current short circuits and lightning strikes that may damage the circuit breaker.
