Be it a commercial, industrial or residential zone, in each of these areas, you will find the use of circuit breakers. A circuit breaker is nothing but an automatic system that protects the circuit of an electric appliance from any kind of overload, overcurrent or short circuit. The basic advantage of using a circuit breaker is that unlike a fuse or other safety devices, it does not need any replacement.
Breakers when installed in an electrical panel monitor in the case of any overload, will immediately shut off that circuit. For any kind of general purpose, circuit breakers prove to be the ideal choice.
There are many tools and applications that require a power supply monitoring system to ensure protection. This is why it is recommended to work with certified electricians while planning any kind of emergency power response system.
Tips to select the right circuit breaker
Determine the type required –
There are many types of circuit breakers namely a standard breaker, Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) or a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI). You need to decide the type you require.
Check the electrical specifications –
In case you are replacing an old breaker, you will find the required information on the existing unit. The different specifications you need to check are the frequency, voltage, load and trip current and the total number of poles.
Check the physical specifications –
Physical specifications include connection type (Plug-In, Bolt-On, etc.), mounting type (Panel Mount or DIN Rail) and frame type that you need to note down.
Questions to ask
Even after you follow the tips, there are certain questions you need to ask yourself to ensure that you are selecting the right circuit breaker. Following are the five different questions that need to be answered in the process of selection:
- What do you want to protect, devices or wires?
- Does it run on AC or DC type voltage?
- What is the current rating of the circuit or device?
- How many poles are required in total 1, 2 or 3?
- What are the flow of the current level and the preferred trip curve; is it short, medium or long?
While choosing a circuit breaker it is important that you take time to decide and do the necessary research. This ensures that the circuit breaker is of not only of high quality but the right type for your application.