Most people know that a circuit breaker is an essential safety feature of your home or business.
Beyond that, though, people don’t quite understand the intricacies behind it. And in most cases, that’s perfectly fine – you’ve got no real need – until it fails or starts causing problems, of course!
As such, we think it’s important to have a basic understanding of not only what circuit breakers are, but also what they do and how they protect you.
And that’s exactly what our commercial electrician company are here to explain to you.
Step by step: how does a circuit breaker work?
Don’t worry: understanding what your circuit breaker isn’t nearly as complicated as it might seem!
Of course, if you are having trouble with your circuit breaker, then the first thing you should do is get in contact with your commercial electrical services – then you can worry about learning the finer details…
- Working or operating the circuit breaker starts at the electrical service panel – the connection between external wires and internal wires that power your home
- This panel (also known as your switchboard) is made up of levels that control and protect the circuits
- Your circuit breaker will automatically trip when the amperage reaches a certain level
- The point at which the breaker will trip will be higher or lower depending on the circuit
- When the breaker trips, it’s stopping the flow of electricity through a certain electrical line
The act of the circuit breaker “tripping” protects your home or commercial property from fire or other electrical rewiring accidents.
How can you tell if a breaker has tripped?
In most cases, it’s pretty simple! You’ll know when your circuit breaker has tripped because your home or office will lose power.
So what’s the difference between a tripping breaker and a power outage?
First thing – check if the outage has affected only a part of your house, or your entire home.
Next, look out your window to see if others in your street have also been affected. If so, that indicates a regional outage – and is in fact the responsibility of the power company to fix.
If it seems your property is the only one affected, it’s likely your breaker has been tripped.
What are the symptoms of a bad circuit breaker?
It’s possible for a circuit breaker to be faulty, wear out, or need replacing. However, this isn’t too common.
Your circuit breaker serves a purpose, and if it is tripping, it’s most likely picked up an electrical fault in your home’s electrical system.
In some cases though, people will assume that a tripper breaker indicates a problem with the breaker itself. While not as common as a breaker simply performing its job, it is possible for a circuit breaker to be faulty, wear out, or break completely.
In such cases, it’s imperative that you engage a licensed and qualified commercial electrician in Cheltenham to take a look at the issue, diagnose the problem, and provide an efficient and safe solution.
How do you know if a circuit breaker needs to be replaced?
So, if there are other reasons that the main panel can trip, how do you know if it needs to be replaced?
First of all, if you have any concerns about your circuit breaker, or any other part of your electrics, then you should, without hesitation, contact Powermaster for residential or commercial electrical services.
The first thing you need to do is make sure it’s not a circuit overload by following the following steps:
- Unplug all the appliances in the area the circuit has tripped
- Check to make sure the circuit switch is still functional
- Turn the breaker back on
- If the circuit trips again then we advise getting in touch with your local electrician
Once a qualified commercial electrician in Hampton arrives they will be able to determine if there is something wrong with the panel. They will provide the appropriate advice to troubleshoot or repair the circuit breaker.
Is it safe to leave a circuit breaker off?
It is possible to turn the breaker off without causing immediate damage to yourself or your home.
Turning the breaker off will kill power to the areas of your business that the breaker regulates.
Every time you turn the circuit breaker on and off it damages it a little – so constantly turning the breaker on and off is not a good idea, and something we discourage.
It can also do damage to some of your appliances as the breaker regulates power throughout your house.
Additionally, repeatedly flicking the switch can affect the regulation of water temperature in your water heater, and damage the unit itself.
And finally, if you’re looking to save power by turning off the breaker, then it’s a better idea to talk to your electrician about other, safer ways to reduce energy consumption and lower your power bills.
Need a commercial electrician company to look at your breaker? Call Powermaster Electrical!
At Powermaster, we make it our mission to keep your home or Bayside business running with the best electrical services.
We pride ourselves on polite, prompt, and respectful service. You can rely on us to solve your electrical woes and ensure a safe space for your family, employees, customers, and guests.
Choose our fully qualified electricians – we guarantee you won’t be disappointed!
Give our Master electrician Ben a call on 1300 410 141 or lodge an enquiry online.