Fuses and circuit breakers both protect us against electrical overloads and fires, and they are both found in small metal boxes in our homes. Why do we have these two solutions to the same problem? Is one approach clearly better, or do fuses and circuit breakers both have their pros and cons? In this article, we will cover how fuses and circuit breakers work and examine what makes them different. We will then take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of each.
How Fuses Work
A fuse is a thin piece of wire that melts when too much current runs through it. Strands of wire are combined to create fuses that can tolerate as much as 40 amps before melting, and these wire fuses are then placed inside tubes that have small windows on the top. The windows are there to make it easy to tell when a fuse has melted. Fuses provided overcurrent prevention in American homes until circuit breakers became commonly available in the mid-1950s. Homes built in the 1920s and 1930s had fuse boxes with 60-amp capacities. Homes built in the 1940s and 1950s had more electrical appliances, so their fuse boxes could handle up to 200 amps.
When the wires in a fuse melt, the flow of power is cut off. Fuses can only be used once, so a blown fuse must be replaced to restore power. This is a fairly simple process. The blown fuse is identified and unscrewed or pulled out, and a replacement fuse of the same size is then pushed or screwed in. You should not let your mind wander if you have to change a fuse because fuse boxes often contain a lot of loose wires.
How Circuit Breakers Work
A circuit breaker is a device that contains a switching mechanism. When too much current passes through a circuit breaker, the switch is triggered and the flow of current is stopped. The circuit breakers found in American homes are either single-pole or double-pole devices. Single-pole circuit breakers can handle up to 30 amps and take up one slot in a breaker box. Double-pole circuit breakers are needed for large appliances like stoves, air conditioners, and clothes dryers. They can handle up to 200 amps, and they take up two slots in a breaker box.
Resetting a triggered circuit breaker is even easier than changing a fuse because all you have to do is flick a switch. Identifying which circuit breaker has tripped is also a lot easier than figuring out which fuse has blown. Resetting a tripped circuit breaker only takes a couple of seconds, and there are no exposed wires in a breaker box.
The Pros and Cons of Fuse Boxes
Fuse boxes may be old technology, but they do beat circuit breakers in a couple of key areas. Fuses are cheaper than circuit breakers. Single-circuit breakers cost about $15, but a replacement fuse only costs about $5. However, those savings may not stand the test of time. A fuse can only be used once, but a circuit breaker can be flipped on and off again and again. Fuses also respond to current surges more quickly than circuit breakers. This could be a consideration if a particularly delicate piece of equipment must be protected.
Fuses fell out of fashion because they cannot handle as much current as circuit breakers. Home fuse boxes can rarely handle more than 200 amps, which may not be enough to meet the power requirements of households that use a lot of appliances.
The Pros and Cons of Circuit Breakers
Circuit breaker boxes are now the standard way to protect against power surges in American homes because they are so easy to use and do not have to be replaced every time they are tripped. Circuit breakers also provide protection against short circuits as well as power surges, and they can handle more current than fuses.
Fuses have only one job, but circuit breakers can do more than trip when too much current passes through them. Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter breakers protect against overcurrent and also trip when current levels fall too low. This protects people from potentially deadly ground shocks. There are also Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter breakers that can prevent house fires caused by arc flashes.
Improve Your Home’s Electrical Safety
Modern homes in the United States are fitted with circuit breaker boxes instead of fuse boxes, and for good reason. Circuit breakers are simple to reset, and they do not have to be replaced every time there is a power surge. Circuit breakers also provide more protection than fuses. Almost anyone can change a fuse or flip a circuit breaker back on, but installing an electrical box is something that should be left to qualified and experienced professionals. If you want to install a circuit breaker box or take other steps to improve your home’s electrical safety, the friendly technicians at Mister Sparky can help.