Circuit Breakers

Circuit breakers in an electrical distribution system serve as a means of overcurrent protection. What this means is that if there is a fault at the power device and the current exceeds the conductor rating and the circuit breaker breaker rating, it will open which means that the current in the circuit will shut off. This will allow no current to reach the power source. An example of this would be numerous electrical receptacles in a wall. Let's say that there are 6 receptacles connected to one branch circuit, which is rated 15 amps, and someone decides to plug in a refrigerator to each one of them at the same time. This is sure to cause a surge of current. If this current exceeds 15 amps, rather than cause an electrical fire in the power panel, the circut breaker wiould simply "trip" which will cause it to open and prevent any further current until the problem is fixed.

The pictures below are examples are common circuit breakers used in electrical engineering designs. They are just a few samples of the many kids of overcurrent devices that there are available. Listed above each picture is a brief description of each.

1-pole, 15 amp 120v circuit breaker

3-pole, 50 amp 208v circuit breaker

3-pole, 100 amp 480v circuit breaker

All pictures have been provided courtesy of Eaton^® Corp.

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