What is the function of a circuit breaker?

[Alina]

Function of leakage protection circuit breaker: When human electric shock or equipment leakage occurs, it quickly cuts off the power supply circuit to prevent harm to humans and equipment. Below is relevant information: Introduction: The leakage protection circuit breaker, formerly known as the leakage circuit breaker, is a switching device designed to prevent electric shock to humans or leakage-induced fires and explosions in low-voltage circuits. Common types include electromagnetic current-operated, voltage-operated, and transistor (integrated circuit) current-operated models. Common types of leakage faults: (1) Moisture causing a decrease in insulation resistance of the motor and its power supply lines, increasing leakage current and electrifying the motor casing and electrical equipment casing. (2) Insulation failure of the motor and its power supply lines due to aging, mechanical damage, or voltage breakdown, resulting in a single-phase ground fault (metallic grounding or arcing grounding). (3) Direct contact by personnel or conductive tools with exposed live parts of the motor and its power supply lines (due to mechanical damage or during maintenance), causing a single-phase grounding electric shock accident (accidental and transient).

[DiBrantley]

The circuit breaker is the first line of defense for home electrical safety, primarily protecting against circuit overloads and short circuits. Last winter, when I turned on both the air conditioner and an electric heater, the entire house went dark because the circuit breaker tripped. Later, I learned that it automatically cuts off the power when the current is too high, such as when wires overheat or there's a short circuit, preventing electrical appliances from burning out or even causing a fire. Unlike old-fashioned fuses that need replacement, a circuit breaker can simply be reset, but you have to turn off some appliances first. Now, I check the electrical panel every month, feeling the circuit breaker for any abnormal heat, especially since having kids has made me more safety-conscious. Its response is incredibly fast—once, when my neighbor's aging wiring started smoking, their circuit breaker instantly cut off the power, preventing a disaster. It's truly an essential guardian for every household.

[McMaddox]

Circuit breakers serve as protective devices in electrical systems, responsible for cutting off circuits during faults. With twenty years of electrical maintenance experience, I frequently encounter cases where customers' homes experience overload tripping due to simultaneous use of appliances. Inside a circuit breaker, there's a bimetallic strip that triggers the trip mechanism when excessive current causes heat deformation. During installation, the rated current must be selected based on circuit load—for example, dedicated air conditioning circuits require 20A or higher. Commercial premises need models equipped with arc extinguishing devices for stronger breaking capacity. Routine maintenance should include cleaning terminal connections, and industrial sites must conduct regular operational tests to ensure reliability. Never replace with copper wire during circuit modifications, as this would nullify the protective function.

[ZoeFitz]

Last week, my apartment suddenly lost power because the kettle and microwave were turned on at the same time, causing the circuit breaker to trip. The property maintenance technician explained that it's like an automatic switch—it triggers when appliances draw too much power or if there's a short circuit. Now I know to turn off a few appliances before resetting the breaker, like shutting down the gaming console first. Another time, my neighbor's aging power strip sparked, and the circuit breaker snapped off again. Since renting, I've learned to read the labels on the distribution panel—different areas have independent circuit breakers, and the bathroom even has ground fault protection. Electrical safety is indeed important. Now, I make sure to use high-power appliances at separate times to avoid the embarrassment of a total blackout.