Although circuit breakers and fuse boxes serve the same purpose of protecting your home from electrical fires, there are some major differences between them. Let’s look at some of these differences and what they might mean for your home’s electrical system.
Fuse Boxes
A fuse box is a metal case located at the central hub of a home’s electrical system. The box separates the incoming voltage from the electrical system into various circuits. Each circuit contains a fuse, which is a safety device that will break the circuit if it becomes overloaded. A fuse is essentially a metal strip that is contained in a glass tube. When the voltage going through a fuse gets too high, the metal strip melts and breaks the circuit. This is known as a “blown” fuse. Once a fuse is blown, it will no longer work and needs to be replaced.
Fuse boxes were once more common than they are now. They’ve been mostly phased out in new construction and replaced with circuit breakers. You might still have a fuse box if you live in an older home, though. If you do have one, it will likely be found in your basement, garage, or utility room. Look for a metal box along your wall that contains fuses connected to your home’s circuits.
If you have a blown fuse, you’ll need to replace it with one that matches the amperage rating on the fuse box. You can find new fuses at most hardware stores, and they’re easy to replace. Simply remove the blown fuse and fit the new fuse in its place. If you have any trouble replacing a blown fuse, contact Mister Sparky for assistance. Our team will be happy to help you. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have frequent blown fuses, either. That is usually a sign that something is wrong with your wiring that should be fixed right away.
Circuit Breakers
A circuit breaker is a bi-metal strip that completes a circuit much like a fuse. The big difference is that it won’t melt and break when it overloads. Instead, it expands and trips a switch to break the circuit. The breaker can be reset by flipping the switch back to its “on” position. There is no need to replace a fuse, which makes circuit breakers much more convenient. Unlike fuses, circuit breakers also protect your home from short circuits as well as overloads, providing your home with an extra layer of protection.
Circuit breakers have essentially replaced fuse boxes in modern homes, although they are still found in basements, garages, and utility rooms much like fuse boxes. You’ll be able to find your circuit breakers in your main electrical panel, which is still usually located in your basement, garage, or utility room. If a circuit breaker trips and causes you to lose power to part of your home, simply open your electrical panel and look for a circuit breaker that’s been tripped into the “off” position. Switch the breaker back on, and you should be good to go.
Fuse boxes and circuit breakers serve an important role in your home, and frequently tripped breakers and blown fuses are signs that something is wrong with your electrical system. If broken circuits are a common problem in your home, contact Mister Sparky as soon as possible. Our electricians can take a look at your wiring and get to the bottom of your electrical issues.