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Electrical Circuit Breaker Types
WHILE EXTREME CARE HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN THE PREPARATION OF THIS
SELF-HELP DOCUMENT, THE AUTHOR AND/OR PROVIDERS OF THIS DOCUMENT
ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS, NOR IS ANY
LIABILITY ASSUMED FROM THE USE OF THE INFORMATION, CONTAINED IN THIS
DOCUMENT, BY THE AUTHOR and / OR PROVIDER.
There are a large number of different types of circuit breakers
on the market, this article will just briefly cover a few of the
most common ones that are used in a home.
When selecting a circuit breaker of course you first need one
that fits the electrical panel where it is to be installed then
select the one that fits the purpose and rating requirements in
which it will be used. All breakers serve as a disconnect switch
as well as an over current protection cut-off. Some types of
breakers go a step further in the area of keeping everyone safe.
Be sure to also read the articles ' Main
Electrical Panel' and ' Sub-Panels'
as well as other articles on this website.
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Main Service Panel Breaker
200 Amp Dual Pole Breakers in a
residential setting serves as the main service breaker
cut-off and over current protection for the whole home,
this protects the utility wires and panel. This breaker
will be sized according to the service the utility is
providing and what electrical panel is rated for. It
provides both 220 volts and 120 volts (with the neutral
return). So if you have 200 amp utility service then it
will be a 200 amp dual pole breaker, if you have 100 amp
utility service then it will be a 100 amp dual pole
breaker.
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Dual Pole Breakers are really two
breakers in the same molding / casing with each half of
it coming in contact with different hot bus of the
electrical panel. They are bridged (either externally
through the switch handle or internally) so that a fault
will trip both sides.
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Dual Pole Circuit Breaker
A dual
pole circuit breaker is one that that makes contact with
both hot buses on the main electrical panel. The voltage
if measured between these two hot buses is 240 volts. A
dual breaker that is not dual pole only has contact with
one hot bus can only provide for a 120 volt circuit
feed.
These dual pole breakers are usually meant for circuits
requiring 240 volts, such as clothes dryers, electric
cooking ranges, and baseboard heaters.
Also read the article called:
Main Electrical Panel
Which has additional Information
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CFCI are most often on circuits
that serve areas where water is close by such as
bathrooms and kitchen sink areas. Please read the
article called ' GFI
Outlet' for additional information.
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Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter
As you can see in the picture they
can come in different configurations.
They are designed to detect current leakages even in
minute amounts, and will cut power to the circuit when
any leakage is detected. They come with a test button on
it which should be tested at least once a month to
ensure they are functioning properly. You can also get
these in the form of an outlet.
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Arc Fault Circuit Breaker
These are now being required in
most jurisdictions for bedrooms.
They are designed to detect arcing / shorting between
conductors, and will trigger / shut down the circuit
faster than just with the standard over current circuit
breaker.
Please read the article called ' Arc
Circuit Protection' for additional
information.
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Twin Breaker
Twins, are really 2 individual
circuit breakers that are compact and take only a single
slot in the electrical service panel. They are not
bridged but operate independently of each other.
They are a consideration when more circuit breakers are
needed than the electrical panel has slots for as a full
slot breaker could be removed and replaced with a twin
allowing for more circuits in an existing panel.
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Single Regular Circuit Breaker
The most common amp sizes are 15
and 20 amps for general purpose circuits.
The regular single circuit breaker occupies a single
slot in the service panel.
Nothing over special in nature but they act both as a
circuit shut down switch and an over current protection
device.
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This highlights the most commonly used circuit breaker types used in
residential homes but are other configurations available.
By: Donald Kerr
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