Read this Before Replacing a Circuit Breaker

It is like so many years ago that most people use fuse boxes, right? But there are still so many houses which have fuse boxes to control electricity. If you already have one, there’s a good reason to be here! Blown fuse box!

At first, you probably think maybe a tiny fix can change this condition, but you know, as the saying goes: Don’t try to fix what is already broken!

Stop fixing the old fuse box and replace it with a new circuit breaker. Besides so many advantages circuit breakers have, you will be safer with circuit breakers.

Fuse boxes were used when circuit breakers weren’t available like today. But after becoming popular because of their safety. Most people changed their fuse boxes to a circuit breaker for safety reasons. Circuit breakers have so many sizes and models. Metal circuit breakers are the safer option for houses. It prevents fire hazards and stops fire in the first minutes. As your information, plastic circuit breakers cannot resist heat and burn with other stuff, but metal circuit breakers can reduce the flames and fire.

However, in Britain, some old places still use fuse boxes. But there’s a fact here; over time, the average home needs more and more power (just think about more electric devices you have in comparison to your grandmother). This fact led us to develop and make big panels (circuit breakers) to provide more power to their home.

Think about new fuse box installation and replacement if you have already experienced these situations:

• Your property is older than 20 years
• Your electrical devices and appliances emit a burning smell
• Kitchen appliances stop working accidentally
• Lights and fixtures frequently dim or flicker without any reason

Circuit Breakers and Fuses

Circuit breakers and fuse boxes all have the same role and function in your house with little difference in power distribution pattern. The main task of a circuit breaker is to break the circuit. Isn’t funny? The circuit breaker protects your electrical appliances and devices by cutting off the electricity whenever it faces the overloaded current. In the same situation, fuse boxes blow and are already destroyed by overloading.

There are so many reasons to buy and install a circuit breaker. One of the bold reasons is that you can easily rest them and use them on the first day, there’s no replacement with circuit breakers! Conventional fuse boxes need fuse replacement each time the circuit is overloaded and the fuse is blown. This is the way fuses design work. In 90’s it was a convenient choice for urban properties.

Electricity runs across a soft metal wire in fuse boxes, because of that any overloading in the circuit can cause an overheat and melt the wires. Melted wires can no longer transfer electricity. So the circuit will be broken. It is when you ran out of electricity and everything is turned off.

They are some reasons to upgrade your fuse box to a circuit breaker panel:

• You can reset tripped circuits rather than replace fuses
• You can easily add new circuits without any fundamental rewiring
• It covers modern-day power (Integrate 120- and 140- volt circuits)

Should Fuses Be Replaced with Breakers?

Every year so many people die from electrical shock during daily works or maintenance. Fuse boxes are not dangerous by themselves. The old, outdated fuse makes trouble with you. Old wiring in fuse boxes can make a problem for your property. If you don’t want to replace them with a circuit breaker, make sure the fuse box is inspected by a professional every year to prevent any accidental danger. Some reasons best to think about replacing fuse boxes:

Newer is the better

Since fuse boxes have not been a standard for many years, electrical connections can wear down and cause some dramatic dangerous situations and also an inefficient energy consumption for you. The new generation uses less power and money.

Circuit Breakers have more safety features

Many types of circuit breakers offer advanced technology in electrical safety, such as arc fault protection (there’s a special sensor to cut off the faulty wire), RCD and so on. If you take your life seriously, buy one of them.

More Convenient than Fuses

We said that above, whenever a fuse blows out, fuse replacement is needed. A collection of fuses needs in the house to be kept on hand and always available. But the circuit breaker is just a switch you can easily turn on/off.

Budget-friendly

Fuses are not expensive but they have more expenses in comparison to circuit breakers. But the main way to save up money over the fuse boxes is home insurance companies. Insurance companies will increase the premium if your home has a fuse box instead of a circuit breaker.

Circuit Breaker Safety tips

1. Whenever your fuse tripping and break the circuit, try to find out what is happening first, then try to realize the main reason for the arc fault. Don’t try to replace the blown fuse as soon as possible and then forget. If there’s a problem with the fuse box it could happen again.
2. Also remember to replace the fuse or new circuit breaker in the same size as the original one is to prevent any further damages or accidental dangers. Changing them with a larger size can cause more issues like rewiring the entire system to increase the required power.
3. Avoid using high voltages appliances in the same circuit. It may cause an overloading circuit.
4. Do not overdo the wattage limit on appliances packaging. If an appliance continues to blow a fuse or flip the circuit breaker, then maybe it needed some repair or replacement.
5. In replacing or repairing process, consider safety precautions.
6. If you are not knowledgeable enough to do electrical works, consult a professional. Don’t try to fake the understanding of electrical wiring or fuse box installation. Your safety matters.