Circuit breakers are safer and more convenient than fuses. So, are you wondering…
If you answer yes to these questions then you should strongly consider getting a circuit breaker upgrade.
A fuse is a simple and effective device.
When it goes over-current the small wire burns out thus breaking the circuit.
There are things it won’t detect though, like current leaks.
Perhaps you have a frayed or loose wire in your house. This will not trip a fuse. Or perhaps you become the circuit (eg electric shock from touching a faulty electrical device). A fuse will not detect this and will not save you. A circuit breaker will (though truly, this is what safety switches are for).
Circuit breakers are also reset-able. When a breaker is tripped you can reset it easily. When a fuse wire breaks you must replace the fuse wire.
A circuit breaker is an automatically operated electrical switch designed to protect an electrical circuit from damage caused by excess current from an overload or short circuit. Its basic function is to interrupt current flow after a fault is detected. Unlike a fuse, which operates once and then must be replaced, a circuit breaker can be reset (either manually or automatically) to resume normal operation.
A circuit breaker is not to be confused with a safety switch. A safety switch shuts off electricity supply when it detects a leakage to earth. Circuit breakers are installed to protect circuit wiring and appliances, while safety switches protect people.
Both are important.
You can find more information about safety switches here.
As part of electrical work we completed on a house, we had to upgrade one of the fuses to a circuit breaker. This is sometimes required under the current laws where the switchboard does not meet legal specifications after completion of other works.
When the circuit breaker was installed it tripped itself. This indicated a fault in the current wiring in the house. We located it to a frayed wire in a light switch. This fault would never trip a fuse because a fuse can only react when there is too much current. But the circuit breaker detected the current leak and tripped straight away.
This is a great example of why circuit breakers are much safer than fuses.
Since you’re here, the fact you’re even considering this question, then the answer is yes. Circuit breaker installation or upgrade is a simple way of keeping you and your property safe.
Many older fuse boxes are no longer able to cope with the amount of power modern homes require to function. Upgrading from an older ceramic fuse to a circuit breaker is not only safer for your home and family but also easy to reset if the power to your home is tripped. All you have to do is flick the switch to return power to your home. No more changing fuse wire in the middle of the night!