Checking Fuses and Circuit Breakers

Electrical Fuses and Circuit Breakers

Introduction:

Every house has an electrical panel where the power enters the home and then distributed to the circuits that run throughout the home. The electrical panel protects the electrical wiring system in your home with electrical fuses and circuit breakers. The main electrical panel is often called the circuit breaker panel.

Checking fuses and circuit breakers should be part of your routine home maintenance checks. Each fuse or circuit breaker connects to a different area or circuit of wiring in your home. If an electrical fault occurs the fuse will blow or the circuit breaker will trip, cutting off the circuit power to prevent overloading or a fire. A circuit breaker can be switched back on whereas once a fuse blows it must be replaced with a new one. Most modern homes that were built since the 1950’s use circuit breakers where older homes used fuses in the electrical panel.

Always turn off the main power switch or circuit breaker if you are changing a fuse as well as turning off all electrical appliances that are connected to the circuit with the blown fuse. Replace the fuse with the same current rating. Too high a current rating will cause excessive current to flow through the circuit causing overheating and possibly a fire. If a fuse keeps blowing consult a licensed electrician. There may be hidden electrical problems in your home wiring.

Determine what electrical circuits or appliances the fuse or circuit breaker protects and label the electrical panel for easy identification. This can save you time in identifying a blown fuse or which circuit breaker to switch off.

How to Replace a Fuse or Reset a Circuit Breaker:

Turn off the main power switch or circuit breaker at the electrical panel.
Look inside the electrical panel door for a list of where each circuit breaker or fuse connects to.
Inspect each fuse or circuit breaker one at a time to determine which one is blown or tripped.
When you have found the blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker switch off all the lights and unplug any appliances on that circuit.
Replace the fuse wire or reset the circuit breaker. Make sure you use the correct current rating fuse. The current rating is generally indicated on the front of the fuse.
If the fuse blows again or the circuit trips again consult an electrician.

When working on an electrical panel ensures that you are standing on a dry surface (never a wet surface) and wear leather gloves. An electrical shock can cause injury and even death.

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