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Break the circuit before it breaks you
Home circuit breakers
There are a number of different types of breakers used in homes around the country. The types of breakers range from bimetal GE circuit breakers to Square D circuit breakers that use microprocessors to sense surges and discontinue the circuit.
Most Residential 20-amp circuit breakers, or miniature circuit breakers, are either thermal or thermal magnetic. The most common is a switch that is turned off by an electromagnet, which is charged by the current running through the breaker. If the current increases to a dangerous level, the electromagnet becomes strong enough to turn the switch off.
The second common type of circuit breaker is the bimetal switch. A bimetal switch works similarly to the electromagnetic one mentioned above in that increased current simply switches the circuit off. Bimetal switches bend under increasing current and throw the switch.
Industrial circuit breakers
Circuit breakers used in higher amp environments include Air and Vacuum circuit breakers. Air Circuit Breakers have fully adjustable and configurable trip thresholds and delays. These breakers are usually microprocessor controlled. They are used for main power distribution in large industrial plants, where the breakers are arranged in draw-out enclosures for easy maintenance.
Vacuum Circuit Breakers interrupt the arc in a vacuum bottle. These breakers are used in even more demanding industrial applications than air breakers. Vacuum breakers tend to have longer life expectancies between overhaul than do air circuit breakers.
High voltage breakers
High voltage breakers are used in the high-tension wires that transmit power into urban areas. These breakers often work in a way very similar to the bulbs in theater movie projectors. They transmit electricity with an arc of power that moves from one electrode to another. Extinguishing the arc using diffent media such as oil or a number of different gasses quenches the power flow. These breakers, while handling huge amounts of power, can activate in a few microseconds.
The future
Currently, there are a number of breakers in development that can protect electronic devices in ways that were formerly not possible. These breakers can protect delicate circuitry from not only overcurrent issues but also current imbalances that often cause catastrophic failure in everything from computers to expensive flat panel televisions.
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