Every home has overload protection. Modern homes with modern electrical systems get their overload protection from circuit breaker boxes. Also known as electrical panels, these boxes draw power from the electrical meter and then distribute it across all circuits and service areas as needed. This setup limits the risk of overheating, electrocution, and electrical fires by providing a way to stop the flow of electricity when problems occur. If you live in an older home with an electrical system that hasn’t been updated for several decades, you might have a fuse box instead. Although fuse boxes serve a very similar purpose, they don’t offer the same level of protection.
What Are Circuit Breakers and How Do They Work?
Electricians usually install circuit breaker boxes in remote, low-traffic areas. You might find yours in your basement, attached garage, or utility closet. If you live in a smaller home or an older building, your circuit breaker box could be in a central location such as your hallway.
Circuit breaker boxes are always recessed installations. As such, these small, metal boxes are nearly flush with walls. They have slim, easy-open doors, and two rows of switches at their interior. Each switch corresponds to the related circuit and should be labeled to reflect the area or major appliance it controls. For rooms with high electrical demand, you may have two separate circuits and two breakers. For instance, you probably have one circuit for your kitchen lights, outlets, and minor appliances, and another circuit for your stove.
When circuits are overloaded, circuit breakers trip. Breakers have thin, bi-metal strips that bend when excess electricity passes through them. As they bend, circuit breakers make an audible clicking sound and switch into the “OFF” position. After you’ve corrected an overloaded circuit by unplugging high-demand appliances or taking other actions, you can easily restore power to the area by toggling the breaker back into the “ON” position.
What Are Fuse Boxes?
Fuse boxes are small metal boxes that contain six to 12 fuses. Fuses for service areas are usually screw-in fuses and fuses for large appliances are cartridge-style. Rather than thin, bi-metal strips that bend when overheated, fuses have thin metal strips that melt. When electrical circuits are overloaded, fuses “blow” out. “Blown” fuses must be replaced.
Fuse boxes are often installed in garages, basements, and hallways. However, they aren’t always recessed installations. Your fuse box might sit several inches out from the wall. In some homes, fuse boxes could be in crawlspaces or at the building exterior. If you blow a fuse and your lights go out, replacing a fuse could prove far more challenging than flipping a circuit breaker.
The Pros and Cons of Fuse Boxes
Fuse boxes are a durable option in overload protection. While circuit breaker boxes typically last 30 to 40 years, fuse boxes can last 50 years or longer. In their time, fuse boxes were highly effective and could distribute enough power to meet the average household’s needs. Now, however, this is rarely the case. Fuse boxes in many older homes only have a 60-amp capacity. In comparison, circuit breaker boxes in larger, high-demand homes can have a 200-amp or 400-amp capacity. This makes them far better suited to homes with central HVAC systems, modern washers and dryers, and other major appliances.
Replacement fuses aren’t expensive, but the cost of replacing blown fuses can add up over time. Another drawback of fuse boxes is that they aren’t code-compliant. Many electricians haven’t installed fuse boxes since the 1960s. This can cause problems in pre-sale home inspections. Although homeowners aren’t required to upgrade existing fuse boxes before selling, these features give home sellers less leverage at the negotiating table.
The Dangers of Overloaded Circuits
Electrical circuits are closed paths that allow electricity to flow between two fixed points. Sometimes referred to as branch circuits, these paths feed electricity to various rooms to power their outlets, light switches, and hardwired appliances. Electrical circuits become overloaded when they’re forced to handle too much electrical demand.
Plugging multiple major appliances in on the same circuit is a common cause of electrical overload. Other common causes of electrical overload include:
- Worn or faulty wiring
- Power surges
- Single appliances that draw too much power
- Malfunctioning electronics
As overloaded circuits heat up, they can melt wiring insulation, shoot sparks, cause electrical arcs, and start fast-spreading electrical fires.
Why Circuit Breakers Are the Better Choice
Your choice in overload protection is easily the most important feature in your home. Modern homes need modern electrical panels that can support all devices, appliances, switches, and outlets. With a circuit breaker box, you’ll have an easier time restoring power following electrical overload. You’ll also have greater peace of mind. To find out about upgrading your fuse box to a circuit breaker box, get in touch with Mister Sparky today.