Different types of circuit breakers explained!

This audio was created using Microsoft Azure Speech Services

Generally, in the case of a power connection, the electricity goes through a circuit breaker box where it is divided into numerous circuits. These circuits are supported by a breaker or fuse, which function as switching devices that can be function manually or automatically to control and support the electrical power system. Without a circuit breaker, there is a risk of electrical fires, shocks, and electrocution.

There is a broad range of circuit breakers available, which depend upon the voltage, installation, external design, placement, and breaking mechanism.

Here are the different types of circuit breakers:

• Air Circuit Breaker:

This circuit breaker operates with their arcing contacts exposed to the air. These contacts operate at a given level of atmospheric pressure. In many of the places, air circuit breakers generally serve as replacements of oil circuit breakers.

• Types of air circuit breakers:

1. Plain Air Circuit Breaker:

This circuit breaker is also known as Cross-Blast Circuit Breaker. These breaks are fixed with a chamber that surrounds the contacts.

2. Air Blast Circuit Breaker:

This circuit breaker is used for a system voltage of 245 KV to 420 KV, if not more. These Air Blast Circuit Breakers are of two types – namely the Axial Blast                 Breaker and Axial Blast with a sliding moving contact.

• Molded Case Circuit Breaker:

The traditional molded-case circuit breaker uses electromechanical trip units that may be either fixed or interchangeable. A molded case circuit breaker provides support by bringing together a temperature-sensitive device with a current-sensitive electromagnetic device. Both these circuit breakers work automatically once the mechanism trips.

• Miniature circuit breaker:

This device automatically switches off the electrical circuit in the event of a less-than-ideal network condition (typically an overload condition). A miniature circuit breaker is usually used for a low voltage electrical network, instead of a fuse. Handling an MCB is electrically safer.

Other than circuit breakers, a distribution management system is equally important. A distribution management system offers advanced monitoring, analysis, support, planning, and training processes for your power utilisation. A distribution management system can also study and analyse all the data involved in these power systems so that any problems can be taken into consideration and mitigated with ease.

A distribution management system has the following benefits:

• Enhanced outage response
• Enabling leading critical grid controlling capabilities
• Optimising the dynamic grid functioning
• Ease of managing a distribution management system allows one to explore a wide range of new power applications within the existing systems.

Thus, it’s absolutely important that circuit breakers are a component of every home to provide for a greater degree of protection.