Circuit Breaker
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.
Operation
Once a fault is detected, the circuit breaker contacts must
open to interrupt the circuit; this is commonly done using mechanically stored
energy contained within the breaker, such as a spring or compressed air to
separate the contacts. Circuit breakers may also use the higher current caused
by the fault to separate the contacts, such as thermal expansion or a magnetic
field. Small circuit breakers typically have a manual control lever to switch
off the load or reset a tripped breaker, while larger units use solenoids to
trip the mechanism, and electric motors to restore energy to the springs.
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