What is Breaker in Electrical? | Circuit Breaker Explained

What is Breaker or Circuit Breaker?

In simple words, a breaker is a device that breaks the circuit. In electrical engineering, a breaker means it indicates the circuit breaker. The circuit breaker is basically a protective device that breaker the circuit during the fault condition. Generally, the breaker is designed to break the circuit when excess current flows through it due to a short circuit fault or overload fault. A breaker is an electromechanical device. It can be called a switching device also. It can break the circuit automatically or manually and make the circuit manually. That means in normal conditions it can be used as a switching device to turn on or turn off. So the circuit breaker is a switching cum protective device.

Nowadays, there are so many types of circuit breakers available in the market. The circuit breaker is classified based on the types of power supply they used, Arc quenching medium, and capacity. A circuit breaker is the most important and most usable safety device in electrical engineering. It replaces the fuse. Nowadays you will see the application of fuse very rear. Actually, you can call a fuse as a breaker because it also breaks the circuit during the fault condition.

But there is a very big difference between a fuse and a circuit breaker. A circuit breaker has so many advantages over a fuse. Once the fuse is burned or breaks the circuit a replacement is required. You need a new fuse wire and connect it. But in the case of a circuit breaker, it breaks the contacts when a fault occurs, and after removing the fault we can easily close the circuit by just changing its knob or plunger. Here, no need to replace anything.

Examples of Circuit Breakers and Their Uses

MCB(Miniature Circuit Breaker)

MCB is a very well-known and widely usable circuit breaker. You can see its application everywhere from domestic to industrial sectors. MCB is a low voltage and low current protective device. It is used up to 125A. MCB provides two protective functions - 1. Short Circuit Fault 2. Overload Fault. During the overload fault, MCB takes some time to trip or break the circuit but when the short circuit fault occurs it breaks the circuit instantly.

MCCB(Molded Case Circuit Breaker)

MCCB is also a type of circuit breaker that is used for medium-voltage to high-voltage applications. MCCB provides so many additional functions such as adjustable tripping current settings, remote turn off feature, indication, etc. MCCB is mostly used for industrial applications such as incoming feeders, motor control circuits, etc.

According to the ARC quenching medium, there are different types of circuit breakers are available in the market, such as Air Circuit breakers, SF6 Circuit breakers, Oil Circuit breakers, etc.

RCCB(Residual Current Circuit Breaker)

RCCB or Residual Current Circuit Breaker is a different type of circuit breaker. It does not break the circuit when an overload or short circuit fault occurs. It breaks the circuit when a current imbalance occurs due to the earth leakage fault or ground fault or electrical shock. Yes, RCCB is a circuit breaker that gives protection to humans against electrical shock.

Read Also: 

• What is RCBO? Full-Form, Function, Application, Use
• What is Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter(GFCI)? Use
• Different Types of Protection for Capacitor Bank Explained
• MCCB Full Form | MCB and MCCB Difference
• Electrical Transfer Switch Use, Operation, Diagram

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