A main circuit breaker supplies electricity to a building, regulating the current and cutting off the supply if overloaded. It can be manually activated and is connected to a bus bar that conducts electricity. The amperage level is noted on the breaker and should be sufficient for modern homes.
A main circuit breaker is the main circuit fuse that supplies electricity to a structure. Main circuit breakers typically connect to 240 volts of electricity, which supplies power to all circuits and outlets in a building. There are two wide wires that connect the main breaker panel to the external electricity meter, as well as a pair of breaker levers that are fused together.
Main switches regulate the current of electricity. Different switches are equipped to handle different amounts of electric current, and when the electricity level exceeds the capacity of the main switch, the switch will automatically cut off the electrical supply. This process is commonly called “snapping”. While a tripped circuit breaker can be inconvenient, it’s an important safety precaution to prevent fires and overloaded circuits.
A main switch can also be activated manually. Manually turning off the power is commonly necessary when working on electrical wiring or doing home repairs that affect the flow of electricity. This is normally accomplished by simply pulling the switch levers or, in some designs, by removing a fuse block.
In the event of intervention of the main switch, it is important to remember to turn off all the switches on the electrical panel. After all the smaller breakers have been turned off, they can be turned back on before resetting the main breaker. This ensures that the entire power supply does not depend solely on the main switch, but is distributed across all switches on the panel.
The set of wires that connect the main switch and electric meter typically each carry 120 volts of electricity. At the main switch’s load center, the wires connect to a bus bar, a band of aluminum or copper that conducts electricity. Depending on the design and capabilities of the circuit, a main switch contains one or two busbars and supplies electricity to the circuits. Current then rises through a power cord to the associated outlet.
In a standard electrical panel, the main switch is located above the other switches at the top of the unit. In some cases, the wiring may require the panel to be installed upside down, which places the master switch at the bottom. The master switch levers are easy to recognize as they are two joined together and are noticeably larger than the other switches.
The amperage level of an electrical panel is usually noted on the main circuit breaker. A 100 amp main circuit breaker is common in most residential homes. Panels rated at anything less than 60 amps are considered insufficient for the electrical needs of modern homes. Breakers with higher amperage ratings are widely available.
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