Tag: Electrical Switch Breakers

How Circuit Breakers Can Save Your Home In A Flood

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Would you know what to do or where to begin if you found that your home was in danger of flooding?  Many homeowners don’t think about flooding or believe that the probability that a flood will affect them is slim.  The truth of the matter is that floods have become one of the most common natural hazards to affect homeowners throughout the United States.  Localized flooding, from events such as water freezing and thawing, can affect smaller contained areas such as neighborhoods or smaller communities.  General flooding can occur from events such as constant rain or torrential downpours which can flood entire water systems throughout multiple states.

Flooding is a common occurrence.  They can occur no matter where you live but are more common if you live in low-lying areas, near water or downstream from a dam.  Concern yourself with flooding if your home is located by small streams, gullies, creeks, culverts, dry streambeds or low-lying dry ground that appear harmless.  If you find that a flood is imminent there are a few things that homeowners can do to prepare.

Electricity and water mixed together are a deadly combination.   The possibility of electrocution during a flood is high.  In order to prevent this from occurring homeowners should turn off and unplug all electrical appliances, utilities and components powered using electricity.  Homeowners should locate the homes circuit breaker and shut off the main breakers.  This will shut the electricity off throughout the entire home.  Never touch any electrical appliance or electrical component when you are wet or if you are standing in water.  Do not risk electrocution.  Even if the electrical power is shut off if an appliance is not unplugged it can still contain a power current that can cause harm.

Never walk through water that is moving.  The current in just six inches of moving water can cause homeowners to fall.  Locate an area where the water is not moving.  Use something long and firm to test the ground in front of you before you step.  In a flood your homes floors can become weak which can lead to a collapse.

Flood water is always contaminated.  Once flood water has entered your home the area is then contaminated as well.  Homeowners must clean and disinfect everything.  Electrical appliances should never be reconnected even after they have been clean and disinfected until water is no longer present.  Appliances and main electrical supplies should also be inspected by professional electricians before the homes power supply is re-established through the circuit breaker.

Flooding can affect anyone, anywhere at any time.  Homeowners should be prepared if flood conditions exist and should know what to do to protect themselves and their families.

J&P Electrical is a full service electrical equipment company.  At J&P, we supply contractors, end users and supply houses with new surplus, quality reconditioned and obsolete electrical equipment. Contact us today at https://jpelectricalcompany.com for all of your bus plug, circuit breaker, switchboard, fuses, disconnects and more.

J & P Electrical Company

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The Purpose of Circuit Breakers

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Many people know that their homes have a circuit breaker but aren’t familiar with what they do or why they are important.  All of the electrical power that is supplied to your home is controlled by your homes circuit breaker.  They are used to control the flow of electricity throughout your home.  This one unit can turn the electrical power on and off within the home.  If you are experiencing an electrical surge, your homes circuit breaker will automatically cut the power supply to ensure that no major damage occurs.  This is referred to as tripping the breaker.  This can occur throughout the entire home or in just areas where a surge is experienced.

If the wires in your electrical system are unable to carry the load of electricity properly a surge has occurred.  When this happens the breaker is unable to perform properly and shuts down. The breaker will then need to be reset.  The breaker will keep tripping if the circuit continues to be over capacity.  If this occurs often your circuit breaker is not meeting the electrical capacity you require.  This signals to you, the homeowner, that it is time to upgrade your circuit breaker.

Often times the system can be upgraded by improving the capacity of the circuit breaker by adding an additional panel to the main panel.  You first must check all of the electrical components and wiring to isolate and identify the area that is not being sufficiently powered.  If it is found that there are power supply issues throughout the board it may be time to upgrade all together.  This is a common issue found in many older homes.

Electrical appliances both small and large have changed a great deal throughout the years in regards to how much electricity they require.  With this change many older homes are finding that an additional panel added on to the current circuit breaker is only a temporary fix to a much larger problem that exists.  Sometimes it is possible to get by in these situations by decreasing the amount of electricity needed throughout the home at any given time.  For instance, if the television is on in the living room and dinner is going in the oven it may trip the breaker if you decide you also want to blow dry your hair in the bathroom.

Larger homes require more electricity as well.  When you are considering any major home improvement upgrades such as an addition, upgraded kitchen or bathroom it is important to check the capacity on your current circuit breaker to ensure that you will not be taxing the supply of power.  If you find that you are switching from gas appliances to electrical appliances you may find the current circuit unable to power them without upgrading.

The circuit breaker in your home plays a huge role in protecting your family.  Without this electrical component shutting down overloaded circuits we would find an increase in electrical fires.  Overloaded systems will overheat which will cause wires to split and fires to occur.  This is why it is so important to have a basic understanding of what your homes circuit breaker does for you and to recognize the signs that it is not functioning properly.

All homeowners should know where their circuit breaker box is located, how to cut the power to not only the entire home at once but also to specific locations as well as how to change fuses contained within.  These are the basics that homeowners can handle without calling in an electrician.  It is however recommended that a certified electrician manage any additions or upgrades if you do find that the homes electrical demand is overloading the current circuits supply.

J&P Electrical is a full service electrical equipment company.  At J&P, we supply contractors, end users and supply houses with new surplus, quality reconditioned and obsolete electrical equipment. Contact us today at https://jpelectricalcompany.com for all of your bus plug, circuit breaker, switchboard, fuses, disconnects and more.

J & P Electrical Company

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Guide to Buying An Electrical Circuit Breaker

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

A large safety concern in both residential and commercial buildings is overloading or causing a short circuit within the electrical circuit.  The component that is used to prevent this from occurring is an electrical circuit breaker.  A circuit breaker is used to protect the circuits within your home or business.  If a fault is detected within the circuit the system will cause a break in the electrical current flow causing the system to come to a halt.

The type of circuit breaker you choose to purchase will depend on a number of things.  In order to purchase the correct electrical circuit breaker you need to clearly understand your needs and the needs that will be placed on the system.  When purchasing a new or refurbished circuit breaker, your electrical supplier will discuss several factors with you to help you select the best breaker for your needs.

The first thing an electrical supply company will ask you about when purchasing a circuit breaker is the amount of electricity that will be flowing through the breaker.  The voltage load of the circuit breaker you choose will depend heavily on the equipment that will be used on the circuit as well as the overall load of electricity that will run through the circuit.

There are three main voltage categories when it comes to circuit breakers.  Low voltage circuit breakers are used in residential electrical circuits.  A low voltage electrical circuit breaker works best in households and can handle a max load of 1000 volts.  Medium electrical circuit breakers are suitable for buildings and office settings.  A medium breaker is good for use when voltage requirements are between 1000 and 72,000 volts.  Large electrical circuit breakers handle voltage loads upwards of 72,000.  Large breakers are typically used for high voltage power transmission lines.

The next consideration of various circuit breakers is the mounting style.  The two main components are fixed mounted circuit breakers and removable mounted circuit breakers.  A fixed mounted circuit breaker is mounted so that it cannot be removed without removing the main connections and mounting supports.  A removable mounted circuit breaker has two parts, the base and the actual breaker.  The base is bolted and hardwired to the frame where is the breaker is plugged into the base.  This system can be replaced without having to rewire.

Another consideration is the type of trip unit you would like the breaker to be on.  There are two main types of trip units, magnetic and thermal.  Also consider the operating temperature range when purchasing an electrical circuit breaker.  Different components work better than others at different temperature ranges.

The best place to purchase an electrical circuit breaker is with the help of an online new, used and refurbished electrical component supplier.  They will have the best inventory in stock and are familiar with a variety of circumstances.  Use their experience to help you choose the best circuit breaker for your commercial or residential use.

J&P Electrical is a full service electrical equipment company. At J&P, we supply contractors, end users and supply houses with new surplus, quality reconditioned and obsolete electrical equipment. Contact us today at https://jpelectricalcompany.com for all of your bus plug, circuit breaker, switchboard, fuses, disconnects and more.

J & P Electrical Company

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Understanding Circuit Breaker Voltage

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Circuit breakers are an electrical device that is used to automatically break a path that has become overloaded. They are used to prevent major fires or electrical disasters to your home or business as a safety precaution. In order to decide what breaker is the perfect choice for your needs you will need to consider the voltage that you will be using, the point at which you wish the circuit to trip and the overload protection needed.

The most common type of breaker that is used is a low voltage breaker which is ideal for residential use. There are several different types of breakers, low voltage are just the most common. Low voltage circuit breakers are easy to install because using them only requires the installation of one general breaker panel.

There are other types of circuit breakers including miniature circuit breakers, molded case circuit breakers, medium voltage circuit breakers and high voltage breakers. Depending on your need, commercial or residential, will depend on which type of breaker will be best for you.

Miniature circuit breakers are the lowest voltage breaker that is available. They are known to carry electricity of only 100 amps. Miniature circuit breakers are capable of holding electrical charges of no more than 1,000 amps.

Molded case circuit breakers are the ideal breaker for 1,000 amps of electricity. They safely disconnect when that goes beyond ten times the capacity. They are often called magnetic circuit breakers. They are called this because they use electromagnetic power solenoid’s to break the circuit when the flow exceeds capacity.

A medium voltage breaker has a capacity of between 1,000 and 72,000 amps before they break. The performance is relative to which brand and model you choose. You will often see these breakers used in larger buildings and businesses. You will find them in cabinets indoors and switchboxes which are enclosed. There are three breaker sub types within the medium voltage breaker category: SF6, air and sub-type breakers.

High voltage circuit breakers are those that are capable of holding more than 72,500 volts of electricity. These breakers are usually found outdoors with high voltage power lines. These circuits are controlled with a solenoid switch that activates the arc-chamber when too much electricity flows through.

When considering a breaker it is important to consider the voltage as well as the trip point. The trip point when the breaker will trip should be set at a point comfortable that it prevents your wiring from overheating. When your breaker is overloaded you want to be sure it trips and electricity current is no longer flowing. This is crucial to prevent major electrical accidents and fire from overloaded circuits.

J&P Electrical is a full service electrical equipment company. At J&P, we supply contractors, end users and supply houses with new surplus, quality reconditioned and obsolete electrical equipment. Contact us today at https://jpelectricalcompany.com for all of your bus plug, circuit breaker, switchboard, fuses, disconnects and more.

J & P Electrical Company

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Factors When Choosing An Electrical Circuit Breaker

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Every home and business has an electrical circuit breaker.  Many of us have no idea what the circuit breaker really does or how it works.  A breaker is a unit that is installed that protects your circuits from becoming overloaded essentially causing a short which could create an unsafe situation.  By design, when the breaker becomes aware of a disruption in the system it breaks the electrical current flow thus protecting the rest of the circuit.

Commercial and residential electrical circuit breakers are purchased based on a number of essential factors including the vast abundance of different designs that they are sold in.  Other factors to weigh before you buy a circuit breaker include the voltage load, the mounting style and the unit’s trip style.

Voltage Load

This is a fairly obvious feature to figure out.  Commercial and industrial settings need higher voltage circuit breakers then a residential environment.  This is because of the amount of electricity that will be flowing through the circuit.  Larger equipment requires a higher amount of electricity therefore requiring a higher voltage breaker.  It is crucial when buying or selling circuit breakers that you understand what purpose the breaker is serving.  Installing a circuit that is either too big or too small can end up being detrimental.

Low Voltage Circuit Breakers: Consider this style of breaker for most residential applications.  This circuit takes a load up to 1000 volts without issue.

Medium Voltage Circuit Breakers: Consider this style breaker for commercial office buildings or residential uses when using high voltage tools.  A home wood working shop is the perfect example of a residential environment that needs more than a low voltage circuit.  A medium voltage breaker is good for circuits between 1000 to 72,000 volts.

High Voltage Circuit Breakers:  For any use that requires more than 72,000 amps of voltage this is the breaker you need.  This is what is needed for industrial and commercial applications that use large pieces of equipment for manufacturing.

Mounting Style

The manner in which a circuit breaker is mounted is also another consideration for which purchasers choose the correct mechanism for their need.  Two main styles include fixed mounting and removable mounting.  Draw out mounted breakers are used for medium voltage breakers.  Bolt on and plug in electrical circuit breakers are also options that can be obtained from companies that sell electrical equipment and supplies.

Trip Unit Type

When you are purchasing a circuit breaker you need to also take into consideration the unit’s trip type.  There are a few main types including magnetic, thermal, thermal magnetic and magnetic hydraulic trip units.  Another consideration is the temperature operating range in which the circuit breaker operates.  You want to purchase a breaker that operates at different temperature ranges.

It is important to take into consideration all of the essentials pieces of purchasing a circuit breaker before installing one in your home or business.  The electrical component will prevent accidental electrical issues from occurring down the road.  Overworking a circuit can cause shortages that will cause fuses to continually blow. This is only one disruption that can occur if a circuit is overloaded.

J&P Electrical is a full service electrical equipment company. At J&P, we supply contractors, end users and supply houses with new surplus, quality reconditioned and obsolete electrical equipment. Contact us today at https://jpelectricalcompany.com for all of your bus plug, circuit breaker, switchboard, fuses, disconnects and more.

J & P Electrical Company

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