The last thing most people think about is their circuit breaker. Unless your power goes out, it is usually left to gather dust in a closet or garage for months or years. However, your circuit breaker will eventually need replacing for safety or efficiency reasons. Today, we will discuss what to consider before springing for a new model for your home or commercial property.
Buying A New Circuit Breaker
Before you buy a new circuit breaker, you have to make sure the specifications work for your situation, but you don’t have to make this decision alone. An electrician can help you identify the current model you have installed and recommend what will best fit your commercial property or house. Still, knowing what questions to ask and what to focus on is essential for making the right choice.
Cost : As with everything, the cost can be a limiting factor for purchasing a new circuit breaker. If you have no limitation on the money you can spend, the model you can buy will be amazing, but this isn’t feasible for most people. Figuring out which circuit breakers fit your needs and then identifying a high-quality, well-built model within that price range ensures you get the most bang for your buck.
Voltage and Amps: Different breakers will have varying voltage and amperage ratings, which you do not want to try and save money on. Whatever your current model is, match or exceed its ratings to ensure that fires, sparks, and blown fuses have as low a risk as possible. However, if you are currently experiencing issues with your electrical system due to your breaker, springing for something well above your current voltage and amperage rating is recommended. Homes and commercial properties will have massively different requirements, which can be a key deciding factor for cost.
Accessories and Add-ons: A circuit breaker doesn’t function to the best of its ability by itself. Many accessories provide electrical or safety benefits that you should use at all times. Some useful accessories include:
Shunt Trips: These allow the circuit breaker to turn off the flow of electricity by opening the circuit remotely. While these are common in commercial properties for safety reasons, they are also extremely helpful for residential properties, given that family members know where this switch is located. Turning off the flow of electricity during an electrical fire is crucial, and these switches can be conveniently placed much closer than the circuit breaker itself.
Undervoltage Releases and Sensors: Low voltage running through appliances and devices can damage them, and surges of electricity following a period of low voltage can be equally disastrous. Undervoltage releases cut power when low voltage is detected and also give you a warning that something is causing a disruption in your system.
An electrician can help determine which accessories from your old system need replacements and which can still be used. Furthermore, some accessories might be missing, often indicated by loose wires coming out the side of the casing. You should never buy a low-quality circuit breaker just to save a few dollars. Electrical fires are hazardous, and damage to devices can cost even more than the savings you receive from purchasing a cheaper model. Luckily, you don’t have to make the decisions and installation yourself.
Promise Electric is a full-service residential and commercial electrical services contractor located in Sarasota, Florida. Whether a home project or a commercial installation, we are the area’s trusted master electricians.
