What is The Difference Between Fuses and Breakers?

What is a fuse?

Most fuses have a small metal filament where the current of a circuit will pass through. If the current on the circuit is greater than what the filament is rated for, the filament will break and stop the flow of current. For blade fuses they use sand to help extinguish the arc after the filament breaks.

Blade fuses are mostly used in disconnect switches which can be seen in homes all around the world (as they are also seen in Winnipeg, Manitoba homes). Blade fuses are also commonly used in industrial and commercial buildings.

The less common type of fuses used today are plug fuses or screw-in fuses. Plug fuses were common in the 1950s and have a base that looks like a lightbulb and a see through glass top. These type of fuses got phased out as they were a one-time use; when used in residential areas, the fuses have to get replaced often as they could overload kitchen circuits. Another reason plug fuses are not commonly used anymore is due to their safety concern. Plug fuses can be a potential fire hazard as they were typically installed incorrectly; the fuse is not rated for the circuit, and the wiring was not rated to carry a higher current and melt.

What is a breaker?

Breakers are made of plastic construction and metal internal pieces. This construction makes them able to be reset if they happen to trip due to overload. Breakers are now installed in all modern construction and are constantly being updated. There are now many different types now such as AFCI (Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter), GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) and even whole home surge protection breakers. Breakers are a cost-efficient option compared to fuses which can only be used one time.

All this being said there is nothing wrong with fuses and they will protect a circuit and your home just as well as a breaker if sized properly. If you have and questions or concerns about your homes electrical set up feel free to reach out to us at GW Electric Inc. your local Winnipeg Electrician, here to help with all your electrical needs!