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Five Types Of Circuit Breakers: Your Switchgear Guide

3 November 2017

Harold Lawson

Circuit breakers are one of the most important types of switchgear. They're set up to stop the flow of electricity in the event that too much current is being sent through the wire. Essentially, circuit breakers are a safety feature meant to prevent fires, electrical shocks, and damage to appliances. Yet, all circuit breakers are not created equal. There are, in fact, five different common types, which are useful for you to know about if you are hiring someone to do electrical work or considering electrical upgrades for your home or business.

Low Voltage Circuit Breakers

This is common type of circuit breaker that you will find in a home or some small commercial buildings, though they are becoming less popular as magnetic and thermal magnetic breakers are used more often. These breakers are set up for systems that carry less than 1000 volts of electricity. They're usually housed in a box, and the way they're installed makes it easy to remove and replace one circuit breaker without disassembling the entire electrical system -- which is essential in residential applications. 

There are also low voltage circuit breakers that are specially designed for use with direct current lines. These breakers are not interchangeable with low-voltage breakers used with the more common AC current in homes, but they work in the same way. If too much current starts flowing, the switch flips, causing a "break" in the wire. Flip the switch back, and you re-complete the circuit, allowing for the flow of electricity once again.

Magnetic Circuit Breakers

Magnetic circuit breakers differ from standard, low voltage breakers in how they are signaled to disrupt the circuit. They actually measure the magnetic field generated by the flow of the electricity through the wire. If the magnetic field becomes too strong, it physically pulls on a special magnetic strip in the breaker, moving it out of the way and breaking the circuit. 

Magnetic circuit breakers are also used in homes and small commercial buildings. They are a good choice for homes with sensitive electronics, since they are very sensitive to power surges and will protect those appliances from the damage caused by such surges. 

Thermal Magnetic Circuit Breakers

Thermal magnetic circuit breakers are often used by larger, electrical distribution facilities, though they have been used in some home and business systems, too. They work similarly to magnetic circuit breakers, stopping the current when a larger-than-normal magnetic field is generated. However, they also have an additional feature. They break the circuit when too much heat is generated, too. This allows them to cut off the current in response to a sustained overage in voltage, rather than just a short power surge.

Common Trip Breakers

This type of circuit breaker does not usually come into play in a home or small building. Rather, it may be used in distribution boards and some factories with large appliances and machinery. A common trip breaker is used when there's a neutral wire leading to an appliance, which also needs to be disconnected when someone works on the wiring or the machine. They're also used for multiple-phase AC power.

Magnetic-Hydraulic Trip Breakers

This unique style of circuit breaker operates via a special type of fluid. The fluid restricts the movement of a solenoid coil, which expands and contracts based on the amount of electricity flowing through it. If the coil expands too much and reaches the liquid, its motion is inhibited by the liquid, causing the breaker to trip. Hydraulic trip breakers are used for larger circuits that carry more than 1000 volts, which are typically seen in industrial systems. 

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