Electrical Components Described in Detail

Consumer units are electrical components that perform a critical service for an electrical system. Consumer units consist of a box filled with fuses or breakers. A fuse is a weak point in an electrical circuit. The fuse is designed to burn out when a predetermined amount of current flows through it. The purpose of this device is to save the rest of the circuit. A circuit is only designed to take so much current. By limiting the amount of current with a fuse, the circuit can avoid damage from over current conditions. One drawback is that a fuse must be replaced when it burns out. A breaker is a good alternative to a fuse. Instead of burning out, the breaker flips into an off position. This works by detecting the magnetic pulse associated with electric current. In order to re-energize the circuit, a person merely has to flip the breaker back to its “On” position.