Fuse Box 101

Listen to Your Fuse Box – It Has a Story to Tell

Many homeowners take pride in upgrading and renovating parts of their home. Unfortunately, the concept of home renovation usually starts and stops with bathrooms, kitchens, outside renovations, and other household amenities. Few people think of renovating their electrical system. Electrical systems, like anything else, can fail and become less efficient over time.

They can even become outdated. If your home has not had an electrical upgrade in years then it may be time to schedule one. If you are buying an older home, it is especially important for a certified electrician to conduct an electrical inspection. Here is what a typical fuse box upgrade and installation might entail.

Fuse Box and Panel Upgrades

One aspect of every electrical system upgrade should entail a fuse box inspection and upgrade or replacement if needed. An upgrade enables greater power flows into the home. However, the installation or upgrade can be challenging. Make sure you find a certified electrician to handle the task. Here are a few advantages for handing off the installation to a professional.

Your electrician always puts safety first. They will know everything there is to know about the installation as a result of knowledge and experience. Speed of installation is always a good thing as well. Our electricians can install your box quickly and safely allowing you to get on with life. Your electrical inspection can take the following things into consideration.

1. The basics for all fuses and circuit breakers are generally the same. Fuses detect a problem and breakers will open the circuit to stop the current. The critical element is if the system is working properly so that a problem triggers the system’s operation. Today’s circuit breakers and fuses are more advanced, and new models are safer than older ones.

2. Ceramic fuses are old school. They provided limited home protection to properties. They also provided little protection from electric shocks.

3. Then there was the plugin circuit breaker which was the next development in fuses. These circuit breakers offered about the same protection as the older fuses they replaced.

4. Hardwired circuit breakers brought about the next evolutionary step. They provided a layer of safety because an enthusiastic do-it-yourself handyman or woman could not swap them out. However, these units could only provide overload and short circuit protection.

5. Safety switches took the unit’s evolution to the next level. They protected circuits and also protected against electrical shock. The downside is that tripping the breaker could take out the power supply of an entire house.

Circuit Breaker and Safety Switch Combinations

These are modern-day units that can protect single circuits from shorts, electrical shocks, and overloads. The system confines problems to a single circuit. At Kircher Electric, we do it all. Whether the job is simple or complex, our electricians qualify to get the job done. Give us a call today to learn more about our services.