Are You Still Using a Fuse Box? Here’s Why You Should Switch to Circuit Breakers Right Away

1. Are You Still Using a Fuse Box? Here’s Why You Should Switch to Circuit Breakers Right Away Many older homes in the New England area still rely on fuse boxes for their protection, and in some cases, these fuses are all they need. However, all across the US – and all across the world – the demand for power has increased substantially, which has driven many homeowners to make the switch to circuit breakers. Here’s what you need to know about making the switch and why you should do it. Is a Circuit Breaker Safer? One of the most common misconceptions associated with making the switch from fuses to breakers is that breakers are inherently safer. This is absolutely not the case when both options are used exactly as intended. In both cases, the fuse and the breaker interrupt the flow of electricity when a circuit has been overloaded, thus preventing further load and heat that could ultimately lead to a fire. Fuses and breakers are both great options for doing this, and one option is no more “failproof” than the other. Despite this, there are some notable advantages associated with making the switch. Benefits of Switching to Circuit Breakers The number one reason that drives so many homeowners to make the switch to breakers from fuses is a growing need for more power. Aside from this, the other advantages associated with making the switch include: Saving money and time: With your fuse box, if a circuit overloads, you have to replace the fuse. Once a fuse “blows,” that’s it – it cannot be reused, and it will not work again. With a circuit breaker, all you have to do is flip the breaker back into position after it has “tripped”. There is nothing you need to replace and nothing else you need to do – other than determine the cause of the tripped breaker. Scalability: This is yet another benefit that circuit breakers offer. If you decide to build an addition to your home, for example, you can simply run the wiring and add a new circuit to your breaker box. With fuse boxes, this is simply not possible. In fact, you would have to add an entirely new fuse box rather than simply expand the one you have. Switching to a circuit breaker system is better and more affordable. More flexibility with your power and circuits: Circuits on fuses are very limited in the voltage they can carry, which poses serious issues to homeowners who want to add 120- and 140-volt circuits to their homes for new appliances or other projects. This is something that a circuit breaker allows fairly easily as long as you use the right wire size and the right breaker size. If you are interested in making the switch from a fuse box to a breaker panel, contact a licensed electrician right away. He or she will inspect your home and determine whether any wiring or other electrical system components will need to be replaced at the same time for your safety, so be sure to make these upgrades along with the upgrade to the breaker panel for your peace of mind.