But I didn't have one of those breakers. So I kind of rigged the wire up in there in the panel. I've know there's a breaker out on the transformer on the pole, but my buddy says this isn't a good idea. Do you have to use a breaker in the electric panel?
2006-10-25 21:58:23 · 7 answers · asked by jc20155 4 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
The electrical circuit will work fine without breakers,but it is like driving a car on a freeway without brakes,you dont'need them until you have to stop.
The result would be just as disastrous.
2006-10-25 22:21:17 · answer #1 · answered by domedweller2 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is safer to have a circuit breaker in the house. There are different types of circuit breakers and they are designed for specific purposes. It is important to arrest the problem earlier and nearer to the source of the problem than to let it propagate.
The circuit breaker is an absolutely essential device in the modern world, and one of the most important safety mechanisms in your home.
Whenever electrical wiring in a building has too much current flowing through it, these simple machines cut the power until somebody can fix the problem.
Without circuit breakers (or the alternative, fuses), household electricity would be impractical because of the potential for fires and other mayhem resulting from simple wiring problems and equipment failures.
Appliances are designed to keep current at a relatively low level for safety purposes. Too much charge flowing through a circuit at a particular time would heat the appliance's wires and the building's wiring to unsafe levels, possibly causing a fire.
But occasionally, something will connect the hot wire directly to the neutral wire or something else leading to ground. For example, a fan motor might overheat and melt, fusing the hot and neutral wires together. Or someone might drive a nail into the wall, accidentally puncturing one of the power lines. The short causes a huge amount of charge through the wire. If this continues, the wires can overheat and start a fire.
The circuit breaker's job is to cut off the circuit whenever the current jumps above a safe level.
Breaker Design
The simplest circuit protection device is the fuse. A fuse is just a thin wire, enclosed in a casing, that plugs into the circuit. When a circuit is closed, all charge flows through the fuse wire -- the fuse experiences the same current as any other point along the circuit. The fuse is designed to disintegrate when it heats up above a certain level.
The problem with fuses is they only work once. Every time you blow a fuse, you have to replace it with a new one.
A circuit breaker does the same thing as a fuse -- it opens a circuit as soon as current climbs to unsafe levels -- but you can use it over and over again.
The basic circuit breaker consists of a simple switch, connected to either a bimetallic strip or an electromagnet.
When the current jumps to unsafe levels, the electromagnet is strong enough to pull down a metal lever connected to the switch linkage. The electricity shuts off.
A bimetallic strip design works on the same principle, except that instead of energizing an electromagnet, the high current bends a thin strip to move the linkage.
Advanced
More advanced circuit breakers use electronic components (semiconductor devices) to monitor current levels rather than simple electrical devices.
These elements are a lot more precise, and they shut down the circuit more quickly, but they are also a lot more expensive. For this reason, most houses still use conventional electric circuit breakers.
One of the newer circuit breaker devices is the ground fault circuit interrupter, or GFCI. These sophisticated breakers are designed to protect people from electrical shock, rather than prevent damage to a building's wiring. The GFCI constantly monitors the current in a circuit's neutral wire and hot wire.
When everything is working correctly, the current in both wires should be exactly the same. As soon as the hot wire connects directly to ground (if somebody accidentally touches the hot wire, for example), the current level surges in the hot wire, but not in the neutral wire. The GFCI breaks the circuit as soon as this happens, preventing electrocution.
Since it doesn't have to wait for current to climb to unsafe levels, the GFCI reacts much more quickly than a conventional breaker.
Source:
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/circuit-breaker.htm
2006-10-26 05:25:24 · answer #2 · answered by ideaquest 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In an Emergency how would you turn the Circuit off- and what will keep it from being over heated and fail safe- Get a Breaker- You can use the buddy system for now, place the wire in with another on a Breaker, but only for Temp until you get a Breaker.
2006-10-26 08:47:40 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Another short cut would be to see if you can find a line coming straight off the end of a turbine at the power plant, (its only about 33,000 volts).And tap into that, you would also be able to by pass all those meters that charge you for electric!!
Or how about straight off one of those big metal pylons? but be careful I think you need some rubber gloves, those used for washing the crocks may do!! Try and make sure they are dry!!
I take it you are insured???
Just to put my mind at rest, dont anyone else try this at home!!
I'm just having a sick 'crack'!!
Hope this helps???
2006-10-26 05:16:56 · answer #4 · answered by budding author 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
only if you DON'T want to burn your house down! YES you Must use a new breaker!( it's obvious you do not know what you are doing, best to spend a few bucks and leave this to a pro!!)
2006-10-26 05:04:08 · answer #5 · answered by MC 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
be care of the circuit. do it with proper licenced electrician.
2006-10-26 07:45:30 · answer #6 · answered by Sekar 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
err yeah you should
2006-10-26 06:17:03 · answer #7 · answered by Red Sawx ® 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋