All About Replacing and Installing Used Breakers

Electrician Brisbane 24 hours are willing to risk their time to the community that they served. Circuit breakers protect your home from electrical accidents which result from power overloads and spikes in the electrical power supply. Because of this, it is important that you exercise extreme caution when handling or working with them. If, at any time, you are uncertain of what you are doing, do not hesitate to call a professional such as a licensed electrician to help you out or give you some advice.

In order for electrical power to be supplied properly to your home, it should have a complete circuit from the power source to the electrical wirings to your electric meter, through the breaker box, to your wall outlet, to your appliance such as your TV set and then back again. If there are any interruptions such as when your TV set is turned off, the flow of the electric current would stop at the point of interruption and then go back the other way, completing the circuit. Circuit breakers are designed to trip once the electric current reaches a certain amperage. For example, if your TV set suddenly stops working or if you have a lamp that blows a light bulb, there could be a sudden surge of electricity that could travel back the line. This would could the circuit breaker to trip and in turn, shut off the flow of electric power. If the circuit breaker does not stop this surge, the excessive power supply could cause overheating in your other electrical appliances, which could potentially cause a fire.

Once a circuit breaker trips, there would be a click and the power would shut down in a portion of your home. This is because only the particular circuit that the breaker is responsible for would be shut off. It is actually quite easy to determine which circuit breaker is responsible for the power outage. Keep in mind that all circuit breakers have an on and off switch. If everything is working properly, a circuit breaker would be in the on position; however, if it is tripped, it would be in the off position. Most of the time, switching the lever back to the on position would solve the problem, although this might not always work. For example, each time you use a particular appliance, the breaker trips. After a couple of trips, you might not be able to switch it on again. This means that you would have to replace the circuit breaker.

When a circuit breaker needs to be replaced, you have two options. The first one would be to buy a new breaker and the second would be to buy a used breaker. Although most people think that it might be better to get a new one, nowadays, buying used breakers are becoming the more practical option since they can save you a lot of money. As for the quality, used breakers are often just as good as new breakers; you just need to make sure they have been properly reconditioned. Also, when looking for used breakers, it would also be good to check if it comes with a warranty. Used breakers are readily available from online stores, merchants and auction sites; however, make sure that you would be getting the exact style, brand and amperage. If you get one which is not of the same style or brand, it might not be compatible with your breaker box or breaker panel. Getting the wrong amperage could also be extremely dangerous. If you get one which is too small, it would trip too often; and if you and get one which is too large and it could easily overload, causing a fire.

To replace the circuit breaker, you would first need to turn off the main circuit breaker. Additionally, you might also want to wear rubber shoes or stand on a rubber mat. You should then carefully remove the broken breaker. Oftentimes, circuit breakers would just require a gentle tug so that they can be taken out because they are usually attached with metal clips; however, you should also note that not all breakers are the same and you should check how the breaker you have us attached in the breaker box. You could then replace the broken breaker with the used breaker that you have and it should work.

Now, although replacing broken breakers with used breakers could be quite easy and could save you a lot of money, it is important that you make sure you are replacing them with a compatible one, possibly with the exact same brand, size and style. If, at any point in the procedure, you are unsure of what you are doing or if you think that the problem is more complicated that just a broken circuit breaker, it would be best to call in a licensed electrician to assess the situation and make the proper repairs needed. Remember that it is still better to spend some more than risk getting yourself hurt or injured.

If you’re ever unsure of any electrical repair or upgrade, please contact a licensed local electrician. Safety, not saving money, should be your number one concern. If you need to buy used breakers call Southland Electrical Supply.

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