Circuit breakers are standard features in today’s homes. When you are considering purchasing a new house, you will want to determine whether your property is equipped with a circuit breaker box or a fuse box. Typically, only houses that were built before 1960 will contain fuse boxes. An electrician serving San Jose may recommend that you replace your home’s outdated fuse box with a brand new circuit breaker system.
One of the primary differences between circuit breaker boxes and fuse boxes is the operation of each type of unit. The fuses inside of a fuse box are designed to blow out during a power surge. After a fuse has blown, it will need to be replaced before power is restored to that area. By contrast, circuit breakers simply switch off when an electrical current causes a surge. Since circuit breakers do not blow, they offer greater convenience and safety to the homeowner.