Safety devices
Circuit breaker
A circuit breaker is a switch that opens a circuit by itself when current gets too high. It can be reset once the cause is fixed.
OSHA defines a circuit breaker as a device that opens and closes a circuit by nonautomatic means and opens the circuit automatically on a set overcurrent without damage to itself. In a home, breakers sit in the breaker panel. Each one protects a circuit from an overload or a short circuit.
The CPSC tells people to find out why a breaker trips, not just reset it. A trip is often a warning that the circuit is overloaded. When in doubt, call a licensed electrician. See why a breaker keeps tripping.
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Sources
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