Homeowners and businesses must know how their electric systems work to stop the power in case of an emergency. That requires knowing where the breaker box is and how to use it. Breaker boxes control the flow of energy to your building’s appliances, lighting, HVAC systems, and outlets. Below are some facts about this critical feature.

How Do Breaker Boxes Work?

Buildings that have electrical utilities feature breaker boxes, also known as circuit boxes, that control the flow of power to the outlets and electrical appliances. These systems are usually located in a utility room, garage, or basement, and resemble a thin metal box that hangs from the wall.

There are two terminals at the top of the panel called lugs that bring around 200 amps of power to homes and higher amps to commercial buildings. The lugs are always connected to the electrical grid. Inside the box, there are switches to allocate electricity throughout the building via 15-amp and 20-amp circuits. Large appliances like dryers may need 30-amp switches because they require more voltage. 

Smaller amp circuits will have single-pole levers, while larger amp ones have two switches attached to one another. These controls should be labeled by room or appliance and will have a master switch that shuts off power to the entire home.

Businesses with many wings or homes with garages may have subpanels or smaller versions of the breaker box. These controls handle power for parts of the building, like shipping bays, garages, and workshops.

When Do You Need to Adjust Them?

Circuit breakers trip when there is too much draw on a circuit, whether it's due to too many appliances on one channel or a power surge. These sudden increases in electricity can happen after an outage when the power returns, or if a large appliance shuts down. When the washing machine shuts off, some of the energy it was using flows to other items on the circuit. Breaker boxes cut off the power to the area by tripping the lever, which is an automatic adjustment that is a safety measure to prevent overheating and fires. 

When a breaker trips, go to the electrical panel and see which switches are flipped to the off position. Adjust the lever to provide power to the area, and it should work immediately. Contact an electrician to address the repeated breaker box issues by installing new circuits to prevent repeat problems.

If you have a water issue like a flooded bathroom or basement, turn off the power to the entire home by switching the main breaker off. Don’t restore electricity until you can remove the moisture, and there is no longer a danger of electrocution. 

Companies and homeowners that need electrical work should get a free estimate from Stellmach Electric LLC in Crawford County, PA. The locally-owned company is run by a family with over 18 years of industry experience. Call the Cambridge Springs location at (814) 282-7637 or visit them online to learn about their electrical panel updates, repairs, and remodeling.