Types of Electrical Circuits in San Jose, CA
Professional Services for Electric Circuits in San Jose, CA
Your home’s electric circuit breaker is the heart of the electrical system. All your appliances, electronics, lighting, and electrical equipment rely on it to function correctly in order to provide power safely. A problem with your home’s electric circuit can cause a short-circuit, temporary or permanent power outage, fire, or explosion. You should only trust a licensed electrician to make repairs to or install a home electric circuit breaker. At Delta Electric, we offer professional, affordable electrical services in San Jose, CA. We can quickly diagnose problems with any type of electrical circuits and determine if you need to repair or replace your home’s circuit breaker panel.
What Is an Electrical Circuit?
An electrical circuit is the electric current that is supplied to a specific zone, or circuit, of your home. Your home’s main electrical panel or electric circuit breaker is split up into zones, and each one is wired to power different appliances, lights, outlets, and electric equipment on that circuit. If too much power is delivered to a specific circuit that can’t handle the load, the breaker will trip and shut off power to that entire circuit to prevent an overload or fire.
How Do Electrical Circuits Work?
The circuit breaker functions like an automatic switch. If the electric load to the switch is higher than what the circuit can handle, the switch turns off to protect your safety. It’s important for your main electrical circuit breaker to be sufficient to handle your power needs, or your breakers will constantly be tripped. That is a sign that you need to contact an electrician to upgrade your electric panel.
Electrical Circuit Basics
Each circuit breaker contains:
- A terminal
- A stationary contact
- A catch
- A simple switch
- An electromagnet
- A bimetallic strip
- Another terminal
Most circuit breakers contain two different types of trips that protect the circuit and your home:
- Thermal protection – This causes circuit interruption due to overheating.
- Electromagnet – This prevents circuit overloading due to a short circuit.
When a circuit breaker is flipped to the ‘on’ position, it allows electric currents to flow through the bimetallic strip to the electromagnet coil to the moving contact, across the stationary contact, and out through the upper terminal. As the bimetallic strip heats up with the current, it bends. If the circuit rises over a certain level, the bimetallic strip triggers the switch linkage and moving contact, thus breaking its connection to the stationary contact. As electricity flows through the terminals, the electromagnet is magnetized. If that current reaches unsafe levels, the magnet becomes strong enough to move a spool inside it, causing the switch linkage and moving contact to move and breaking the circuit.
Types of Electrical Circuits
There are several types of electrical circuits that can be installed in homes: single-pole, two-pole, three-pole, and four-pole. They are used in different applications, from home to commercial to industrial. The most common types of circuit breakers installed in homes are:
- Standard – Standard circuit breakers are either single- or double-pole. A single-pole circuit protects a single circuit and takes up one slot on your home’s electrical panel. It typically protects 15-amp and 20-amp circuits. A double-pole breaker protects circuits that power larger pieces of electrical equipment like ranges, air conditioners, and dryers.
- Ground fault circuit interrupter breaker (GFCI) – GFCIs protect you from electrical shock by shutting off an outlet if the measure of current going out to the load is more than the amount coming back to the panel. They are typically installed in areas where water is a hazard, such as in bathrooms, near sinks, in garages and kitchens, in crawl spaces or basements, and in outdoor receptacles.
- Arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) – AFCIs monitor circuits for dangerous electrical arcs. This prevents dangerous housefires. Almost every room in your house should have AFCI protection, other than bathrooms and basements.
- AFCI/GFCI dual-function breaker – AFCI/GFCI dual-function breakers are required in kitchen and laundry rooms. This offers protection from electrical arcs and moisture or water damage, thus protecting you from fires and electrocution.
Contact Delta Electric for All Your Electrical Work
Call us today or contact us online if you need electrical work in San Jose, CA. Our experienced, licensed electricians specialize in residential and commercial electrical work, and can conduct a home electrical safety inspection to determine if there are any risks or dangers in your home. We can also upgrade electrical panels and repair electrical circuit breakers.