The chief difference between circuit breakers and fuses is that you can use circuit breakers over and over again while fuses are “once-only” devices. Still, even though your home electrical panel might not have fuses in it in the 21st century, fuses still have their place.
Main Differences Between Disconnect Switch & a Fuse Box
Response Time
Circuit breakers respond in about 0.02 seconds whereas fuses respond in about 0.002 seconds. That makes fuses 10 times faster than breakers. In situations where the interruption of current must be as instantaneous as possible, a fuse is a much better choice. Such a situation would be where there is a human operator working with some sort of heavy machinery. If there is a huge surge of electricity through such a machine, then parts within the machine could damage themselves and cause danger for the human operator.
Even though both fuses and breakers respond in fractions of a second, the far faster response time of the fuse could be the difference between life and death.
Even in a residential setting, a fuse’s faster response time helps to prevent sparks and their resulting fires. Also, if someone is standing near an electrical appliance or machine when something happens, that faster response time will lessen the chance of electrocution.
Cost
Fuses cost far less than circuit breakers, making them good choices for circuits that don’t trip except in certain distinct circumstances. Obviously, if there is a circuit that could often trip, then a breaker makes more sense even if it costs more. The reasons it makes sense are twofold: Replacing multiple fuses could become more expensive than a single breaker, and it’s much easier to flip a switch than to remove a blown fuse manually and replace it.
Reliability
As long as they’re not defective, fuses are reliable every time because they’re replaced each time they function. Circuit breakers start out the same, but their reliability will decrease over time because of wear and tear on the parts that make up the circuit breaker.
Ground Fault Protection
Circuit breakers can include this kind of protection whereas fuses cannot. Modern building codes require ground fault protection in any room where water is present.
Electric Panels From Mister Sparky
When you need to install or upgrade your electric panel, count on us to advise you regarding amperage, type of fuse or breaker, and other electrical characteristics of your new panel. Give us a call to make an appointment.