Load centers use circuit breakers to provide protection against overcurrent.

The National Electrical Code defines overcurrentas any current in excess of the rated current of equipment or the ampacity of a conductor. It may result from overload, short circuit, or ground fault (Article 100-definitions).

Fuse Circuit Breaker

The purpose of circuit protection is to protect the wire from carrying more current than it is able. If the current becomes excessive the circuit protection should interrupt the circuit. If the current is not interrupted the wire can become hot enough to melt the insulation, and the result is often a short circuit with adjacent wires causing a meltdown and possibly a fire. The principals of circuit protection are the same for AC and DC systems.

Rewireable fuses are fuse carriers that contain a length of fuse wire. The fuse wire is wrapped around the terminals bridging the gap between the carrier pins, thus completing the circuit.

The fuse wire is available in different thicknesses, the thickness relates to the rating and current carrying capacity of the wire.
Rewireable fuses are obsolete and should be replaced at the earliest opportunity

Cartridge fuses come in a cylindrical shape and have contacts points at each end. They have a fuse link connected to the two ends and are rated for 240-volt circuits and protect the circuit from over-current

A HRC fuse is a fuse that is filled with silica sand surrounding the fuse link. It is used on applications where the fault current needs to be suppressed fast and with no flash over. On a fault current a tremendous amount of heat is created within the fuse. That heat melts the silica sand into glass, and glass being an insulator, suppresses the arc over and breaks the circuit instantaneously.

A re-wireable is exactly that. It is a fuse that you can re-wire in the event of itoperating. Early re-wireable fuses had a very low short circuit capacity and were verydangerous when operating under fault conditions because the fuse element meltsand splashes the melted copper around and can cause fires. Later re-wireable fuses incorporated asbestos to protect the fuse holder during thefusing period, thus reducing the risk of fire from scattering hot metal when rupturing.

A circuit can break with electromagnetism in a magnetic circuit breaker. The more electricity flowing through a magnetic circuit breaker, the stronger the electromagnet gets. When the electricity surpasses the current limit on a magnetic circuit breaker, the electromagnet is strong enough to push the circuit breaker downward and flip the switch.

A thermal circuit breaker is a safety device which breaks an electrical circuit if the temperature gets too high.
These devices are used to prevent fires, damage due to voltage fluctuations, and other dangerous electrical situations

An electromagnetic/heat circuit breaker combines heat and electromagnetism. It features a bimetallic strip that defends against extended electrical overheating and an electromagnet that guards against abrupt electrical surges.

An electronic circuit breaker includes an input for connection to a power-supply and an output for connection to a load. Connected in circuit between the input and the output are a switch, a relay, and a limitation block, which controls the switch to cause at least partial inhibition thereof in the event of an over-current condition. Also provided is a microprocessor which is connected to the limitation block to inhibit power supply to the load.

Mould case circuit breakers perform much thesame function as the miniature circuitbreakers we looked at above but are used ininstallations where higher levels of faultcurrent are present such as in smaller sub-stations. They are usually adjustable to allowfor an amount of overcurrent. They are ratedup to 1000 amps.

An Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB) is a safety device used in electrical installations with high earth impedance to prevent shock. It detects small stray voltages on the metal enclosures of electrical equipment, and interrupts the circuit if a dangerous voltage is detected. Once widely used, more recent installations instead use residual current circuit breakers which instead detect leakage current directly.

is an electrical protection device designed to cut off the power supply to a circuit, appliance, or machine in the event of an overload or failure. These devices typically consist of a manual circuit breaker or contactor and a current sensing relay which interlocks with it. Should the appliance or circuit be damaged or overloaded, it will begin to draw current in excess of its normal operating parameters This causes the current sensing relay to trip the circuit breaker or deactivate the contactor and cut the power supply.

Basic Principles
Electric shock - is divided into two parts:

direct contact: contact with parts which result in an electric shock in normal service indirect contact: contact with exposed conductive parts which result in an electric shock in case of a fault. Thermal Effect - refers to heat generated by the electrical equipment in normal use and under fault conditions. The proper selection of equipment complying with the latest product standards is essential in providing protection against thermal effects. Overcurrent - is defined as a current exceeding the rated value of the circuit components. It may be caused by the overloading of a healthy circuit or it may take the form of a short-circuit current, defined as an "overcurrent resulting from a fault of negligible impedance between live conductors having a difference in potential under normal operating conditions". Overcurrent protection may be provided by using fuses or circuit breakers singly or in combination.

Under voltage - refers to the dangers that could be caused by the reduction or loss in voltage and the subsequent restoration, such as the unexpected re-starting of motors or the automatic closing of protective devices. The proper selection of control and protective devices must take the protection against under voltage into consideration.
Isolation - every circuit shall be provided with means of isolation (except in certain cases) to prevent or remove hazards associated with the installation, equipment and machines. The new standards for circuit breakers and switch-fuses now take this into account.

Advantages: Operate more efficiently. It can be operated again after damage repair. Good to know the situation has been in operation or not. No perishable and durable
Disadvantages: Prices are expensive If damaged have been refurbished Difficult obtained

There are several factors that should be taken into consideration in selection of protective current excess are: Load type If the current load is always balanced the proportion of the load current to be determinants for protective current rating for current excess to be used. Excess current protective resistance. Protector current selected excess shall be suitable to short circuit current rating. For example a fuse that is rated to 15A must be able to withstand a short circuit current of 15 x 12-fold = 180A. Ability to withstand short circuit current is the current excess protective immunity in the event of a short circuit is.

Temperature environments environmental temperature can influence the use of excess current protective fuse especially to suit the environment temperature

 Special tools

For devices that are sensitive to the current surplus rose sharply should use protective current surplus of refined class. Price and danger. If the current surplus of cheap protectors have the same capacity the better chosen. But if the danger more than the expensive, the better choose more expensive.