4 Electrical Safety Components Every Home Should Have

Is it time to install or upgrade your home's electrical system? Your residential electrical system is made up of many individual components, and each plays an important part in meeting your home's energy demand.

However, electricity can pose a variety of threats to the safety of your family if not handled properly. The good news is that your domestic electrical system comprises many components that are designed to improve the electrical safety of your home.

When you're installing or upgrading your residential electrical system, be sure to check the following safety components.

Circuit breakers 

A circuit breaker is a switching device designed to stop the flow of current to a circuit when there's an imbalance in the flow of current. It can be operated either manually or automatically. 

Without circuit breakers, there is a high risk of electrocution, electrical fires, and even explosions. That said, it is important to know that circuit breakers are rated based on voltage. It is vital that you use those that are recommended for the amount of voltage that will be flowing in your circuits.

Fuses

Both fuses and circuit breakers are designed to disrupt the flow of electricity, but they have different operating mechanisms. Whereas circuit breakers are basically switches that automatically flip and shut off the electricity when there is an overload or short-circuit within a circuit, fuses comprise a thin metal strip that burns when overloading occurs.

While a circuit breaker can be reused by simply flipping it in the ON position, burnt fuses will need to be replaced.

GFCIs

Acronym for ground fault circuit interrupters, GFCIs are generally installed in circuit locations where the risk of electrical shocks and electrocution is high. Some common areas of the home that can benefit from GFCI protection include bathrooms, basements, crawl spaces, garages and outdoor spaces.

If someone receives a shock, the GFCI cuts the power before they can become fatally injured. As a result, they serve as a form of personal protection against electrical shocks and electrocution.

Surge protectors

As the name suggests, these electrical devices protect your home against unexpected spikes in voltage coming from AC circuits. Whenever there is an increase in the voltage that your electrical appliances receive, a surge protector detects the excess voltage and pulls it away from the outlet. This helps protect the plugged-in appliances and devices against electrical damage.

Keep in mind that surge protectors are often bought separately from the rest of the components of your home's electrical system.

Working with electricity is inherently dangerous that should be left to the professionals. If you need electrical services for your home, contact a trained electrician

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