We use electricity in our homes throughout the day, but we rarely think about how it gets to wall outlets or switches. Distribution lines bring electricity to homes and most commonly connect to a house through a service drop. The electricity travels through the meter box to the service panel. The service panel, often called a breaker box, is where breakers and fuses protect the wires inside your house from electrical overload.
With so much electricity funneling out of the breaker box into your home, it’s important to know how to safely use a breaker box.
Arc-fault circuit interrupters are installed directly in breaker boxes and are designed to protect against fires caused by arcing faults in home electrical wiring. Arcing faults can be triggered by overloaded circuits, damaged wires, cracked wire insulation, loose or improper connections, faulty electrical equipment, and overheated electrical wires.
An AFCI monitors current flow and can distinguish between normal, working arcs and unwanted, dangerous arcs. When an unwanted arcing condition is detected, it shuts down the circuit. It’s important to note that AFCIs don’t provide protection against all of the possible circuit faults that can cause fires, but they are a significant step forward in electrical fire safety. If your breaker box doesn’t feature AFCIs, contact a qualified electrician to have them installed.
If an appliance is malfunctioning or there’s another electrical issue, it may be necessary to cut off or switch on the power at the breaker box. If you must flip a switch at the breaker box, always remember to step away and look away as you do so. You want to protect your eyes and body just in case an arc should occur.
Never attempt to turn off power at the breaker box if you must stand in water to do so. Touching the breaker box while standing in water can cause an electric shock or death. If you can’t reach your breaker box safely, call your electric cooperative to shut off power at the meter.
Be sure to call a qualified electrician if blowing fuses or tripping circuit breakers are a recurring problem. This means something is wrong with your electrical system, and it needs to be inspected.
