brekers

Brekers, in Dutch electrical terminology, are protective devices that automatically interrupt current flow in a circuit when faults are detected or the current exceeds a safe level. They are designed to prevent damage to wiring and devices and to reduce fire risk. In most buildings they are housed in the consumer unit, or groepenkast, where a bank of breakers provides overcurrent protection for individual circuits.

Compared with fuses (zekeringen), brekers can be reset after tripping, are reusable, and generally more convenient for household use. Modern installations typically use miniature circuit breakers (MCBs) for residential circuits and may include residual current devices (RCDs) or residual-current breakers with overcurrent protection (RCBOs) for additional leakage protection and combined fault protection.

Operation is based on thermal and magnetic principles: a breaker trips thermally when overheating due to overcurrent, or magnetically when a short circuit causes a rapid surge. Some breakers have both mechanisms and different trip curves (for example B, C, D) used for different load types, affecting how quickly they respond to surges.

Specifications define a breaker by current rating and voltage, commonly 16A–63A at 230/400V in households. They are selected to suit the circuit’s wiring gauge and expected load. Breakers must comply with regional standards and, in Europe, with applicable EN standards.

Maintenance and safety: breakers should be installed by a licensed electrician. They should be tested occasionally and replaced if they frequently trip or show signs of damage. A tripped breaker should be reset only after identifying and addressing the fault; if uncertainty remains, professional advice should be sought.