megszakító

A megszakító, often translated as circuit breaker, is an important electrical safety device. Its primary function is to protect an electrical circuit from damage caused by overcurrent or short circuit. Overcurrent can result from a fault, overload, or a short circuit. The circuit breaker automatically interrupts the flow of electricity when it detects an abnormal current.

The basic principle of operation involves a mechanism that trips, opening the electrical contacts and stopping the current. This tripping can be initiated by either a thermal or a magnetic element, or a combination of both. Thermal tripping is typically used for overloads. A bimetallic strip heats up due to the excessive current, bends, and triggers the tripping mechanism. Magnetic tripping responds to sudden, large surges of current, such as those caused by a short circuit. An electromagnet is energized by the high current, creating a magnetic field that pulls a lever to trip the breaker.

Once a circuit breaker has tripped, it must be manually reset to restore power to the circuit. This manual reset is a safety feature, as it requires the user to investigate and resolve the cause of the fault before re-energizing the circuit. Circuit breakers are found in a wide range of applications, from residential homes and commercial buildings to industrial facilities and electronic devices, providing essential protection against electrical hazards. They are a more advanced and reliable alternative to older fuse-based systems.