Electrician Explains How Circuit Breakers And Electrical Panels Work

A lot of green apprentice electricians ask about how panels work, and more specifically what the roll of the circuit breaker is. Some guys think that breakers "put out" electricity, or that they "send" a certain amount of amperage to a load from the panel. This is not how it works.

00:00 - Intro
00:35 - Breakers and the difference between the two in the demonstration
01:55 - How do breakers actually work

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#electrician #electrical #electricity

To start out, an electrical panel is simply a place where all of the many loads throughout the house meet up with the main feeders or service entrance conductors coming into the building. It's essentially a large junction box. But rather than just joining all of the branch circuits and feeders to the service entrance wires, we put breakers in between each circuit to protect that circuit from any problems that may arise.

To understand how electricity flows we must understand the idea of "difference of potential." When a difference of potential energy exists between 2 wires, connecting those wires together will allow current to flow through them. It will be extremely dangerous due to the amount of electrons flowing through the circuit, and you will most likely see an explosion happen in front of you. So don't do this. Electricity is extremely dangerous in a circuit without a load or impedance in it. So to make electricity useful, we have to introduce a load to the circuit. A load is essentially a resistance. It is something that slows current down. Loads can also be inductive/capacitive and therefore reactive rather than restive, but we won't get into the semantics of this topic, in this post. For now just understand that for electricity to be useful it must be slowed WAY down.

[jaimerivera]

Honestly 4 years down the apprenticeship, and your videos are the only reason why I’m a decent electrician more year and I’ll be big money! I’ve been getting little side job calls here and there and your videos help ALOT! Local 349 Miami!

[anxietybiker]

I worked for CED for 10 years and then came across your videos and decided to become an electrician and I love it thanks.

[leeslusser]

As a starting (second career) electrician, I love Electrician U. Dustin is a natural teacher, outstanding and explaining complicated concepts simply.

[zackpatfitness]

Been Electrician for 6 years now. Didnt really have an Journeyman to instruct me as the management of our company really was trash so im still furthering my studies alot and your videos are straight man keep it up. Wouldn't mind seeing a video you go over adding or replacing wiring/circuits in existing homes.

[amineusa]

You have an outstanding capacity to turn such a complex topic into something that anyone could understand ! THANKS

[josephw]

I’ve watched countless videos about breakers and never really understood it’s purpose until I watched this great video

[michaelbass]

Oh blue print reading would be a great video.

[schooolwork]

bro i wish more channels were like this, just straight to the point and no bullshit. Thanks for the explanation.

[Blackdynasty]

Thanks for this video I've been lineman 2 years and did some low voltage electrical work and this was the best way I've ever seen a breaker explained .

[kaceebui]

BEST video in explaining this stuff for those who aren't electricians, aka your average home owner like me. TY!!

[RoshenCarman]

by far the clearest explanation I've seen on YT, thanks.

[draculafrankenstein]

Hey Dustin. Absolutely love your videos. As a helper/apprentice I find them indispensable. But do you think you could do a more in-depth video series on panels, sub panels services and disconnects I.e. all the components, code, how to size and land breakers? As a green horn I find panels mystifying but extremely cool and I want know everything there is about them…preferably from a pro like you! Thanks!

[TheNekoShizuka]

Beginner real estate investor here, trying to learn the basics of houses, utilities, electric wiring etc. This video was an excellent way to explain the basics of how electricity is supplied to a household and the appliances use it. Thank you for producing content like this.

[FaceFace]

Can't get enough of these videos Man. Great work and please keep 'em coming. We're learning a lot..

[joshuafreese]

First year apprentice from Fargo, ND. Thanks for the content man! Learning so much from your channel.

[SparkyNJ]

I just recently found this channel and love it. I have been an electrician for almost 20 years and never thought about breakers and loads like this. The fact that our branch circuits slow down the electron flow. That is a great way to say it and never accrued to me. Love relearning theory I forgot!

[robertsanders]

Love the way this man explains great understanding to speak as clearly and fluidly for others as he is

[seansmythe]

Thanks dude, I’m 2 weeks into my apprenticeship doing residential. I need to get as much knowledge as I can

[collinhansen]

Thank you for being the sole no bs source of information without all of the "it's too complicated for you plebeian non-electricians to understand and I can't even attempt to explain xyz in common terms" embellishments, and thank you also for not being cringey.

[benchociej]

Worth noting: modern circuit breakers designed for breaker boxes are "thermal-magnetic". Overcurrent tripping is done by means of a temperature sensitive bimetallic element that trips when too much heat builds up. The magnetic trip is for short circuit protection but can't detect moderate overcurrent situations.