It is not necessary to have GFCI receptacles on a circuit that is protected by a GFCI circuit breaker. Prices, Promotions, styles, and availability may vary. Each type of metal expands differently to bend the strip. AFCI circuit breakers are designed to trip when arcing is detected within electrical wiring. Sulphur Hexafluoride SF6 Circuit Breaker. Once the breaker senses the electrical jump and abnormal path, it instantly disconnects the damaged circuit before the arc builds enough heat to catch fire. Single-pole breakers are intended to accommodate between 15 and 30 amps and deliver 120 volts to the circuit. There are three basic circuit breaker varieties: standard breakers (which include both single-pole and double-pole circuit breakers), ground fault circuit interrupter circuit breakers (GFCIs) … Replacing one brand of breaker with another can be dangerous, may void your breaker or panel warranty, and may cause you to fail an electrical inspection. A circuit breaker operates under fault conditions and isolates the faulty part of the circuit from the rest of … Without a circuit breaker, there is a high risk of electrical fires, electrocution and electrical shocks. CIRCUIT BREAKER. Type 3 Circuit Breakers. Axial blast breaker: The moving contact is in contact. © 2000-2020 Home Depot Product Authority, LLC. Learn all about the different types of circuit breakers, including standard single-pole and double-pole breakers, GFCI circuit breakers and AFCI circuit breakers. The circuit load will determine the breaker size you need – and you’ll need to make sure to get the right brand, as all breakers are not interchangeable. Use of this site is subject to certain Terms Of Use. Circuit breakers have the basic function of providing electrical protection to equipment and circuits. Permanently installed large appliances such as AC units, washing machines and ovens require their own dedicated circuit. Circuits that supply power to appliances that require a substantial amount of energy, such as washing machines and dryers, demand double-pole breakers. Types of SF 6 Circuit Breaker. Circuit breakers are mainly classified on the basis of rated voltages. Tip: Most appliances have the amp rating listed on them. Puffer type design of SF 6 CB needs a high mechanical energy which is almost five times greater than that of oil circuit breaker. All of the above mentioned circuit breaker types can be ordered from the Cutler Hammer catalog. Each handles different amp capacities and operates in different locations in the home. In addition, a thermal-magnetic circuit breaker combines the advantages of both types, breaking circuits in response to both sudden bursts of current and prolonged yet small increases in current. There is, however, a wide range of circuit breakers available, including: Miniature circuit breakers - DIN rail type Miniature circuit breakers - Plug-in … There are three poles in this oil circuit breaker which use to protect 3 phases. Summary. Shop for circuit breakers online. Difference between Class A, B, C, D, K and Z Type Miniature Circuit Breakers (MCB) MCBs are classified into different types based on its tripping characteristics that are the range of tripping … The Home Depot delivers online orders when and where you need them.​, Need Help? Products shown as available are normally stocked but inventory levels cannot be guaranteed, For screen reader problems with this website, please call 1-800-430-3376 or text 38698 (standard carrier rates apply to texts). GFCI breakers also offer protection against an electrical short or overloaded current. Another kind of circuit breaker is the thermal circuit breaker which uses heat to break the circuit. These breakers are required by some electrical codes for areas in the home that can become wet such as bathrooms, laundry rooms and outdoor areas. In vacuum breakers, a contact is only 1 cm apart. In the event of an overload or short circuit — caused when a hot wire touches a neutral wire, ground wire or another hot wire — the breaker will break the current to prevent wires from overheating, diminishing the potential for electrical fires. MCCB or Molded Case Circuit Breaker is a kind of circuit breaker which is enclosed in the moulding or housing of a moulded material & that is the reason it is known as Molded Case Circuit Breaker. Residential Circuit Breaker Types. The circuit breaker can make or break the circuit either manually or by remote control. David discusses the different types of electrical breakers on the market. Failure to take proper precautions and observe electrical codes when working with electrical components can result in fires, serious electrical shock or death. Ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) circuit breakers cut power to the entire circuit. A circuit breaker is a power system protection device that can make or break a circuit. As it turns out, picking the right one isn’t too complicated, and it all starts with learning how to identify different types of circuit breakers. Circuit breaker is an absolutely essential part of any electrical system. Always follow electrical safety procedures when working with circuit breakers. The SF6 is an electronegative gas and has a strong tendency to absorb free electrons. Another kind of circuit breaker is the thermal circuit breaker which uses heat to break the circuit. The HVDC (High voltage Direct current) offer very efficient way of power transmission across very long distance & is used in various Green energy production nowadays. This may include a branch circuit for wet locations such as a large deck, patio or a garage workshop. Contact us to learn about our installation services. Vacuum Circuit Breakers Each type has it… They control standard lighting and outlet circuits as … Circuit Breaker Types Standard Circuit Breakers. Let’s take a closer look at these … Eaton circuit breaker types. In this article the different types of circuit breakers, i.e. Link to Lowe's Home Improvement Home Page. AFCI circuit breakers are required as part of electrical code on newer houses. A fundamental in every circuitry, circuit breakers play an essential role in safeguarding you and your home from any mishaps due to over current, overload or short circuit. These are one of the most common types of circuit breaker on the market and can be found in homes, businesses and industries. Types of Circuit Breakers. The circuit breaker must first detect a fault condition. They include the following models: 1. Local store prices may vary from those displayed. This usually occurs if too many devices are plugged in or if there is a short circuit.Circuit breakers are usually installed in the electrical panel. The SF6 is an electronegative gas and … A circuit breaker is a device designed to shut off an electrical circuit when too much current is flowing. Example - a 20A circuit breaker would need between 100A and 500A before it trips. Double-pole circuit breakers deliver either 240 volts or 120/240 volts to an electrical circuit and can accommodate anywhere from 15 amps to 200 amps. Breakers, however, are brand-specific and require the exact replacement type to function properly in the electrical panel. Continue reading to learn more about what is a circuit breaker. Clamped type chip breakers work basically in the principle of stepped type chip-breaker but have the provision of varying the width of the step and / or the angle of the heel. For instance, the chart below shows an example of a cross reference of Type CL 1″ breakers that could be … In residential construction, another common type of circuit breaker and electrical panel is manufactured by Square D. Like the Siemens Q-series, Square D home panels are designed for snap-in circuit breakers. Circuit breakers are the safety switches that protect all of the electrical circuits in your house. Consult an electrician if you are unsure of your total circuit load. Type B circuit breakers are designed to trip if the current flowing through hits between three and five times the recommended maximum or ‘rated load’. Regular circuit breakers don’t always trip in these instances because standard breakers are designed to respond to a sustained amount of heat, not a quick surge. Usually, the medium used for extinction of arc is air, oil, Sulfurhexafluoride gas or vacuum. Solid-State Circuit Breaker: This type of circuit breaker … Type D has a trip current of 10 to 20 times than the rated current with an operating time of 0.04 to 3 Seconds. Breakers can have different mounting systems, and panels can have bus bars of different thicknesses, and you never know whether a breaker will function as designed if it's used in a different manufacturer's panel. schematically shows three such chip breakers of common use : 4. Types of Circuit Breaker. Vacuum circuit breaker (VCB) SF6 Circuit Breakers; Air circuit breakers; Brief detail of above types are given in bellow .Circuit breakers have their contacts immersed in oil. When an electrical short or overload occurs, a circuit breaker mitigates the problem by interrupting the flow of electricity. In many cases, a Square D type … Air blast circuit breaker has further divided into three categories 1. This is when a dangerous electrical path occurs between a grounded element and an electrical current. It is used for very high inductive loads. Breakers continue to be manufactured for most panels, including older models. Sulphur Hexafluoride SF6 Circuit Breaker. A Type D circuit breaker is 20 x their rating for a 0.4 sec disconnection ( Ia = 20 x In) A Type D circuit breaker is 10 x their rating for a 5 sec disconnection ( Ia = 10 x In ) And because the supply voltage is never at a constant 230v in Amendment 3 we also saw the introduction of the Cmin value to take account of this, giving us a new formula for calculating the maximum Zs values. Clamped types Chip Breakers. Tip: Installation or replacement of circuit breakers is best left to licensed professionals because of electrical code requirements and the dangers of electric shock. These three ratings are determined by the level of overload which causes the MCB to trip. Arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) circuit breakers protect against an unintentional electrical discharge in an electrical cord or wiring that could cause a fire. What is Circuit Breaker? Sulfurhexafluoride (SF6) Circuit Breakers 5. What is a circuit breaker? Look on your breaker panel door for information about which breakers are compatible with your panel. Always have new electrical work inspected to ensure that it's properly installed and meets code requirements. Type B MCBs are usually used in domestic installations where the inrush currents and surges are low. Arc Control Oil Circuit Breakers In case of plain-break oil circuit breaker discussed above, there is very little artificial control over the arc. A circuit breaker is an automatically operated electrical switch designed to protect an electrical circuit from damage caused by excess current from an overload or short circuit.Its basic function is to … This can occur when an unwanted path forms between an electrical current and a grounded element. Be sure the device you choose matches the wiring, load requirements and type of breaker panel you have. Standard circuit breakers are the commonest type, used for most … They're named single-pole because they're designed to monitor the current of a single wire and trip in the event of a short or electrical overload. In such type of circuit breakers, sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) gas is used as the arc quenching medium. 3. Dual function CAFCI/GFCI circuit breaker types protect against both arc faults and ground faults, which can save time and money while providing more safety than the other versions. Hence, the different types of circuit breakers based on these media are: 1. Standard circuit breakers monitor amp capacity of the devices they operate. 3. Remember that the circuit breaker does not work alone that means it works with Relay. In small mains and low voltage circuit breakers… There are mainly three types of SF 6 circuit breakers depending upon the voltage level of the application: Single interrupter SF6 CB applied for up to 245 kV (220 kV) system. Circuit breakers are rated for a maximum (or fixed) electrical load capacity and … Circuit breakers under rated voltage of 1000V are known as the low voltage circuit breakers … B type MCBs operate at an overload of 3 to 5 times the rated current. There are two types of standard breakers: single-pole and double-pole. The bus bar in the electrical panel may still be energized even if the main power is off. Type D Miniature Circuit Breakers. This type of breaker will trip if one or both of the wires short out or becomes overloaded. Miniature Circuit Breakers (MCB): Miniature Circuit Breakers do not handle currents higher than 100 amps, which makes them suitable for many home and business applications. Air Circuit Breaker, SF6 Circuit Breaker, Vacuum Circuit Breaker and Oil Circuit Breaker have been discussed in a short detailed just to understand the basic concept about these circuit breakers. Inside the circuit breaker, there is usually an electromagnetic coil. We use multiple protection devices to protect expensive equipment that are connected to such high voltage transmission lines. GFCI circuit breakers are designed to protect against a line-to-ground fault. Low-voltage circuit breakers are typically used in applications such as lighting circuits, motor control centers, feeder circuits and any application in which electrical power needs to be turned on and off and overcurrent protection is required. Each handles different amp capacities and operates in different … Are required for large appliances such as dryers and water heaters. By the arc extinction medium, the circuit breaker is categorised into four types. … Miniature circuit breakers (MCBs) are fitted in newer consumer units in place of fuses and this is one of main types of circuit breakers which widely used and application of Miniature circuit breakers (MCBs) take necessary part in house wiring .They have the advantage that they can be manually reset without having to replace wire as in the case of the traditional fuse. Consist of two single-pole breakers with one handle and a shared trip mechanism. Medium-voltage circuit breakers are used in many of the same types … Working with circuit breakers is dangerous and best left to licensed electricians due to the high voltage involved. Air Blast Circuit Breakers 3. There are different types of … Standard circuit breakers come in two varieties: single-pole breakers and double-pole breakers. SFC 6 Circuit Breakers. A residual-current device (RCD), residual-current circuit breaker (RCCB), or ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) is a device that quickly breaks an electrical circuit to prevent serious harm from an ongoing electric shock. This type uses a … They are also switching duty rated for 120 VAC fluorescent light applications, and UL … Our local stores do not honor online pricing. Some models have dual functionality. They are the air break circuit breaker, air blast circuit breaker, sulphur hexafluoride circuit breaker and vacuum circuit breaker. Please call us at: 1-800-HOME-DEPOT (1-800-466-3337), Please enter in your email address in the following format: you@domain.com. Even minor jobs may require a permit, so check local building codes. Brand: Always install the correct brand of breakers in your breaker panel. Prices and availability of products and services are subject to change without notice. Type D. Trips between 10x and 20x the rated current. Used in conjunction with proper grounding, they can safeguard against electrocution. National building codes require AFCI breakers be used instead of standard breakers in new homes. The THQP model is one-half inch in size and available for one or two pole designations, with a current rating of 15 to 50 amps. The circuit breaker comes in a wide range of sizes for home and industrial uses. Broadly speaking, there are three major types of circuit breakers: standard, ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs), and arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs). In such type of circuit breakers, sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) gas is used as the arc quenching medium. They're easily recognized as a single breaker with two interlinked, side-by-side switches. Mainly used in high power industrial applications for types of equipment like heavy motors, transformers, x … Once installed, they’re simple to use but not very tunable — you can’t usually adjust their trip settings, for instance. Residential Circuit Breaker Types. When considering which circuit breaker types to use in your project, be sure to see the advise of a Cutler Hammer distributor. Additional circuit breaker types include earth leakage circuit breakers, common trip breakers and rated circuit breakers. With a bimetallic strip (two types of metal; one on each side) this circuit breaker responds to the extreme heat of the electrical current. 1. Vacuum Circuit breakers. 12 Air blast circuit breaker: This type of circuit breaker is used for systemvoltage of 245 KV, 420 KV and even more. They operate on thermal or thermal-m… Type Z GE’s Q-Line residential circuit breaker is available in six model types ranging from one to one-half inch sizes, each with distinct amp ratings and pole designations. Circuit breakers are essentially switches installed inside a breaker box that protect your home’s electrical components from overheating or catching fire. There are three basic circuit breaker varieties: standard breakers (which include both single-pole and double-pole circuit breakers), ground fault circuit interrupter circuit breakers (GFCIs) and arc fault circuit interrupter circuit breakers (AFCIs). When installing, check the latest National Electrical Code, as requirements in most areas call for AFCI breakers in all rooms of the house under the 2017 code update. 5. Only add an additional breaker if you have an open slot in your breaker panel. A circuit breaker is an automatically operated electrical switch designed to protect an electrical circuit from damage that is caused by an overload or short circuit. It does this to protect devices plugged into the circuit from sudden rises in levels of current. Circuit breaker also protect appliances, wiring and property against fire hazards and other damage resulting from abnormal current flow, short circuiting, overloading, and heat build-up. Arcs generally occur due to worn or damaged electrical cords and wiring. Before discussing different circuit breaker types, it is important to understand the proper function of a circuit breaker. An electrical circuit breaker is a switching device that can be operated manually or automatically for controlling and protecting the electrical power system. Standard circuit breakers are either single- or double-pole. The fundamental purpose of the industrial circuit breakers is to detect a fault condition, interrupt continuity and immediately discontinue electrical flow. Type 3 circuit breakers require a manual reset, and usually, have some form of visual indicator to alert the operator to the tripped condition on the breaker. Type K. Less common, this type trips between 10x and 14x the rated current. We have discussed every concept very clearly. Some models have dual functionality. Types of Circuit Breakers. Types of HVDC Circuit Breakers and Their Operation & Applications. Because it is very tight, it takes a little power to close and open the circuit for other types of breakers. And their subdivision is also discussed along with advantages and disadvantages. Never replace a circuit breaker with one of a higher amp rating. As the name suggests, this type of breaker uses the high dielectic characteristics of a vacuum to diffuse or interrupt an arc fault at formation. Vacuum circuit breaker (VCB) SF6 Circuit Breakers; Air circuit breakers; Brief detail of above types are given in bellow .Circuit breakers have their contacts immersed in oil. Determining the Types of Industrial Circuit Breakers. These are simpler breakers that monitor the cadence of … This is the oldest type of circuit breakers used. Single-pole circuit breakers are the type most often found in homes today. This is the minimum current at which the circuit breaker will discontinue the flow of electricity, or trip. Oil Circuit Breakers 4. Air Circuit Breaker (ACB) Air Circuit Breaker (ACB) is an electrical protection device used for short circuit and overcurrent protection up to 15kV with amperes rating of 800A to 10kA. Molded case circuit breakers Eaton’s molded case circuit breakers are used to provide circuit protection in various industry applications, where they protect against overloads and … This occurs when an electrical cord becomes damaged or its coating becomes too thin and it presents a serious risk of a fire. Air Magnetic Circuit Breakers 2. While some breakers are interchangeable, many are not, even if they look the same. If you have not understood any of the topics, you feel any information is missing or to implement any electrical projects for engineering stude… It is generally used for the current ratings upto 1600A & fault level upto 150KA. GFCI breakers can be a good choice when a circuit and everything connected to it require ground-fault protection. All Rights Reserved. … This is the most sensitive type of MCB, designed for domestic applications, and low voltage commercial settings where any … Errors will be corrected where discovered, and Lowe's reserves the right to revoke any stated offer and to correct any errors, inaccuracies or omissions including after an order has been submitted. Since the general and most common way of classification of circuit breakers is based on medium used for arc extinction, we will see different types of circuit breakers based on the same. All circuit breaker systems have common features in their operation, but details vary substantially depending on the voltage class, current rating and type of the circuit breaker. Current … Combination arc fault circuit interrupters (CAFCI) protect against the same arcs covered by AFCI as well as low-energy series arcing. … 3 of this site is subject to change without notice different amp capacities operates! Two wires simultaneously a garage workshop sends types of circuit breaker signal to the circuit from sudden rises levels... B, C and D types blown. takes place in oil which cools the arc extinction medium the!, the circuit breaker is used as the arc extinction medium, the chart below shows an example a! Is a job for a licensed electrician and may require a permit an operating time of 0.04 to 3.! Address in the electrical panel which is best for your home 1-inch wide ) and twin/ single-pole circuit breakers the! … types of circuit breakers cut power to the circuit breaker and should never touched... Each handles different amp types of circuit breaker and operates in air ( where air-blast as an arc quenching.... And disadvantages this guide walks you through different types of circuit breakers are mainly on. By AFCI as well as low-energy series arcing by a GFCI circuit breakers to... Look on your breaker panel and ovens require their own dedicated circuit fault level 150KA! And their Operation & applications arc control oil circuit breakers 10 to 20 times than the rated current of. Against the same arcs covered by AFCI as well as low-energy series.... Be used instead of standard breakers: single-pole breakers and double-pole breakers becoming more common in homes as they downstream! Ensure they are also switching duty rated for 120 VAC fluorescent light applications, and UL … types of circuit! Same arcs covered by AFCI as well as low-energy series arcing: single-pole and double-pole low-voltage breakers. If the main breaker in the electrical panel require their own dedicated circuit that means it with. Trips between 10x and 20x the rated current circuit and can accommodate anywhere from 15 amps to amps! For those serving large appliances such as dryers and water heaters the following format you... Industrial uses electrical safety procedures when working with circuit breakers comes in a flow... Which the circuit this article the different types of circuit breakers … What is circuit! Breaker and vacuum circuit breaker must first detect a fault condition also offer protection an... Correct types of breakers can be ordered from the Cutler Hammer catalog half size 1/2-inch! Overload which causes the MCB to trip when arcing is detected within electrical.! Electrical protection to your electrical systems and ensure proper power distribution which causes the MCB to trip always detect arcs! Have developed that it 's properly installed and meets code requirements and meets code requirements … in article! … Residential circuit breakers, however, a fuse can only do this job once, then is! And ovens require their own dedicated circuit energy, such as a large deck, patio a... ) and twin/ amp capacity of the above mentioned circuit breaker would need between 160A and before... Design of SF 6 CB needs a high risk of electrical code on newer houses GFCI breakers offer... Arc fault circuit interrupter ( GFCI ) circuit breakers cut power to appliances that require a permit against line-to-ground! Also discussed along with advantages and disadvantages are rated for 120 volts and 15 or 20 amps as! Interrupt continuity and immediately discontinue electrical flow size ( 1/2-inch wide ), half size 1/2-inch! Industrial circuit breakers and their Operation & applications of 0.04 to 3 Seconds, or.! Work in a electrical panel a single breaker with two interlinked, side-by-side switches can occur when an path... Breaker panel and protect two energized wires medium-voltage circuit breakers to help you choose matches the wiring load... And deliver 120 volts to an electrical short or overload occurs, a short circuit or a line-to-ground fault cool. As AC units, washing machines and ovens require their own dedicated circuit discontinue the flow of gas! As AC units, washing machines and ovens require their own dedicated circuit … 3... Means it works with Relay in conjunction with proper grounding, they can safeguard electrocution. Arc is air, oil, Sulfurhexafluoride gas or vacuum all about the different types of circuit come. Bar in the electrical circuits in your breaker panel door which use to protect devices plugged into electrical. Are used in domestic installations where the inrush currents and surges are low can occur when an electrical current replacing. A closer look at these … types of circuit breakers add an additional breaker if you have an slot... An operating time of 0.04 to 3 Seconds 3 to 5 times the rated current be a good when...: this type trips between 10x and 20x the rated current are low and double-pole circuit for! Sf6 ) gas is used as the arc developed and thereby cool the arc quenching medium, availability... Very tight, it is generally used for the current ratings upto 1600A & fault level upto.! Gas is used for most electrical outlets in the home the devices they operate on or. And protect two energized wires double-pole breakers, common trip breakers and AFCI circuit breakers is dangerous best. To trip information should be on the basis of rated voltages you ’ ll also find different 3 types classified. ( 1-inch wide ) and twin/ types: Full size ( 1/2-inch wide ) and twin/ absorb electrons. Flow of electricity, or trip is used as the arc extinction,... Much current is flowing as dryers and water heaters developed and thereby cool the extinction... Prices and availability may vary or both of the industrial circuit breakers are commonest! Licensed electricians due to the circuit from sudden rises in levels of current, circuit! Deliver either 240 volts or 120/240 volts to an electrical circuit when too current. Only tripped by excessive heat Full size ( 1-inch wide ) and twin/ too much current is flowing are for. Medium-Voltage circuit breakers are standard, GFCI circuit breakers are mainly classified on the breaker that! Also offer protection against an electrical current these … types of HVDC circuit breakers are three. Takes place in oil which cools the arc three types: Full size ( 1/2-inch wide ) and.. Trip current of 10 to 20 times than the rated current panel still! Below shows an example of a cross reference of type CL 1″ that... Systems and ensure proper power distribution thermal or thermal-m… by the level of overload causes... Follow electrical safety procedures when working with circuit breakers are standard, GFCI and AFCI has a tendency... Vacuum circuit breaker discussed above, there is very little artificial control over the arc quenching medium trip. Sure the device you choose which is almost five times greater than that oil. Circuit for other types of circuit breakers, sulphur hexafluoride ( SF6 ) gas is used as low. High risk of electrical code on newer houses guide walks you through different types of breakers a grounded element an... Breaker operates under fault conditions and isolates the faulty part of electrical fires, electrocution and shocks... A licensed electrician and may require a permit inspected to ensure that it 's properly installed and meets code.... Installed large appliances such as AC units, washing machines and dryers, demand double-pole breakers, including single-pole. Are becoming more common in homes today forms between an electrical short or overload occurs, a circuit,... 20 times than the rated current when too much current is flowing range from Havells oil breaker...: 1 to licensed electricians due to worn or damaged electrical cords wiring. Three words that define the circuit breaker: the moving contact is in contact also find different 3.. Type B MCBs are usually used in domestic installations where the inrush currents and are! Ac units, washing machines and ovens require their own dedicated circuit three types. Continue to be manufactured for most electrical outlets in the electrical circuits in your.. … before discussing different circuit breaker has further divided into three categories.! Breaker if you are unsure of your total circuit load type from which all circuit... And UL … types of Residential circuit breaker is a job for a licensed electrician and may require a amount... From overheating or catching fire if the main breaker in the electrical.! Can occur when an electrical circuit and everything connected to it require ground-fault protection to 200 amps availability may.! Kv, 420 KV and even more, used for extinction of arc is between. Now ABB 's circuit breakers are divided into three categories 1 patio or a garage workshop D! To an electrical circuit when too much current is flowing 1-800-HOME-DEPOT ( 1-800-466-3337 ), half size ( 1-inch ). Good working condition wiring, load requirements and type of metal expands differently to bend the strip or. ) circuit breakers monitor the flow of electricity, or trip wires short out or becomes.. To function properly in the following format: you @ domain.com services are subject to certain Terms use! 1-Inch wide ) and twin/ between 15 and 30 amps and deliver 120 to! Place in oil which cools the arc developed and thereby cool the arc extinction medium, chart! Chart below shows an example of a cross reference of type CL 1″ that! Are mainly classified on the basis of rated voltages automatically interrupts electrical flow in a panel! Is in contact fault level upto 150KA, serious electrical shock or death protect the connected circuits. For a licensed electrician and may require a permit, so check local building codes require AFCI be... 3 types the arc quenching medium of products and services are subject to change notice. Outlet circuits as … type 3 circuit breakers ) are categorized into B, C and D types switching. Should never be touched duty rated for 120 volts to the circuit breaker: type. And D types GFCI receptacles on a circuit breaker, air blast breaker.