Understanding the Differences Between Breaker Panels and Fuse Boxes in Cohasset, MA

You might not think much about the electrical system operating in your home or business. However, if the system stops working, you’ll want to understand whether you have a breaker panel vs. a fuse box. 

If you ever have questions about your power system, trust our top electricians in Cohasset, MA, to provide answers. Learning more about electrical panels or a fuse panel can help you understand what might be happening when you have a problem.

What Is a Fuse Box?

A fuse box contains fuses that provide overload protection for your electric supply. When any fuses overheat because of an electrical overload, the metal inside melts and cuts off power.

If you have a system of fuses in your Cohasset, MA, home, it’s probably in an older house. When comparing a breaker panel vs. a fuse box, fuses represent an older technology.

Understanding fuse boxes and how they work can be important for figuring out what kinds of electrical appliances you can add. Fuses might not be able to support appliances that have significant power demands. If your current system cannot handle your power demands, our electricians can replace it with circuit breakers.

What Is a Breaker Panel?

When comparing a breaker panel vs. a fuse box, breaker panels are boxes that feature reusable switches that control electric flow. When an overload occurs, circuit breakers will trip and cut off the power. You can then reset the switches to restore power.

Each switch can handle a certain amperage. If you want to install a new appliance that requires more amps than the breaker can handle, our electricians can swap it out for a larger amperage circuit.

Comparing a Breaker Panel vs. a Fuse Box in Cohasset, MA

One of the biggest advantages of a circuit breaker vs. a fuse box in Cohasset, MA, is that the breakers are reusable. Once a fuse burns out, you can no longer use it. When breakers trip, you just have to flip them back to the on position to continue using them.

Breakers will eventually fail, but they can have a lifespan of up to 40 years. Our electricians can test your breakers and replace any units that fail.

The Massachusetts Electrical Code doesn’t allow electricians to install fuse boxes any longer. However, if your home still has these boxes, you can continue using them under the state code. 

Although fuses are safe when maintained and used properly, they can cause a fire when misused or overloaded with improper amperage. Circuit breakers greatly reduce the risk of a fire hazard.

When our electrician visits your home, we can fix issues with fuses. However, we might not be able to perform certain work on the system if it doesn’t have the amperage capacity.

What often happens is that homeowners’ insurance companies force you to swap out your fuse box for circuit breakers. Insurers may simply refuse to write a policy for a home with fuses.

What Ages of Homes Might Have a Breaker Panel vs. a Fuse Box?

Because fuses are an older type of electrical technology, many homeowners have replaced them over the years with circuit breakers. 

In Cohasset, MA, much of the residential growth occurred after World War II. The city has quite a few homes built in the 1950s and 1960s, meaning they might still have a collection of fuses. Circuit breaker boxes became common in new American homes beginning in the mid-1960s, and they remain in use today.

It can be helpful to know where your electric panel is located and which type of design you have. For severe power problems, cutting off power immediately can be important for preventing any further damage. 

If you don’t feel comfortable cutting off the power yourself, call our electricians for an immediate response. We serve all neighborhoods in Cohasset, MA, including Little Harbor, North Cohasset, and Ridgeline Drive. We provide service to the surrounding areas, too, such as near the World’s End hiking area, Wompatuck State Park, or the Scituate Lighthouse.