Circuit Breakers control electrical current by "tripping" when it senses an electrical overload. Once the cause of the overload is fixed, they can be turned back on. Fuses are an older type of technology where the fuse is screwed into a socket and has a filament that burns out when too much current flows through it. Unlike circuit breakers, fuses must be replaced after being tripped. As fuse boxes become less and less common, repairing them will become more of a hassle.
Also, unlike fuses, circuit breakers support GFCI applications. This makes them safer than older systems. A GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter) is a residual-current device that quickly breaks an electrical circuit to prevent serious harm from an ongoing electric shock. They are commonly found around places where one can easily 'ground' out, like the bathroom or the kitchen.
Back when fuse boxes were used, most homes could run off of 60-amp service. Today, most homes require somewhere between 100- and 200-amps. In other words, your fuse box simply doesn’t supply enough electricity for a modern household. Because they often lack dedicated circuits for large appliances like dryers, dishwashers, and AC units, they blow often in well-equipped households.
While fuses were once at the cutting edge of technology, they’re now reaching their sunset years. If you’d like to retire your old fuse box, call us at 817.847.7111 for a quote on a panel upgrade.