What does a circuit breaker do?

A circuit breaker is designed primarily as a safety device within electrical systems. Its main function is to automatically interrupt the flow of electricity in a circuit when it detects a fault condition, such as an overload or a short circuit. This interruption prevents excessive current from causing damage to the electrical system, reducing the risk of fire, equipment damage, or other hazards.

When a circuit experiences an overload, the current flow increases beyond the safe operating limits. A circuit breaker responds to this condition by tripping, which effectively opens the circuit and stops the flow of electricity. Similarly, in the case of a short circuit, where current takes an unintended path, the circuit breaker will also disconnect the circuit to prevent further complications.

This automatic action is crucial for maintaining the safety and integrity of electrical systems, unlike other functions such as enhancing efficiency, increasing current flow, or converting AC to DC. Those functions belong to different types of electrical devices and are not within the scope of what a circuit breaker does.