Question:
What are "mains"?
What are "Mains"?
If you have never replaced your Federal Pacific breakers before, the thought of opening and working in your circuit breaker box can be quite intimidating. The circuit breaker box, also known as the electrical service panel, is the heart of your home's electrical system. You will need to know how to access this box sooner or later, so it's good to get familiar with it.
When you open the breaker box you will see a set of FPE circuit breakers (or whichever make and model are used in your home) which are assigned to various parts of the home. At the top of the series are two circuit breakers called "mains". The mains are connected to the power cables from the electric company--the main flow of electricity, hence the name. The mains are your first line of protection in case of a power surge caused from outside the home. If there is a lightning strike in your area, the mains will trip to prevent the surge from flowing through the entire electrical system.
Circuit Breakers Frequently Asked Questions
How does an electrical surge work?
What is a whole house surge protector?
Can I install a whole house surge protector myself?
What should I do with my old circuit breakers?
Can I padlock my circuit breakers?
What should I know about circuit breaker locking systems?
What is a dual-pole circuit breaker?
Why does a dual pole circuit breaker work?
How many circuit breakers can I add to my breaker box?
What can I do if I am running out of room in my breaker box?
What is an FPE air circuit breaker?
Is there still an electrocution hazard with the mains turned off?
Why do my new circuit breakers keep tripping?
What is a low voltage circuit breaker?
How do I reset my GE circuit breakers?
Can I use a different brand for replacement circuit breakers?
Why does my circuit breaker keep tripping?
What information do I need to purchase a replacement motor starter?
Why is my motor starter noisy?
Why does my motor starter click but not turn on?
Why does my motor starter turn over slowly?
How can I tell if my motor starter is bad?
Can I use a manual motor starter as a disconnect switch for maintenance purposes?
What is an AFCI circuit breaker?
Why do I need AFCI Circuit Breakers?
What is a counterfeit Square D circuit breaker?
What is the National Electrical Code?
What is an electrical code test?
Where can I get electrical code training?
How dangerous is electrical wiring?
My mains are off. Am I safe from electrocution?
What should I know about high voltage electrical safety?
Do I really need an upgraded circuit breaker panel?
Can a damaged appliance cause my Seimens breakers to trip?
Will installing a circuit breaker other than the type specified in the manual void my warranty?
Can I recycle my circuit breakers?
What is an electric switchboard?
What should I do if I have counterfeit electrical supplies?
Where can I find more information on counterfeit electrical products?
Should I buy re-certified power circuit breakers?
What happens to re-certified or re-conditioned circuit breakers?
How do I install a transformer?
What is an industrial transformer?
What should I do when taking delivery of a large transformer?
What issues should I be aware of for large transformers?
What is a voltage transformer?
How can I test a wall socket to see if it is causing my circuit breaker to trip?
What are used circuit breakers good for?
Should I buy reconditioned circuit breakers?
Can I use a flashlight to see my circuit breaker panel during installation of new breakers?
What would happen if my circuit breaker did not trip?
What are "replacement only" circuit breakers?
What should I do to protect my electrical system in case of a flood?
What should I do if the area near my breaker panel is flooded?
I smell something burning and see sparks. Is this my electrical system?
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| Byron White |
