Which electrical component is primarily used for overcurrent protection?

The primary function of fuses and circuit breakers is to provide overcurrent protection in electrical circuits. When the current flowing through a circuit exceeds a certain threshold—due to faults such as short circuits or circuit overloads—these devices act quickly to interrupt the flow of electricity.

Fuses contain a metal wire or strip that melts when excessive current passes through it, effectively breaking the circuit and preventing damage. Circuit breakers, on the other hand, are resettable switches that trip when they detect an overload, allowing the circuit to be restored once the issue is resolved.

While transformers, capacitors, and generators play important roles in electrical systems, they do not serve the primary function of overcurrent protection. Transformers are used for voltage conversion, capacitors are often employed for power factor correction or energy storage, and generators are designed to produce electrical power. Thus, fuses and circuit breakers stand out as the essential components specifically designed to protect electrical circuits from the dangers associated with overcurrent.