Kelly has over 10 years of experience writing about home design and improvement for many prominent publications. She also spent several years working at a tech startup for an interior design game ...

Nobody looks forward to a power outage. After all, we rely on electricity to power appliances. And when there is a blackout, the situation can move from a minor to a stressful one quite easily. That ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I write about how to do more with your consumer gadgets. Circuit breakers, breaker panels, breaker boxes, fuse boxes—no matter ...

Use a digital multimeter (DMM) instead of a voltage pen for accurate power verification, and always follow proper ...

Q: Several weeks ago, I read your column about installing electrical wiring. I’m curious about circuit breakers. What is the primary purpose of circuit breakers? Are there different types of breakers?

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Without circuit breakers, the electricity running through your walls could damage wiring and cause fires. There are several reasons why you ...

Churning with voltage and resembling an explosion at the wire factory, the breaker panel exudes mystique. But it's just a big switch, filled with other smaller ­switches, which lead to the switches ...

Dear James: There were two electrical house fires in my neighborhood this year, and both houses had circuit breakers. Please explain the differences between fuses, breakers, ground fault and arc fault ...