• Miniature circuit breakers are designed for use in residential and light industrial settings. They are electrical devices that regulate the flow of electricity in order to protect people and equipment from the effects of power surges or overloads. The breakers operate in one of three positions: on, off, or tripped. In the tripped mode, the breaker interrupts the flow of electricity in order to protect the system.
  
  

Industrial

• Miniature circuit breakers designed for industrial use, such as manufactured by Eaton, provide additional protection against ground fault for either people or equipment or both. Eaton offers either one-, two- or three-pole breakers, indicating the number of connections that can be made per each pole.
  
  

Residential

• There are many types of miniature circuit breakers designed for residential use, such as those manufactured by General Electric, which are all approved by the Underwriters Laboratory (UL), the standard for rating electrical devices. One standard is the tripping range, or the amount of power that it takes to trip the breaker. This standard is important since the breaker needs to function within the generally accepted limits set by the UL.
  
  

Solar Electric Power

• Miniature circuit breakers can also be used for solar electric power, and General Electric provides a range of breakers for this growing area. One feature available is the remote tripping device. In most miniature circuit breakers, when the breaker trips, it has to be reset manually. A remote device allows the breaker to be reset without having to travel to the breaker.