Safety and work practicesQuestion 820 of 1506

An apprentice says a breaker will protect people from electric shock because it trips on overcurrent. What is wrong with that idea?

  1. Breakers respond only to voltage changes and never to current, so they cannot help.
  2. Shock happens at currents far below the trip point.
  3. Breakers work only on DC circuits, so they do nothing on a normal AC supply.
  4. Overcurrent devices are tested for open circuits only, never for shock.
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Correct answer: Shock happens at currents far below the trip point.

Fuses and breakers protect conductors from overheating. Shock can happen at currents far below the trip point.

Source: Lessons in Electric Circuits I: DC (Kuphaldt), 12.4: Fuses

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Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026