Final answer:
The size of fuses or circuit breakers at the main disconnect does not signify the amount of electricity available to the house, but rather protects wiring from overload. Therefore, the statement is false. Fuses and circuit breakers are safety devices that are rated by their ability to handle current, not to describe the total availability of power. option b is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The size of the fuses or breakers at the main disconnect does not necessarily indicate how much electricity is available to the house. Instead, the main disconnect fuses or breakers are designed to protect the house's wiring from being overloaded. Therefore, the answer to the question is b. False. Fuses and circuit breakers are rated in amperes, more commonly known as amps, and their primary function is to prevent the flow of excessive current that could harm electrical appliances or even cause a fire hazard.
For example, a single 15-amp circuit breaker may protect several outlets in a room, each of which could be used by appliances with different amperage requirements. The circuit breakers are chosen based on the electrical system's overall capacity and the wiring, not solely based on the electrical demands of the appliances. This misconception could lead to an inaccurate overall assessment of the electrical capacity available in a house.
It is also worth mentioning that high-voltage power transmission involves special considerations. For instance, when a high-voltage circuit breaker tries to interrupt the flow of electricity, it may face challenges such as ionization of air in the gap, which can allow the current to keep flowing. Modern high-voltage circuit breakers might use insulating gas and gas jets to overcome this issue. Additionally, shocks can occur even with relatively small currents, which is why protecting against them with the aid of circuit breakers and fuses is critical.