Why does your home have a circuit breaker or fuse box?

Circuit SymbolsWire (conductor)

Light bulb

Closed switch

BatteryOpen switch

Circuit Types

Series CircuitCurrent has only one

loop to flow through.

Ex. Flashlight, holiday lights

Parallel CircuitContains two or more branches for

current to flow through.

Ex. Homes, autos.

Circuit Types

Series Circuit Parallel Circuit

Complex Circuit

A circuit composed of both series and parallel circuits.

Electrical energy enters your home at the circuit breaker or fuse box and branches out to appliances, wall sockets, and lights.

Circuit breaker – small piece of metal that bends when it gets hot, opening the circuit and stopping current flow

Electric fuse – small piece of metal that melts if current becomes too high, opening the circuit