What is the primary purpose of a circuit breaker?

The primary purpose of a circuit breaker is to prevent overload or short-circuit conditions. It serves as a protective device in electrical systems by automatically interrupting the flow of electricity when it detects excessive current through the circuit, which could lead to overheating, equipment damage, or fire hazards. By breaking the circuit under these fault conditions, it ensures the safety of the electrical system and protects both equipment and personnel.

Increasing electrical flow in a circuit is not a function of a circuit breaker, rather, it is designed to control the flow by interrupting it when necessary. Enhancing the efficiency of the circuit is not the role of a circuit breaker, as its primary function is safety rather than performance optimization. Converting AC to DC current is a task performed by rectifiers, not circuit breakers, which focus exclusively on current protection rather than conversion.