Skip to content
EN · km
Units
My Garage
Automotive glossary

Circuit Breaker

A circuit breaker protects a circuit like a fuse but can reset.

On this page

What is Circuit Breaker?

It is used for motors such as power windows. Some reset automatically. Others need manual resetting. Window motors can draw high current when the glass binds, causing the breaker to open. Lubricating window channels can prevent this. They are also found in some seat motors, sunroofs and older wiper circuits. A breaker that trips often should be investigated rather than bypassed, because the circuit is overloaded for a reason.

How it works

Heat or current opens the contacts.

Why it matters for your car

Repeated tripping means a fault. Check motors for binding.

Other terms