Branch breaker load tester

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mdshunk

mdshunk

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After having been witness to a 200 amp arc on a circuit that was supposed to have been protected by a 15 amp breaker, I think I'm going to pruchase a breaker load tester.

About the only thing I can find currently on the market to test 15 and 20 amp branch breakers is KO Instrument's CBA-1000. It seems like it won some kind of best product award last year.

They run around 1,000 bucks, so I want to think a little first. Any of you guys own one or heard anything good or bad about them? Since this instrument does its test by plugging it into a receptacle, my fear is that it may possibly blow apart a marginal backstab (or worse, a bad connection in a buried jbox somewhere). I don't want to turn what could be a good thing into a destructive test.

I see some potential, market wise, for my business if I owened such an insturment, but I'd still like some opinions.
 
Re: Branch breaker load tester

After having been witness to a 200 amp arc on a circuit that was supposed to have been protected by a 15 amp breaker, I think I'm going to pruchase a breaker load tester.
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How do you know the current value? How long before the circuit was cleared?
Don
 
Re: Branch breaker load tester

I've owned and used one of the CBA-1000s for about two years.

The unit does a voltage drop test under a 20 amp load, to detect any serious weak point in the circuit.

I've done a couple hundred tests, and haven't had any circuit go open on me, so I think the votage drop test does what it's intended to do.

It takes a while to get comfortable to using the unit. Dropping a dead short across a circuit is kind of scary at first. If the wiring method is wire in metallic conduit, there's some real banging and clanging as the conductors rattle around. It's interesting to see that a 20A breaker will pass 300-400 amps or more before tripping--for 20 milliseconds.

I've had a few breakers fail to trip. These are usually 40 years or more old. And not just FPE. Have sold a few service replacements/upgrades as a result.

I do mostly service work and additions/remodels. Having the KO unit and the Ideal Sure-Test, and explaining to the homeowner that I can safely "stress test" the wiring and breakers has gotten me some nice jobs.

Cliff
 
Re: Branch breaker load tester

Originally posted by don_resqcapt19:
How do you know the current value? How long before the circuit was cleared?
Don
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That was a pure wild guess, based on the amount of time before I could see again. :(
 
Re: Branch breaker load tester

If your going to test the breaker I would connect the CBA-1000 directly to the breaker and neutral bar via a pig tail receptacle. As you said loading a circuit that high, could open a can of worms that you might not want to get in to. If you want to check the branch circuit out then use the Ideal Sure Test. It will give you voltage drop and will show you if there is a week connection. and even boot legged grounds.
 
Re: Branch breaker load tester

You will need to read the instructions or call the manufacturer for more info. I was at a meeting where this company showed us how this unit worked - but that was a few years ago and I do not remember the particulars. I believe that this has to be used through the receptacle - but like I have said you should get this info directly from the manufacturer.
 
Re: Branch breaker load tester

Originally posted by charlie tuna:
the thought of using this in today's typical office building is frightening!!
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why? we are depending on the bc ocpd to protect us from ground faults. if they don't work properly, or someone has done something evil with the premises wiring system, is it not better to know about this rather than find out the hard way?
 
Re: Branch breaker load tester

Bob can I swing by your house and try this out?

I would not try to test an entire branch circuit at once this way.

Call me a wuss, but I hate starting fires in customers walls. :D

Also what can be leaned from testing a breaker in this way?

From what I understand breaker tests are very specific and involve a 'branch' circuit of known impedance.
 
Re: Branch breaker load tester

just consider applying a short circuit load and cause the panel's main breaker to open --- lots of computer operator would be looking for you!!!
 
Re: Branch breaker load tester

So far, I see that the one guy who uses it likes it, and all the rest seem scared to try it. I'm still scared to try it, but I might. I certainly wouldn't use it during working hours in any office type building. I'm still afraid that if I do happen to open a connection somewhere on a branch circuit with this device, I'll be troubleshooting and fixing it for free since I "broke it".
 
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