What do you use as a test load?

[wireguru]

If I apply a 30 amp load to a 20 amp breaker and it trips within a minute or two, it tells me that the breaker is working properly. How is that not a legitimate test?

but is the breaker tripping due to the overload? Or is it tripping because the connection to the buss is heating up, and out of the panel the breaker might not trip on 30a?

To the OP, another thing I forgot to mention -you touch a panel and you own it. You take wires off breakers to connect yout test setup, the breakers trip on overload so the owner does nothing. But you unknowingly disturbed some breakers where the stab was barely making contact because it was burned behind the breaker. A week later the panel burns up, guess who is paying for the owners new service.

 

[brian john]

If I apply a 30 amp load to a 20 amp breaker and it trips within a minute or two, it tells me that the breaker is working properly. How is that not a legitimate test?

It proves nothing until you check the curve for the circuit breaker, as noted there could be loose connections, it may be designed to hld the current for longer than 1-2 minutes.

Quick search

http://www.pfeiffereng.com/The Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter.pdf

 

[blueheels2]

I always thought that the problem with FPE was that they would not trip period. I have seen quite a few FPE breakers fail at their job. I can honestly say I have never seen one trip but I have seen burnt up sawzall blades, dikes, and linemans. I don't have any studies to back it up but in my personal experience they are worthless.

 

[nakulak]

my testing procedure for breakers is as follows:

a) find the highest portion of the building where the most amount of people can see the sparks, drive your lift to that location and disassemble the nearest outlet served by that ckt

b) using one of the phase conductors, tap out the gettysburg address in morse code

if you can make it to the end the breaker is bad

(alternate method, tap out the lyrics to "rump shaker")

(and don't let zog see this post)

 

[nhfire77]

I always use my apprentice as a test load.

I LOVE THAT. I am going post that in the office!

Ah the new guy. I remember when I was the new guy.

 

[cschmid]

Now that is a CB tester..you would need to due alot of testing to pay for that rig.

We use these.

Now I have seen lots of FPE equipment and lots still in use and working just fine. I have not run accross any CB failures that I can say are brand specific and be able to prove it is a brand issue. I have had several home line never open, some GE never open, siemens, you get the idea.

To promote an unqualified person to spread unproven information is not a practice I would promote. So my take on promoting HI's...they are not licensed to do electrical work and that includes inspections of electrical systems. now I will take my soap box home.

 

[zog]

Now that is a CB tester..you would need to due alot of testing to pay for that rig.

I have 5 of those in our breaker shop, and 1 more in each of our 3 mobile trailers http://photos.gcbsinventory.com/trailers/

You could say we do a little breaker testing.

 

[zog]

my testing procedure for breakers is as follows:

a) find the highest portion of the building where the most amount of people can see the sparks, drive your lift to that location and disassemble the nearest outlet served by that ckt

b) using one of the phase conductors, tap out the gettysburg address in morse code

if you can make it to the end the breaker is bad

(alternate method, tap out the lyrics to "rump shaker")

(and don't let zog see this post)

Too late, there will be a black helicopter arriving there soon, dont resist, it makes it easier for all involved.

 

[ohm]

You'd be better off disconnecting the load wire and placing your test load directly on the breaker terminal, and to the neutral bus.

Great answer as always Larry.

Maurice

 

[chris kennedy]

The more serious problem with FPE products was their molded 3 pole breakers- 100 amps and above. They were recalled because they could explode at any time.

For those that have not seen this yet, I found it on a 208y/120 distribution about a year ago.

 

[cschmid]

I have 5 of those in our breaker shop, and 1 more in each of our 3 mobile trailers http://photos.gcbsinventory.com/trailers/

You could say we do a little breaker testing.

now there is some impressive gear..You guys must be on the road 250 plus days a year just to pay for the gear.

 

[guitarchris]

We use some of those and some of these

http://www.phenixtech.com/Circuit_Breaker_Test_Equipment.asp

Charlie. Wish I was as clear and to the point in my writings. A GREAT explanation.

That's a pretty cool piece! We have ton of old breakers in our shop and would love to test them and clear out any that don't check out....but I bet it would be cheaper and faster to have a local surplus supplier test them.....they test a boat load of breakers a day. But doing it myself would give me a good excuse to buy more toys...um,er, I mean tools

 

[guitarchris]

my testing procedure for breakers is as follows:

Then yell: "now do you believe me that you should replace the panel!"

 

[nakulak]

If I apply a 30 amp load to a 20 amp breaker and it trips within a minute or two, it tells me that the breaker is working properly. How is that not a legitimate test?

its legitimate if it works, but what if it blows up the panel ? Is it legitimate then ?

 

[sparky59]

federal pacific should have made welders instead of breakers. I'll have to post a picture of my kleins sometime.

 

[Karl H]

yeah, that 15 or 20 amp residential breaker that nuisance trips has been
running at 90%, for years. after a while, they just get cooked.

for that matter, ambient temperature is a consideration, and double breakers
filling a panel are notorious for nuisance tripping, just cause of the density
of heat generating breakers present.

i had a 15 amp breaker that wouldn't hold past about 10 amps, and there
were doubles on either side, well loaded. it was hot to the touch, with nothing
loading it.

friend of mine in phoenix has his house panel on the sunny side of the house,
(as if there is a side of phoenix that isn't sunny)... he calls and says he has
breakers tripping all the time.... and the electrician he called said his panel ha
to be upgraded...

before we did that, we put something shading the panel.... problem magically
disappeared....

I ran across this problem once in Texas.

 

[brian john]

That's a pretty cool piece! We have ton of old breakers in our shop and would love to test them and clear out any that don't check out....but I bet it would be cheaper and faster to have a local surplus supplier test them.....they test a boat load of breakers a day. But doing it myself would give me a good excuse to buy more toys...um,er, I mean tools

Send me a good cross reference of residential CB's, I test and post here.

 

[A-1Sparky]

its legitimate if it works, but what if it blows up the panel ? Is it legitimate then ?

How is a 30 amp load on a 20 amp breaker going to blow up a panel? :-?