Circuit breakers

[claymore]

I seem to have a couple that don't work.
Do circuit breakers fail?
Also - I dont seem to be able to source replacements - short of replacing both panels of switches - is there an alternative?

 

[VicS]

More detail needed

In what way dont they work? Fail to trip on overload? Cannot reset or what?

A photo might help to identify the type but panel mounted mcbs are generally available

 

[claymore]

I'll take a photo of one today and see if there are any manufacturer details on it. I think they were installed in 2002 when I had the boat rewired.
They seem to be failing if I try to reset them

 

[sarabande]

If by 'fail' you mean they trip and will not stay in the reset position, then something is causing them to trip again. Choices are a fault in the wiring, in the gadgets attached to that circuit, or the CB itself (which is v rare).

Disconnect the wire from the output side of the CB, then try to reset. Then let us now what happeneth.

CBs are usually designed to be 'fail-safe', and replacements a matter of connecting in a new one to the same spec. Oh, have you added or taken away anything to the circuit belonging to that CB ?

 

[claymore]

If by 'fail' you mean they trip and will not stay in the reset position, then something is causing them to trip again. Choices are a fault in the wiring, in the gadgets attached to that circuit, or the CB itself (which is v rare).

Disconnect the wire from the output side of the CB, then try to reset. Then let us now what happeneth.

CBs are usually designed to be 'fail-safe', and replacements a matter of connecting in a new one to the same spec. Oh, have you added or taken away anything to the circuit belonging to that CB ?

It must be said there have been a few changes over the years and the installation of the turbo thunderburner is prompting a review of the wiring because the new engine comes complete with wiring loom as you know. I stripped out a few things yesterday and am hoping to get the rest removed today. As you know, there are fewer levels of competence lower than mine but I'm acting to instructions and labelling all the wires before I extract them. The cover on the boat means that I'm working in a darker kind of dark than normal and I seem to have left my decent specs back at Claymore Towers. I'd also forgotten that Dear Heart took the bunk cushion covers home to wash them so I slept on the foam last night - think I understand rubber fetishness...

 

[sarabande]

TMI

Best of luck.

 

[claymore]

All is not lost!
They are made by E-T-A who are still in business. Same size of unit, they've changed the rocker switches so I'll order 1 just to make sure then may as well swap the lot which will be a lot less to fork out than replacing the whole panels.
Thanks

 

[superheat6k]

Circuit breakers do weaken i.e. trip at lower than rated amps once they have operated in earnest a few times. ETA are still available and offer various install options. To see whether then are operating early would need at minimum a peak hold function on your ammeter, because you can be sure the fault will not reveal itself easily.

 

[[163233]]

If you think it might be tripping on reset because of a fault then turn the power off before you reset it.
If it trips with the power off then I think it must be a faulty breaker, although compare with one of the others in case you have a weird one. If it doesn't and then trips when you turn the power on then there's a fault.

 

[DownWest]

Or,, swop them around to different circuits to see if is the circuit or the breaker. Handy if one does not have test gear. Obviously swop ones of same rating.