Motor Control

In 1887 Nikola Tesla invented an alternating current (AC) Motor to harness the power of electricity. It is a great invention but not as useful unless operators could turn the motor on and off. Therefore the “knife switch” was created, which connected the power to the motor when the operator manually pulled the switch to the “on” position.

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Who Makes Siemens Breakers?

The simple answer is, of course, Siemens – they make their own well-known and durable breakers. Siemens has been around for over 150 years in engineering and world history in general. They have been making circuit breakers for a long time and are one of the top breaker manufacturers in the industry. Their simple design make …

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What Does BD1520 Breaker Mean?

BD1520 is an Eaton / Cutler Hammer brand miniature molded case circuit breaker. This breaker is a tandem / circuit limiting breaker. In other words, BD1520 is a double circuit breaker that takes up one circuit breaker space on a panelboard. However, it does not have a common trip or handle tie for simultaneous disconnecting of …

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Why Circuit Breakers Fail

Who doesn’t get a little frustrated when the power goes out every now and then? Especially when you’re in the middle of something. Circuit breakers seem to fail at the least opportune time. But why do circuit breakers fail anyway? First, let’s get back to the basics. We know that circuit breakers trip when there’s …

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How Circuit Breakers Work

Circuit breakers are safety devices that interrupt the flow of current. This happens if there’s either a gradual increase in load or a short circuit, which trips the breaker instantly. The most common times for a breaker to trip in a household are when devices which convert electrical energy to heat are in use. Examples …

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What Circuit Breakers are Compatible with Siemens?

Looking to replace circuit breakers in your Siemens electrical service panel? The straightforward answer is: read your panel for manufacturer’s instructions on acceptable breaker replacements. If the instructions are hard to read (normally they fade over time), then check your existing breakers and replace those with the same type. Firstly, remove one of the old breakers to make sure the panel connections are the same. Lastly, test the fit of the new breaker in the panel before you put it in place.

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Which Circuit Breakers Are Interchangeable?

Replacing circuit breakers in your electrical service panel but not sure which ones to use? Normally you would just go to the panel and look up the specified breakers the manufacturer has listed. Maybe you’re trying to save money or can’t find the part you’re looking for and now you’re looking for options. Here is the dirty truth about interchanging circuit breakers.

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Ground Fault Basics

Ground fault is simply a short in the system. It occurs when current going out on ungrounded phase comes back on grounded path. To avoid shock hazards, current going out any one phase must come back on another phase or neutral.   Ground Fault Protection A ground fault protection device is required to protect from …

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How to Test a Circuit Breaker

Circuit Breaker Tester: Clamping Ammeter Circuit breakers that trip every time they’re reset may be overloaded. In order to diagnose a circuit breaker overload you can test the circuit breaker by using a clamping ammeter. You can use this circuit breaker tester to check overloads and shorts that are in progress. They determine whether the …

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Common Circuit Breaker Problems

Let’s talk about the most common circuit breaker problems people have Miswiring – Circuit Breaker Troubleshooting Electricity Blinks or Flickers – Circuit Breaker Troubleshooting Electrical Load – Circuit Breaker How to Reset a Tripped Circuit Breaker Circuit Overload – Tripped Circuit Breaker Short Circuit – Tripped Circuit Breaker Why Does the Circuit Breaker Trip While Operating Certain …

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