How is a working circuit breaker tested? I believe I have a...

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Question by Will
Submitted on 8/13/2003
Related FAQ: Electrical Wiring FAQ (Part 1 of 2)
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How is a working circuit breaker tested? I believe I have a weak breaker to a sub-panel, since the breaker protecting the sub-panel trips, but none of the sub-panel'sbreakers trip.

Answer by Leroy Smith
Submitted on 1/1/2004
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I want to know the answer to his question.

Answer by D.Tiwari
Submitted on 2/12/2004
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Substitution is the best method of testing. No circuit breaker in the sub-panel should have a current rating that's equal to or higher than the breaker in the main-panel to which it feeds on. Also the maximum computed load currents of all the breakers in the sub-panel must not exceed the current rating of the main-panel breaker.

Answer by BIBBI
Submitted on 5/2/2004
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1. THERMAL TEST 2. DIELECTRIC TEST 3. NO DIRECT TEST 4. DIRECT TEST

Answer by Jafro
Submitted on 8/2/2004
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Add up the current being drawn by all the smaller breakers and see if they exceed the rating of the one that trips.

Answer by kush
Submitted on 11/25/2005
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i don,t know

Answer by tattoo
Submitted on 2/9/2007
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load if you have a 50amp main in your sub panel it will trip at about 40 amp (all breaker are rate at 80% if what the says 20amps will trip at 16amps) check your load

Answer by jchris
Submitted on 4/7/2007
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Common small non-full function circuit breakers are commonly tested using a primary current injection test set. Current is injected to test long-time timing at 300% of the breakers rating per NETA. Instantaneous current is injected at less than 5 cycles until the unit trips.These ratings can be compared to the breaker manufacture trip curve listings for that model.These trip curves can be obtained via most manufactures websites.

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