what exactly is a delayed action circuit breaker?

Question

i just bought an electric welder and the instructions say i need to use a "110 VAC, 20 amp line with delayed action type circuit breaker or fuses"
are basic household circuit breakers delayed action or is it something i'm going to need to call my electrician in to install?

Answer 1

A 20 amp circuit breaker will handle 15 amps with no problem, continuously. But 20 amps continuous will trip it after only a few minutes.



If your electric welder draws 20 amps continuous, you need to have a 25 or 30 amp circuit, and that means heavier wires and a heavier duty circuit breaker.



You need an electrician.

Answer 2

You need to understand the 80% rule of electrical. You should never expect a breaker to do more than 80% of the max rating for that breaker. That means, on a 15 amp breaker you should keep the load under 12 amps.



So, for you to draw 20 amps continuously you will need a 30 amp breaker AND thicker wiring. That's right, the lines pulled in there for your 15 amp power plugs and lights will NOT handle 20 amps. They will melt and likely start a fire.



If risking a fire is no big deal to you, or you think it can't happen to you because your horoscope said you'd have good luck, then go nuts. Otherwise, you should really call an Electrician. I mean, if you do your own plumbing and you screw something up the worst thing that can happen is a flood. With electrical the worst thing that can happen is a fiery death.



Seems like a no contest decision to me.

Answer 3

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I have heard of cases where under a constant amount of extreme load a circuit breaker will "weaken" over time. Although, for all practical and safe purposes, a circuit should never be "maxed out" continuously in the first place. The diagnosis of the problem should be fairly easy for you to do. Does it trip when the unit first powers up? If so, do you hear abnormal clicking noises coming from the A/C itself? If you do hear abnormal hums and clicks, then the motor in the A/C's compressor is stalled and the A/C's internal circuit breaker is poping open momentarily to prevent a nasty electrical fire. If this is the case, you're apt to hear several clicks from the A/C itself, followed by the actual circuit breaker in your circuit breaker panel tripping. If this is not your problem and the circuit breaker is in fact weakening, you should have a larger capacity circuit breaker installed ALONG WITH larger capacity wiring. As I said before, running a circuit "maxed out" for continued periods isn't exactly the safest thing to do in the first place.

Answer 4

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RE:

what exactly is a delayed action circuit breaker?

i just bought an electric welder and the instructions say i need to use a "110 VAC, 20 amp line with delayed action type circuit breaker or fuses"

are basic household circuit breakers delayed action or is it something i'm going to need to call my electrician in to install?

Answer 5

Hi, It is a fact that breakers loose there holding power every time they are triped.You should replace the breaker but only with the exact amp rated breaker. It really isn't that hard. After removing the cover from the panel the wire wil be cold while the breaker is off. Remove the two wires and pull the breaker out from the center off the panel. Take it to home depot and match it exactly. Make sure the breaker is off before installing it and hooking the wires back up. If the problem persists it may be the A/c unit.

Answer 6

If you don't know about de-rating for circuit breakers then you need an electrician. These are designed to take a surge and not trip right away, but only for the start up surge.

Answer 7

delayed action breaker will handle the initall surge that happens when you turn on a machine.i you feel comartable installing a new breaker in your elec panel [shut off main]then you should do it just common sence.you respct electric don't be afraid of it