[Amps] AC wiring

[Gary Smith]

My experience with circuit breakers.

Years ago a good friend of mine who was a *very* good technician was given a mobile 
radio at the time that was worth $$$$. Reason for he being given the radio was it 
kept tripping the (new with radio) cb.  On the bench, all was well until installed 
in car, pfft-pop there goes the breaker.  The cb was well above amperage input 
rating, even he was stumped as to why.  He passed the radio on to me, I had the same 
problem till it came upon me to rig the *entire* system on a bench and watch the 
current level where the cb tripped at.  The brand new (packaged with the radio) cb 
was rated for 25 amps, was consistent at tripping in the 12-15 amp range.
When I reconfigured the install with an old fashioned in-line Buss 20 amp fuse, no 
problems after that.

This is how I became the owner of a 8 channel Motorola uhf mobile telly  radio for 
free  in 1969 when said radio was valued in the $1800-2000 (1969 money) dollar range.

A question: don't fuses in residential usage have different base sizes?

In closing, I  have had cb's in my house that "wear out".  That is, they trip early. 
  When the suspected cb has been replaced all is well after that.  You can get`em 
warn only so many times before the current rating changes.  And that change is 
generally downwards.
73
Gary...wa6fgi

Gudguyham at aol.com wrote:
>  
> In a message dated 10/21/2005 10:38:28 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
> rob at sherweng.com writes:
> 
> After  that I did some research on FPE, and found there were know 
> problems with  their breakers not opening under a serious fault.  I had 
> the panel  replaced within the month. 
> 73, Rob, NC0B
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Hi Rob, these are called "stab-lock" breakers, indeed they are old and  
> electricians run for the hills when they see them in a house Hi Hi.  Good  that you 
> had them changed.  Lately, some banks will NOT loan money on a  house that is 
> fitted with fuses.  Truly, fuses are probably the most  reliable BUT it is 
> too easy to screw in a 30A fuse in a 15 A circuit, that is a  recipe for DANGER! 
>  It is for this reason that breakers are required.   Someone is less likely 
> to open up an electrical panel and start changing  breakers as easily as a fuse 
> can be replaced.  The new electrical code for  bedroom circuits now call for 
> "arc-fault" circuit breakers.  They cost  about $50.00 each.  They detect 
> arcing connections that could cause a fire,  and then shut down the circuit.  
> BUT...don't plug in a lamp with the switch  on or else your breaker will trip.  In 
> fact you can't plug anything in that  has a load high enough to cause a 
> momentary spark at the outlet or else there  goes the breaker.  Louie
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