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In a typical US automobile, a 30 amp fuse will sustain a constant load of 360 watts.

Fuses and circuit breakers perform on an "I squared t" rule. For example, a 30 amp fuse will not blow on 31 amps for a very long time. A 20 amp breaker can take anywhere from 10 minutes to two hours to trip on 25 amps. We simply dumb it down so that laymen and technicians need not make mistakes.

Power on seven 100 watt light bulbs simultaneously. That means a circuit suddenly provides 50 amps. 50 amps does not trip a 15 amp or 20 amp breaker, again, due to the "I squared t" rule. A 50 amps load only exists for tens of milliseconds. Not long enough.

A 30 amp continuous appliance will not trip a 30 amp breaker. But a safety margin means limiting 30 amp appliances to 26 amps or less.

Meanwhile, an 18 gauge lamp cord wire typically rated for 10 amps will actually conduct up to 50 amps continuously. Again, that wire is oversized for other safety reasons. And to keep it simple.

These concepts apply to fuses vehicles and structures.

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What is a switch that opens a cuircut when too much current is flowing?

Where I'm from, it's called a "circuit breaker".A circuit breaker.


The role of the circuit breaker is what?

to prevent a circuit from overloading if too much current flow safely interrupt the circuit if it becomes overloaded


How a circuit breaker prevent from too much current flowing into device?

The current (in question) flows through both the circuit AND the circuit breaker [they are in series]. Within the circuit breaker when the current exceeds the preset limit it will open the circuit thus stopping all current flow. There are two common ways of doing this 1) magnetism - a coil pulls a switch open 2) thermal - a bimetallic strip bends away from its contacts, which opens the circuit.


What could stop the flow if there is too much electric current?

circuit breaker or fuse


How much current flows through circuit breaker trip coil?

The trip coil has the whole circuit load amperage flowing through it. Thepurpose of the breaker is to only allow current up to its trip point. That is the only way that the breaker can sense if the current is within the limit rating. If the circuit load amperage becomes greater that the breaker rating it will trip. The trip coil that you refer to is a magnetic trip which senses the magnetic field that surrounds the wire. Breakers also have a thermal trip which senses a heat build up on the current flowing through it. If the breaker is in a high ambient temperature it will lower the rating on the breaker.

Related Questions

What is a switch that opens a cuircut when too much current is flowing?

Where I'm from, it's called a "circuit breaker".A circuit breaker.


How much current will pass through single phase?

The current is limited by the fuse or circuit breaker.


What device used to open a circuit if too much current flows through it?

A circuit breaker is a device used to open a circuit if too much current flows through it.


What is used to insure that too much current does not flow through one circuit?

A circuit breaker or a fuse is used to insure that too much current does not flow through one circuit.


The role of the circuit breaker is what?

to prevent a circuit from overloading if too much current flow safely interrupt the circuit if it becomes overloaded


How a circuit breaker prevent from too much current flowing into device?

The current (in question) flows through both the circuit AND the circuit breaker [they are in series]. Within the circuit breaker when the current exceeds the preset limit it will open the circuit thus stopping all current flow. There are two common ways of doing this 1) magnetism - a coil pulls a switch open 2) thermal - a bimetallic strip bends away from its contacts, which opens the circuit.


What could stop the flow if there is too much electric current?

circuit breaker or fuse


Why does the circuit breaker keep popping?

The circuit breaker keeps popping because it is designed to protect the electrical system from overload or short circuits. When too much current flows through the circuit, the breaker automatically trips to prevent damage or fire.


What a device that protects an electric circuit from too much current?

Circuit Breakers and Fuses limit the amount of current flowing through the circuit.


How much current flows through circuit breaker trip coil?

The trip coil has the whole circuit load amperage flowing through it. Thepurpose of the breaker is to only allow current up to its trip point. That is the only way that the breaker can sense if the current is within the limit rating. If the circuit load amperage becomes greater that the breaker rating it will trip. The trip coil that you refer to is a magnetic trip which senses the magnetic field that surrounds the wire. Breakers also have a thermal trip which senses a heat build up on the current flowing through it. If the breaker is in a high ambient temperature it will lower the rating on the breaker.


What protects equipment from too much current by tripping a switch that breaks the circuit and stops the flow of electricity?

A circuit breaker protects equipment from too much current by sensing when there is an overload and tripping to break the circuit, thus stopping the flow of electricity. This prevents damage to the equipment and helps to maintain electrical safety.


BMW 325e electric window circuit breaker reset?

Resetting Automotive Circuit BreakersWithout doing a "hands on" troubleshooting of your vehicle no one on this site can tell you specifically, what is causing the problem, or where to find it. It has been my experience that all of the circuit breakers for automotive applications are self resetting.Inside, they use bimetallic strips, and reset themselves when the circuit current overload, or short circuitconditions, has been removed/eliminated, and the bimetallic strip has cooled down.IF your breaker is not resetting itself after a reasonable "cool down" period, then that suggests:A short circuit condition somewhere in that circuit, orAn overload condition due to the addition of too much "extra" electrical equipment [like for example, a "monster" audio amplifier, or a light bar set], orReplacement of an electrical device with one which uses much more current than the replaced device, orA defective circuit breaker.