How To Test a Shortstop Circuit Breaker?

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In your house, you have a circuit breaker for offering protection against electrical hazards. What about in a vehicle or any other small space? This is where shortstop circuit breaker (SCB) comes in. It works in exactly the same way as the circuit breaker. They are commonly used in automotive systems though you can find them in marine and even aviation applications. They are designed to work in tight and compact spaces.

Testing shortstop circuit breakers is part of the recommended routine maintenance practices that you should do. This is a key to ensuring that the electrical systems ate safe and eliminating possible risks that can arise due to current overload in the vehicle. By testing, you will ensure that the breaker is in a perfect running condition.

In this guide, we are going to elaborate the key steps for testing shortstop circuit breakers.

Step 1: Check the specifications of shortstop circuit breakers

The very first step of the process is to do a thorough inspection on the specifications of the shortstop circuit breaker that you want to test.  After all, the specs will be acting as reference points for your tests.

The good thing is all the information and the specifications that you should know are printed on the surface of the breaker. A manufacturer’s manual will also give you all the data that you need to know about this electrical device. Internet and online forums  will also come in handy with regard to the information gathering.

Start by knowing the specific model of the breaker that you want to test. Proceed to find out the electrical specifications such as the current and voltage rating of the shortstop circuit breakers. This step is vital as it will give you ideas on the tools that you should use to proceed with the test.

Step 2: Inspect the shortstop circuit breakers for signs of damage

Now that you have all the technical data at hand, the next step entails visually inspecting the circuit breaker for possible signs of damage. Be on the lookout for corrosion, wear and tear on the surface of the circuit breaker.

Inspect the terminals to find out whether they are loose or worn out as this can interfere with their working operation. You should also be keen on the signs of overheating on terminals and this will be indicated by frayed wires.

You should attend to any sign of physical damage on the shortstop circuit breaker. This will avert possible risk of electrical accident such as shock and even fire. Replace the components that are damaged beyond repair. In some cases, you will have to replace the whole circuit breaker with a new one.

Step 3: Disconnect the power source

In the next series of steps, we are going to test the electrical properties of the shortstop circuit breakers. To do so, we will have to disconnect the  breaker from the power source. To do this, simply turn off the main switch or  unplug the cables that are connected to the power outlet.

If it is in a vehicle, you can unplug the cables from the battery and with the help of the multimeter, ensure that there is no current flowing through the cables. This step will require you to wear insulated gloves for safety purpose.

Step 4 Test the continuity of the circuit breaker

In this step, you will need a multimeter to test the continuity of a shortstop circuit breaker. Set the digital multimeter to the ohm or continuity mode then tough the probes of the multimeter to the key terminals on your SCB. The multimeter should produce a beeping sound to indicate that the circuit is complete or the continuity is detected. Similarly, the readings on the multimeter should be zero as an indication of zero resistance to the flow of current.

No beeping sound accompanied by infinite figures on the multimeter is a sign of broken circuit on the shortstop circuit breaker. This will require further probe whereby you will need to do further analysis on the terminals of the breaker to establish the real problem.’

Step 5: Test the voltage drop of the circuit breaker

You will also need to find out the voltage across the shortstop circuit breaker. A voltmeter will come in  handy in conducting this test. Connect the voltmeter to the breaker then measure the voltage drop when the power is on and the breaker is  at its designated position.

Compare the reading of the voltmeter with the manufacture’s recommended voltage drop. There should be no significant difference between the recommended value and what is on the voltmeter. Otherwise, this could be a sign of a faulty circuit breaker.

Step 6: Test for overload protection

One basic function of a shortstop circuit breaker is to protect the circuit in case of current overload. You can test the capacity of the breaker to offer this kind of protection. Here you will need a multimeter and the ability to increase the current load on the circuit.

Connect the multimeter to the breaker then  gradually increase the load on the circuit until the SCB trips. Record the reading in amps at which the breaker tripped then compare it with the manufacturer’s recommended overload current.

Step: Reconnect the circuit

After conducting all the tests, put the shortstop circuit breaker to its designated position and turn and reconnect the circuit.

At this point, we assume that you have a fault, if any and solved it.

Conclusion

If you follow the above steps from the beginning to the end, you should be able to conduct all the necessary steps on your shortstop circuit breaker. In case of any damaged components, proceed to do immediate replacement.

And when replacing, the new circuit breakers and other electronic components should be compatible with the electronic requirements of your vehicle in terms of current and voltage. For the purpose of quality, ensure that you buy from reputable electronic component suppliers in China.

And if you are not sure on what to do when testing SCB, hire professional technicians to do the job.

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