Cheap circuit breaker
 

This saturday we were working on finishing our robot and we had to put heat shrink on a terminal going into the breaker box. So we took the wire of and put heat shrink on the terminal and put the terminal back on the breaker and one of our programmers torqued the bolt down. We he must have tightened it too much because the breaker selfdestructed. I took a picture of it but i have to wait till after the competition to develop it and then i will post it hear. There are no words to desribe what happened to this so don't ask for me to explain it.

Re: Cheap circuit breaker
 

Do you mean the big stud in the breaker panel? If so, which one, positive or negative? I've never seen inside this year's breaker panel but it is possible you may be able to open it and replace it with a plain ol' bolt.

Re: Cheap circuit breaker
 

I'm not sure what you're asking for...or were you just curious if its happened to other people? :confused:

Re: Cheap circuit breaker
 

its the 20 amp breaker w/the red button that is usaually used to turn the bot on and off and i want to know if any one else has had this experience and any input on the subject.

Re: Cheap circuit breaker
 

Okay, you mean the 120 amp breaker. In that case, you should not attemp continued use of the unit. Replace it with the one from last year's robot (or even 2003) (they are the same) and/or order a replacement from IFI.

Re: Cheap circuit breaker
 

What you describe is a classic case of self inflicted wounds. I would bet that the case of the breaker was cracked during a previous operation and may have been just waiting for the next event. The breaker is manufactured such that the molded black material will hold the internal parts in alignment. If you crack the base the internals parts become dislodged. Check to see how you mount the breaker and you may find that the breaker sits across a frame member that flexes during robot motion or when hitting an obstacle. When the frame twists and bends, the breaker can't take the stress and small fractures will result. The next person to come along with a nutdriver or wrench can produce enough force to twist the electrical bolt which causes the case to shattter along the fractures caused earlier. If you can't be sure the frame won't flex than mount a small plate that the breaker can be attached to.

Re: Cheap circuit breaker
 

we also had one of those self-inflicted wounds... anyone know where to get another one?? i know that ours will not pass inspection... Ive checked IFI, and a couple other sources... ive also called marine stores nearby (I have a similar one on my boat.. but its only 30A..) they only see them as 100 or 135A... any help/ideas will be appreciated.

Re: Cheap circuit breaker
 

I believe both MCM and Terminal Supply carry the 120 amp breakers.

Re: Cheap circuit breaker
 

If you are referring to the circuit breaker that is in the photo below yes it is the 120Amp Circuit Breaker and yes you can get it from Terminal Supply Company. I will try to find a part number for you.

[edit] well it appears the part nmber on it there is CB185120, i will check to see if that is the same as it is for TSC. [/edit]

[edit 2] You can get it from Terminal Supply Company via part number CB3-SM-120. They are on page 88 of their pdf catalog but there is no price listed. The website though is www.terminalsupplyco.com i hope this helps. [/edit 2]

Re: Cheap circuit breaker
 

Thanks dez and Al.. will be ordering 2 of em tomorrow morning

Re: Cheap circuit breaker
 

<Shameless plug> If you are courious to know how it works ect, check the white papers section for the circuit breaker autopsy I did </Shameless plug>

Re: Cheap circuit breaker
 

Take the broken one to competition and you can get a new one. Ours broke during install last year, and my order with terminal supply got lost, I never got the one I ordered. Our 2004 bot still has the 2003 breaker on it with a little (2003) battle damage. The new breaker went on the 2003 bot.