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Unread 11-12-2014, 07:38
Unsung FIRST Hero
Al Skierkiewicz Al Skierkiewicz is offline
Broadcast Eng/Chief Robot Inspector
AKA: Big Al WFFA 2005
FRC #0111 (WildStang)
Team Role: Engineer
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Rookie Year: 1996
Location: Wheeling, IL
Posts: 10,798
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Re: Keeping the main breaker from tripping

I would agree that a permanent solution to cooling (keeping the breaker below ambient) the internal temperature of the breaker would be a violation of safety protection for which the breaker is ultimately designed.
The breakers on the robot are intended to prevent fires due to high current in any circuit on the robot. The wiring from the battery to the main breaker is the only circuit not protected. All breakers are meant to protect the wiring for this reason, not the load. The current rating vs. wire size is a derivative of the NEC specifications for open frame wiring. We slightly derate the tables based on the short time in use. These are not continuous (24 hour) currents. Even with the protection, we sometimes do see fires or at least significant smoke events all the time.
While we are on the subject, if you remove a motor(s) but leave the wiring, you must remove the breaker feeding that branch. (Consider this a 'best practice" method.)
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Good Luck All. Learn something new, everyday!
Al
WB9UVJ
www.wildstang.org
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Storming the Tower since 1996.

Last edited by Al Skierkiewicz : 11-12-2014 at 07:44.