Keeping the main breaker from tripping

[Cory]

Originally Posted by Monochron

So I'm guessing the reason it trips based on heat and not some sort of chip detecting high current is for lower price or some other manufacturing reason? In which case the residual heat is nothing more than a side effect. Well jeez, I'm surprised FIRST doesn't recommend cooling it down if what you say is true

Generally breakers have 2 methods of protection. If you have a slow increase of current until you get to a continuous amount that will trip the breaker, the trip occurs via a piece of metal bending as it heats up until it no longer makes contact with the circuit.

If you were to have a short you'd see a huge sudden surge of current, which would cause a solenoid to pull the contacts apart.

I assume the one we use features both methods, but I've never looked inside one before.