5 amp circuit breakers

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Not to confuse you even more, the rules on the breaker size relates to the wire each breaker is feeding. The breaker is a safety to prevent the wires from burning up not to protect the motors. CIM motors will still draw 129 amps at stall no matter the size of the breaker you install.

[Andy A.]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

Not to confuse you even more, the rules on the breaker size relates to the wire each breaker is feeding. The breaker is a safety to prevent the wires from burning up not to protect the motors. CIM motors will still draw 129 amps at stall no matter the size of the breaker you install.

It may also be helpful for rookies to know that these breakers are thermally sensitive. They will allow current draws in excess of their rating before over heating and tripping. The higher the current draw the faster they will trip, but there is still a finite reaction time. The point is, they are only there to protect the wiring, which can handle brief current excesses, not components, which sometimes can't survive that. Fisher-Price motors have a wonderful ability to fry before the breakers will trip.

When they do reset they are now still quite hot, and will be more apt to trip. After a couple of trips they can be considered de-rated, and should be replaced.

[RyanN]

If you want to just protect your circuitry, like you should, you could add a 5A inline fuse to the circuit for extra protection. Of course, use the 20A breaker as you normally would, but add the fuse for the extra protection. Refer to R46 G for my suggestion.