Tripping breaker

[D.R.HADDOCK]

Originally Posted by Brad Weber

You can get into very specific factors. I recall a college stadium project where the amps would trip the breakers when you turned the system on, but it would work fine if you could get it up and running. Everything was solved by simply replacing the circuit breakers in the panel with ones that had the same current rating but handled a greater inrush current.

Yes ! you can get circuit breakers with a "slow blow" action,
These are made for things like electric motors,
I beleive they are called "TYPE 2"
But I would ask an electrical supplier for these types.

[Steve Vanciel]

There are also performance differences between thermal and magnetic types of circuit breakers. An electrical engineer needs to factor these and other requirements into a design that coordinates the entire system for proper overcurrent protection for the entire circuit path.

SteveV
Orlando, FL

[Brent Bauman]

One other possibility is to look at high-mag breakers... these are designed to have greater holding power during the in-rush current cycle that happens particularly when starting up amplifiers, etc.

At other times they operate as normal breakers - high current/thermal trip operate as per normal...

They are somewhat more expensive... but may solve this type of issue.

In any case... the first step will be to ensure your loads are within the appropriate rating of the existing breakers. Depending on the conductors that run from your load center to the outlets it may be allowable to upsize the existing breakers (from 15amp to 20amp for instance) but this should only be done with approval and by a licensed electrician and based on code requirements.

[liko81]

Originally Posted by D.R.HADDOCK

Yes ! you can get circuit breakers with a "slow blow" action,
These are made for things like electric motors,
I beleive they are called "TYPE 2"
But I would ask an electrical supplier for these types.

I would definitely have a qualified electrician do any breaker replacement. Not only can doing this wrong cause a fire and/or damage thousands of dollars in sound equipment, but one screup with the service rails behind the breakers while the panel is live and you are DRT.

[Steve Vanciel]

Keep in mind that overcurrent protection (fuses, circuit breakers) are sized to protect the circuit paths (conductors, fittings, outlets) not the utilization equipment (load) at the end of the line.

The goal is to prevent overheating which degrades components and leads to fires. This is why the National Electrical Code is created by the NFPA - the National Fire Protection Association.

SteveV