Overload, Shortcircuit or Ground fault?
- Thread starter marcosgue
- Start date
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Buck Parrish
Senior Member
- Location
- NC & IN
Yes, some are simple other ways will take the use of a meter. Is their a motor on the circuit? What's the circuit powering?
- Location
- Wisconsin
- Occupation
- PE (Retired) - Power Systems
Short circuits usually cause protective devices to operate in less than 1 sec, while overloads can take several seconds to minutes.
Ground fault timing depends on the protective device, but it is possible for a GFCI to take a few secs although they are usually immediate.
Ground fault timing depends on the protective device, but it is possible for a GFCI to take a few secs although they are usually immediate.
ptonsparky
Tom
- Occupation
- EC - retired
You will need to repeat the circumstances or rely on witnesses unless it’s the latest greatest AFCI/GFCI dual function. They will have trip codes stored in them.
Basic trouble shooting will help.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
Might be better to classify as thermal overload, magnetic trip or ground fault type trips?
Thermal overload being somewhat of a low level but yet over the device rating that can take anywhere from many seconds to even a hour or two to trip, magnetic trip being high level fault current from either line to line or line to ground faults or ground fault being low level current that requires GFCI/GFPE sensing technology to detect.
Thermal overload being somewhat of a low level but yet over the device rating that can take anywhere from many seconds to even a hour or two to trip, magnetic trip being high level fault current from either line to line or line to ground faults or ground fault being low level current that requires GFCI/GFPE sensing technology to detect.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
Likely overloading. Takes time to warm up thermal trip function when cold starting. If restarting soon after trip, it is still warmed up from previous run and will trip in less time. Let it cool completely down and you get the longer time again on first try.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
That won't fix the overloading if that is what is happening. Measure motor amps to confirm overloading. If overloaded you still need to determine why. With a centrifugal type pump might just be that it needs some restriction in the line to limit flow.
Positive displacement type pump may be just the opposite issue, too much resistance to flow is going to load those harder.
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
Does the breaker feel warm at the first trip?
- Status