Help. What is the correct way to report a breaker that is too big.

[Paul W. Abernathy]

but you have to admit mike...you can see where it can turn SOOOOO wrong...lol...trust me I laugh all the time and its good for the heart.

[Marc D. Shunk]

Forget about the breaker. Perhaps look at it from the standpoint of the conductor. Perhaps the breaker is perfect, and the conductor gauge is insufficient?

Consequently, I don't have Rex Cauldwell's email, but his phone number is (540) 482-0109

[Paul W. Abernathy]

lol...call him Marc...tell him Nick Gromicko would like to speak with him.....

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Hey Wait.......(540)...is he in Virginia...let me check my list..nope...not on my list

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

Wow. What happened to this thread? At the risk of losing this post in this sea of debate, I'll reply anyway. . .

Generally speaking, a fused circuit is simply described as "a circuit with an in-line device which limits the maximum current of the circuit."

All you boys using the term "subpanel" should have no problem with this description.

[Marc D. Shunk]

Originally Posted by pabernathy

Hey Wait.......(540)...is he in Virginia..

Yes. Word on the street is that he peeps in your window at night. Not sure if that's true or not.

[Paul W. Abernathy]

lol...WAIT...I see him now..tehehhe......wait I will MOON him...

lol...I was refering to my " Continuing Education " list for electricians in VA.....smarty pants...lol

[Marc D. Shunk]

Originally Posted by pabernathy

lol...call him Marc...tell him Nick Gromicko would like to speak with him.....

I could set up a 3-way call, but I don't know Nick's number. I could say in my big radio voice, "Please hold for Mr. Gromicko". It would be fun. We'd do a little dance, make a little love, get down tonight.... wait; that's a K.C. and The Sunshine Band, isn't it? I figure this thread is screwed up enough, might as well have fun.

[Paul W. Abernathy]

yep.....gone the way of many a thread......

[brian winkle]

All I can add is when I see the term "overfused" on a report I know instantly what needs to be done. It is a word any electrician understands, and after all, we are the ones called upon to fix it. And keeping it simple for some of us is always a good idea.

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Yeah but if you heard " Oversized " you would still know what he was talking about...lol...

BTW.....Marc I am not touching this ( 3-way ) concept You, Rex and Nick would have going on...sounds WAY to personal for me...will he get ya DRUNK first?

[Larry D. Kage]

Originally Posted by gromicko

I keep seeing reports that call a breaker too big for the circuit it's protecting as "Over Protected."

Why wouldn't it be "Under Protected?"

A breaker that is allowing too much current to pass through wires that are too small would be under protecting the wires... no?

Wires under sized/Oversized breaker/fuse

[Greg Fretwell]

"Your breakers are writing checks you wire can't cash"

[gbeaumont]

Originally Posted by Greg Fretwell

"Your breakers are writing checks you wire can't cash"

Funny Greg, please consider that line stolen

BTW as we are discussing breakers shouldn't we be using the term over/under broke

Regards

Gerry

[nwagner]

Originally Posted by gromicko

I keep seeing reports that call a breaker too big for the circuit it's protecting as "Over Protected."

Sounds like verbiage in one of those "Non-Alarmist Home Inspection Reports". My "alarmist" verbiage is something along the lines of:

Circuit breakers were observed in the service panel with ampacity ratings exceeding their circuit conductors. This improper arrangement is a potentially serious fire hazard because the circuit breakers will permit excessive amperage along the undersized conductors. Conductors carrying excessive amperage can heat up like an electrical element in an oven, possibly to the point where they could ignite building materials. Heating the conductors in this manner can also can degrade their ampacity, further increasing the risk of fire hazard conditions occuring when the conductor ampacity is exceeded. Correction by a qualified electrician, as well as further evaluation of the conductor lines if deemed necessary by the electrician, is very strongly recommended.

BTW, "Oversized Breakers" is the term I use, not the misleading "Over-protected."