Karl Fields
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 29, 2012
- Messages
- 75
What could possibly happen if I had, say a 60 amp POCO line into a 60 amp box. How ever, I was drawing an actual 75 amp off the box (or trying to). Most likely and worst case
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
What if ...
- Thread starter Karl Fields
- Start date
73surffisher
Well-known member
Breaker trips and or things get hot and catch fire
Mustang51js
Well-known member
Wire can melt,breaker trips and possible fire. Really depends on your setup. Best case is breaker trips
teamextreme
Well-known member
As long as your breaker is not faulty, it will just trip, with no fanfare. If it's a defective breaker, then queue the fire and brimstone.
Kevin C
Well-known member
Depends on the breaker type, tolerances and ambient temperature. 75 amps may get you a trip anywhere from a couple of minutes to an hour. Its possible that a current factor of 1.25 will not be enough to trip the breaker.
If you can find the breakers time current curve you will have a better idea of what level of overload it takes to trip it and its tolerance band ( variances within the same part number of what it takes to get a trip).
On non thermally compensated breakers, ambient temperatures will have a larger effect the trip point.
If you can find the breakers time current curve you will have a better idea of what level of overload it takes to trip it and its tolerance band ( variances within the same part number of what it takes to get a trip).
On non thermally compensated breakers, ambient temperatures will have a larger effect the trip point.
nehog
Well-known member
Worse case: overheating, leading to shorts and fire. Shorts cause a cascade failure mode, causing a blackout that affects the entire region. During the region, a bunch of red necks decide to form a rebellion, and due to the fact no one thought they'd do it, they succeed. Success however results in international chaos and global war breaks out. At this point the best Korea's fearless (and brainless) leader unleashes his two thermonuclear devices, resulting in retaliation. Once the smoke clears, all life on earth is extinguished except for some rather insignificant bugs, and some rats that were living in New York City. It then takes almost 800,000 years for anything even remotely resembling intelligent life to reform on earth. All for a 15 amp overload. That's a damned worst case.
Probable case: the breaker (main) will trip, typically after a while since the overload is not substantial.
Probable case: the breaker (main) will trip, typically after a while since the overload is not substantial.
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
If the service drop wire is overhead free air wire I doubt 15a will overload it.
Daniel Dudley
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 4, 2009
- Messages
- 3,546
It takes a LOT of heat to overcome a wire. Breakers on the other hand, are pretty wimpy.
tshetter
Well-known member
Worse case: overheating, leading to shorts and fire. Shorts cause a cascade failure mode, causing a blackout that affects the entire region. During the region, a bunch of red necks decide to form a rebellion, and due to the fact no one thought they'd do it, they succeed. Success however results in international chaos and global war breaks out. At this point the best Korea's fearless (and brainless) leader unleashes his two thermonuclear devices, resulting in retaliation. Once the smoke clears, all life on earth is extinguished except for some rather insignificant bugs, and some rats that were living in New York City. It then takes almost 800,000 years for anything even remotely resembling intelligent life to reform on earth. All for a 15 amp overload. That's a damned worst case.
Probable case: the breaker (main) will trip, typically after a while since the overload is not substantial.
Don't start global thermonuclear war.
Stick with DirecTV.