From: lugnut808@spam.yahoo.com   
      
   On 5/06/2023 11:50 am, bob prohaska wrote:   
   > I've been given a collection of residential service panel breakers   
   > and would like to check them to see if they trip correctly. They   
   > were in use before I got them, so they certainly close correctly,   
   > but it's unknown if they trip correctly.   
   >   
   > As it happens, I have an AC arc welder which can be set between   
   > about 20 and 200 amps, with an open circuit voltage of about 80 V.   
   >   
   > Anybody ever tried this? Does it seem an unrealistically harsh   
   > test?   
   >   
   > Thanks for reading,   
   >   
   > bob prohaska   
   >   
      
      
      
   At least traditional welders (line frequency not switched mode) look   
   very inductive, and are designed to sustain an arc. Whilst I would hope   
   that the circuit breakers are able to break the arc, it is a much   
   harsher test than with a resistive load. If the welder is able to   
   sustain an arc after the circuit breaker opens, then this will destroy   
   the breaker.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)