Circuit Breakers; Gfci Breakers & Outlets - Fleetwood Discovery Owner's Manual

Line Status
L1 118Volts 07Amps
L2 115Volts 00Amps
Both 007Amps
Voltage & Current screen

Circuit Breakers

The internal
configuration of
the circuit breaker
is designed to trip
when excess current
causes the breaker
to heat up. The trip
action of the circuit
breaker can occur
within milliseconds.
Breakers are
designed to operate
at a continuous
load of 80% of
the breaker's rated
capacity.
For example: A
breaker with a 20
Amp rating will
operate a continuous
16 amp load. This
design leaves a
small amount of
working capacity
within the breaker.
When an inductive
load is applied,
such as when an
electric motor turns
on, the motor starts
to spin and current
consumption
Typical circuit assignments
may momentarily
Refer to actual label
exceed the
rated capacity of the breaker.
As the electric motor comes up
to operating speed, the electric
motor's current consumption will
decrease. The AC current load then
falls back into the breaker's rated
80% set point.
This electric principle should be
kept in mind when connected to
less than 50 Amp service and using
appliances with electric motors,
such as air conditioners.
When using outlets, care should
be considered when applying loads
such as electric motors, heaters,
coffee makers, toasters, hair dryers
or other large current consuming
loads. The current rating is usually
stated on most electrical items.
The current rating will either be
rated in amps or watts. Current
ratings stated on electrical items
will change slightly with voltage
fluctuations. As voltage increases,
current consumption decreases.
As voltage decreases, current
consumption increases. This may
explain why in some instances
items operated at borderline voltage
to current tolerances may seem fine
in one location but problematic in
another.
NOTE:
To convert
watts to amps,
divide watts by
the voltage. For
example: 1370
watts divided
operating voltage of 115 Volts
equals 11.913 amps.
GFCI Breakers &
Outlets
A Ground Fault
Circuit Interrupter
(GFCI) can be
found in two
060374
different types of
applications. One
type is incorporated
in a breaker used in
120 Volt AC breaker
panels; the other is
incorporated in an
outlet. The GFCI,
whether it is a breaker or an outlet,
offers two types of protection.
Discovery, Discovery LXE, Pace Arrow, and Pace Arrow LXE
One type of protection is from
over-current or shorts to guard
against hazardous ground fault
currents that can result in injury
or death. Ground fault currents are
currents that flow from the "hot"
or power terminal through a person
to the ground. For example:
touching a faulty appliance while
making contact with an electrical
ground such as a water fixture or
the earth.
The GFCI offers protection
against the type of shock that can
result from faulty insulation, wet
wiring from inside an appliance,
or any device or equipment
plugged in or wired to that circuit.
The ground fault portion of the
outlet or breaker uses sensitive
electronics inside the outlet or
breaker to detect a ground fault
problem. The electronics monitor
the normal current of power
flowing to the hot (black) wire
through the load such as a light
RESET
bulb or appliance and coming back
TEST
on the neutral (white) wire. If a
small amount of current comes
back on the safety ground wire,
060072
GFCI outlet
the electronics will trip the breaker
or outlet, stopping the flow of
electricity. The amount of current
it takes to trip the device from a
ground fault varies slightly from
the different outlet or breaker
manufacturer (approximately 4 to
6 milliamps or less).
NOTE:
One milliamp is 1/1000 of
TEST
one Amp.
Electrical shocks resulting
from ground faults can be felt,
but such a shock is considerably
RM03A0003
less than one without ground
fault protection. People with
GFCI breaker
medical conditions that make them
susceptible to shock can still be
seriously injured.
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