Hombre XS Space Cab 2WD L4-2.2L CPC (1999)
Circuit Breaker: Description and Operation
Circuit Breakers
A circuit breaker is a protective device that is designed to open the circuit when a current load is in excess of the rated breaker capacity. If there is a short
or other type of overload condition in the circuit, the excessive current will open the circuit between the circuit breaker terminals.
Two types of circuit breakers are used.
The first is a circuit breaker. This type will open when excessive current passes through it for a period of time. It will close again after a few seconds. If
the cause of the high current is still present, it will open again. It will continue to cycle open and closed until the condition causing the high current is
removed.
The second type of circuit breaker is a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) circuit breaker. This type greatly increases its resistance when excessive
current passes through it. The excessive current heats the PTC device. As the device heats, its resistance increases. Eventually the resistance gets so high
that the circuit is effectively open. Unlike the ordinary circuit breaker, the PTC unit will not reset until the circuit is opened, removing the voltage from
its terminals.Once the voltage is removed, the circuit breaker will re-close within a second or two.
