B2300 SE Regular Cab 2WD L4-2.3L VIN A (1997)
Circuit Breaker: Description and Operation
CIRCUIT BREAKER
A circuit breaker can be the cycling or non-cycling type.
In the cycling type, the bimetal arm cools and straightens out. This cycle repeats as long as the overcurrent exists and power is applied.
Two types of non-cycling circuit breakers are used; one is reset by removing power from the circuit and the other is reset by depressing a reset button.
In the first type, there is a coil wrapped around the bimetal arm. When an over current exists and the contacts open, a small current passes through the
coil. This current through the coil is not enough to operate a load, but it does heat up both the coil and the bimetal arm. This keeps the arm in the open
position until power is removed.
In the second type, a spring pushes the bimetal arm down and holds the contacts together When an overcurrent condition exists and the bimetal arm
heats up, the bimetal arm bends enough to overcome the spring and the contacts snap open. The contacts stay open until the reset button is pushed and
the contacts snap together again.
