220 Volt Breaker

[Wayne R]

Because the breaker panel is easier to reach than the plug for my TS, I throw the breaker into the off position when I'm not using it. Am I going to experience premature failure of the breaker using it basically as an on/off switch? Although the saw certainly doesn't get daily use, I've been doing this for the past 2 years.

[Allan Johanson - South Su]

Yup, it won't last as long. My uncle who works in the field told me this and I also saw this question answered on "Just Ask Jon Eakes".

I have no idea how much this will reduce its lifespan, but it will reduce it.

Allan

[Ed/Leaside]

There's a 15 KVA step-up transformer (208-550) in the print shop and we've turned it off, 60A 3ph breaker, every evening since '89. No trouble so far. http://www.canadianwoodworking.com/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif

In Wayne's case, he's not using the breaker as a motor switch, he's using it when the circuit isn't energized for safety reasons. There will be no arcing of the contacts and therefore there should be no damage to the breaker. I'd be very interested to hear an electrician's take on this.

[Allan Johanson - South Su]

What about the guts of the breaker...the spring/catch mechanism or whatever it is inside it? Could repeated use of that make it not hold very well?

I have absolutely no idea of what the inside of a breaker looks like, I'm just curious.

Allan

[Ed/Leaside]

I also have not seen the inside of a breaker but ... I have an double pole ITE breaker that I have no use for (everything is SqD) and could drill the rivets out of that. http://www.canadianwoodworking.com/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Derek in Regina]

Save your breaker, here is a diagram.

http://xnet.rrc.mb.ca/janaj/air_breakers.htm

Derek

[Derek in Regina]

Hey Ed,

Save your breaker, here is a explanation and diagram.

http://xnet.rrc.mb.ca/janaj/air_breakers.htm

Regards
Derek

[Michael in Port Alberni]

Breakers that are to be used as switches have to be marked as being suitable for switching duty. I have rarely seen these in all of my years as an electrician. You certainly will shorten the life of the breaker if ou switch it under load causing arking. Both on and off, but primarily off since the magnetic induction in the motor will try to keep the current flowing, creating an arc inside the breaker. If you are only using it to isolate the saw from power as a safety measure when you aren't there, then there will be no electrical wear on the breaker, but there will be physical wear. How much that affects the breaker will be depend on the manufacturer and how robust teh design is to begin with. If it does fail, it would likely tend to fail 'off' rather than on.

What manufacturer is the brkr?

Cheers

Michael

[Wayne R]

Michael,It has a Westinghouse logo on it. It was the breaker installed for the dryer when the house was built. Since we use a gas dryer I
hi-jacked the circuit for my TS.