CBI still makes the modern version here in Lesotho, and they are the standard breaker in South Africa. Very reliable, and able to withstand the abuse they get in service.
Interesting. Never seen inside one of those before. Does all the current flow through the copper winding then? I use Power-line Networking to get between the floors in my house and for historical reasons has two consumer units. I suspect that the Power-line propagates better through old circuit breakers than new ones... is the impedance of modern circuit breakers different?
+NivagSwerdna Yes, the whole current goes through the copper. Modern ones may have a higher impedance as they have a coil and bimetallic strip for overload detection which is designed to heat up.
Does anyone have any records of when the C50's and polestars where in production for? About 70% of DB's in my work are of these types, and I am forever asked what dates they are, and always resorting to blind estimates. I am pressuming the C50's where mid to late 70s and the Polestars are 80s????
when you said you were not going to open the over current slug up, I thought I bet he does anyway. it's a really interesting breaker that look expensive to make.
British Home Stores used these breakers in all their stores. Worked in their shops for over 20 years with Crabtree gear, totally reliable solid products. Wish I had a pound for everyone of these C50 circuit breakers I fitted. Great interesting video, never seen inside one before.
Great video as always! Would you be interested in a radio teleswitch that I am taking out tomorrow? I have heard about them but this would be the first time in 25 years that I have come across one
+Mentorcase Contacts are common through the range, used from 1A ( the smallest value they made) all the way through to 100A. Only the coil wire is different to fit the number of turns needed. No longer used as the soldered connection has no mechanical strain relief, the new ones are all spot welded instead.
I'm having to replace one of these because it has completely turned to carbon at the top (arcing at the contact point??). One question though - you didn't say what those three curious v-shaped plates actually do?
The plates are there to absorb the energy from any arc which may form when the contacts open. There are multiple plates as they will have the effect of dividing the single arc into several smaller ones which encourages the arc to extinguish.
