Circuit Breaker Demonstration

Investigate the working principle of circuit breaker type fuse, with this demonstration model. The apparatus is built on a robust plastic base and includes resistive loads to simulate external wiring circuits. Applications of the thermal response of bimetal strips and also electromagnetism (movement from a solenoid) are clearly demonstrated in this model.

When a 12 V DC supply is connected (not supplied) the LED lights to show that current is flowing in the external circuit and the bi-metal strip can be seen to bend as its heater coil raises the temperature. After a few minutes the bending is sufficient to trip the mechanism and the current path is broken. At any current selection a short circuit situation can be initiated by pressing the red button and this produces an immediate response from the solenoid to disconnect the supply.