12V circuit breaker

Question

My slide out has stopped working and I can hear the breaker tripping. My toggle switch was stuck on the 'IN' position, unbeknownst to me so the breaker had been tripping ever few seconds for about three hours. I know nothing about these but could a breaker wear out or become weak? If I unplug the slide out motor there is enough power to light the test light in either direction. Wiring on the motor looks fine but there is no movement at all on the motor when the switch is activated. The motor went bad on this same one last year and melted the wiring so it makes me wonder and hope the breaker is bad and not the motor again. Power Gear is no cheap date.

chris_bryant · Answer

They can- constant tripping and resetting would be tough on the contacts. I would stick a fuse of the same value in its place to test.

tenbear · Answer

You could also replace the self resetting CB with a manual reset CB.

awilson · Answer

Guys I appreciate the quick responses. I am really hoping it didn't burn up the motor again as those Power Gear motors are not cheap. I had one get a dead short last year and ruined it. This one has only been used for 6 weeks and four of those weeks were in one spot. I am kicking myself for not hearing the breaker tripping before we took off. Engine noise was covering it up. I discovered it when I was turning on the main power shut off but it was not very loud like it was last year when it tripped.

royb · Answer

Be sure to fix or replace the sticking switch right away. You may have found the reason for the original slide motor failure...Roy Ken

bb_tx · Answer

Every time the breaker trips, it burns the contacts a little. Here is what a burned one looks like. Yours is likely worse.

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12V circuit breaker

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