Circuit Breakers and your thoughts

[PSmith]

A few questions on circuit breakers for all of you wiring gurus out there...

I've wired a few trucks now using surplus MMP push/pull panel mount circuit breakers but the place I've been going throughs "price-friendly" supply is starting to run slim. I'm not looking forward to paying $50+ for equivilant breakers elsewhere so I'm looking into other options. I know a lot of guys are running studded self resetting breakers, but I have no personal experience with 'em.

Any cons to running them?

Any failure problems in harsh race conditions?

Are you running the automatic or modified reset type?

When running a modified reset style breaker, if the switch is located after the breaker, is it necessary to kill the main power to the breaker (battery switch) to reset it or will inttrupting the ground/short (turning the circuits switch off) reset the breaker?

Anyone have any sources for a sealed version of the above mentioned breakers that ARE NOT housed in plastic?


Another option I've run across would be the use of PB/tyco W31s toggle switch breaker. The integration of the toggle into the breaker would certainly simplify things, but without having actually put my hands on one to inspect their quality, I wonder how solid they actually are... anyone here used 'em? Durable enough to survive in a race truck?


Thanks in advance and sorry ahead of time for the lenghty post.

PS- Here are two examples of the breakers I am speaking of:

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[PSmith]

For whatever reason the w31 image that I tried to post isn't workin' for me, here's another pic.



Anyone?

[5racer]

For whatever reason the w31 image that I tried to post isn't workin' for me, here's another pic.



Anyone?

this is what i use in my car havent had any issues at all with them price is right and half the wiring .i recommend them .

[PSmith]

this is what i use in my car havent had any issues at all with them price is right and half the wiring .i recommend them .

awesome, and thanks for the reply. out of curiosity, how many race miles do you have on them without failure?




keep the insight coming if you've got it guys, thanks.

[5racer]

awesome, and thanks for the reply. out of curiosity, how many race miles do you have on them without failure?




keep the insight coming if you've got it guys, thanks.

about 900 barstow miles = 10,000 mexico miles lol. never had a failure so far

[Superfab]

I used those in my class1 and also the push pull ones for the circuits with toggle switches. Bought them through allied electronics online for about $20 ea. Pro-wire uses them in a large percentage of cars they wire. I used a 4 pole switch for ignition,tail, amber & gauges with individual push-pull breakers on each pole. If one circuit shorts it doesn't take out the whole system. Just remember to put switch boots on the toggles as they are not sealed (Mc master-carr has them). They also sell mil-spec sealed switches if you need them for other circuits.

[PSmith]

I used those in my class1 and also the push pull ones for the circuits with toggle switches. Bought them through allied electronics online for about $20 ea. Pro-wire uses them in a large percentage of cars they wire.

Thanks Super, I'm assuming you're refering to the W31s and not the studded breakers?

[Superfab]

Yes. I like to have a visual indicator when a breaker pops. The auto-resetting ones spook me out.

[D-rek]

Allied electronics also sells panel mount breakers (not push pull) that have screw terminals for about $4.00 a piece. I used them on my four seater and they work awesome.
-Derek