On Wednesday, February 13, 2002 8:34:51 PM UTC-5, Miraclewhip wrote:

Question: Do circuit breakers eventually wear out with no cause other than
old age?


If a circuit breaker has springs in it (like most do), it is very possible that they may weaken over time.

Power factor may be another thing to consider. A device may say it is rated at 50 watts, but if its power factor rating is 50%, then it may cause as much as 100 volt amps to flow through your circuit breaker. CFL's, microwave ovens, and electric motors in refrigerator compressors typically have horrendously poor power factor ratings. Although power factor correction may reduce you volt amps, it wont reduce your true power (watts). Most consumers are billed on watts not volt amps, so don't buy into power factor correction to save your electric bill; but power factor correction could in some cases prevent a circuit breaker from tripping.