Circuit breakers are designed to operate as you describe - the larger the fault the faster it trips - that's by design. I like the fact that you "tested" the 20 amp breaker. You cannot test a breaker without a specific breaker tester - and trust me - you don't have the money to buy one. If you want to see how fast a breaker is supposed to trip - request a breaker curve from the manufacturer. Breakers protect wires/insulation. If you wish to protect the motors on your woodworking equipment, you need proper coordinated overload protection on a motor specific starter. Realistically - the motor we use on woodworking machines - especially single phase models aren't really worth protecting. You can buy a $20 bimetallic overload protector and never have a problem.
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20 years ago