Home made motorized breaker

A homemade motorized breaker! That's an interesting project. Here's a basic guide to help you get started:

What is a motorized breaker?

A motorized breaker is an automatic circuit breaker that uses a motor to trip the breaker in case of an overload or short circuit. It's essentially a combination of a traditional circuit breaker and a motorized relay.

Components needed:

• A traditional circuit breaker (e.g., a 20A or 30A breaker)
• A small DC motor (e.g., a stepper motor or a DC gear motor)
• A motor driver IC (e.g., L293D or DRV8825)
• A microcontroller (e.g., Arduino or Raspberry Pi)
• A few resistors, capacitors, and diodes
• A power supply for the motor and microcontroller

How it works:

1. The microcontroller monitors the current flowing through the circuit using a current sensor (e.g., a Hall effect sensor or a shunt resistor).
2. If the current exceeds a set threshold, the microcontroller sends a signal to the motor driver IC to energize the motor.
3. The motor drives a mechanical linkage that trips the circuit breaker, disconnecting the power supply to the circuit.
4. The motor then returns to its original position, ready to trip again if necessary.

Design considerations:

• Choose a motor that can provide enough torque to trip the breaker. A stepper motor might be a good choice, as it can provide precise control over the motor's position.
• Select a motor driver IC that can handle the motor's current requirements and provide the necessary voltage and current for the motor.
• Design the mechanical linkage to ensure that it can trip the breaker reliably and consistently.
• Consider using a safety mechanism, such as a thermal cutoff or a fuse, to prevent damage to the motor or other components in case of an overload.
• Ensure that the microcontroller and motor driver IC are properly shielded to prevent electromagnetic interference (EMI).

Example circuit:

Here's a simple example circuit using an Arduino and a stepper motor:

• Arduino Uno or similar microcontroller
• L293D motor driver IC
• Stepper motor (e.g., 28BYJ-48)
• 20A circuit breaker
• Current sensor (e.g., Hall effect sensor or shunt resistor)
• Power supply (e.g., 12V DC)

Code:

Here's some sample code to get you started:

const int motorPin1 = 2;  // Motor pin 1
const int motorPin2 = 3;  // Motor pin 2
const int motorPin3 = 4;  // Motor pin 3
const int motorPin4 = 5;  // Motor pin 4
const int currentSensorPin = A0;  // Current sensor pin

void setup() {
  pinMode(motorPin1, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(motorPin2, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(motorPin3, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(motorPin4, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(currentSensorPin, INPUT);
}

void loop() {
  int currentReading = analogRead(currentSensorPin);
  if (currentReading > 500) {  // Adjust this value based on your current sensor's output
    // Trip the breaker
    digitalWrite(motorPin1, HIGH);
    digitalWrite(motorPin2, LOW);
    digitalWrite(motorPin3, HIGH);
    digitalWrite(motorPin4, LOW);
    delay(100);  // Adjust this value based on your motor's speed
    digitalWrite(motorPin1, LOW);
    digitalWrite(motorPin2, HIGH);
    digitalWrite(motorPin3, LOW);
    digitalWrite(motorPin4, HIGH);
  }
}

Safety notes:

• Always follow proper safety precautions when working with electrical circuits and motors.
• Ensure that the motorized breaker is designed and built with safety features to prevent accidental tripping or damage to the circuit.
• Test the motorized breaker thoroughly before using it in a live circuit.

Remember, this is just a basic guide, and you should consult with an electrical engineer or a professional if you're unsure about any aspect of the design or implementation.