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Mechanical Products Customer Service Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

Mechanical Products (MP) today announced the addition of a new team member as customer advocate and retirement of a valued employee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mechanical Products Company Headquarters June 28, 2017

LOMBARD, IL – Mechanical Products is pleased to announce the addition of Tammy Walsh as our new Customer Advocate. Tammy brings to MP over 20 years of experience in customer service, accounting, project management and administration within industrial manufacturing. Ron Prokup, Vice President and General Manager said, “We are very excited to have Tammy join the MP organization. Her experience and understanding of manufacturing along with her prior work experience will prove a positive transition to MP and the customers we serve”.

With the addition of Tammy as the new Customer Advocate, MP will lose a very tenured, dedicated and responsible individual in Marlene Demstrom who will be retiring later this year. Marlene has helped MP over the last 7+ years in maintaining solid customer and manufacturer representative relationships. During her tenure, MP has grown its sales by over 50% with the addition of new products manufactured in the USA and supporting more than 50 new direct customers. Larry Bajorek, VP Sales said, “We are very sorry to say goodbye to Marlene as she has been a very key contributor to MP’s shift toward growth with new customers and new markets during the past five years. Please help me and the MP family say thank-you to Marlene for her dedicated service to MP during the past 7+ years. We wish her well in her retirement!”.

Finally, with the transition of the customer advocate responsibilities, MP would like to take this opportunity to highlight the new contact information. Please make a note and update your contact information accordingly.

Phone - Customer Advocate ext. 154
Email – customerservice@mechprod.com
please direct all incoming orders to this new email address


About Mechanical Products
MP has been a leading supplier of thermal circuit protection since 1943. MP circuit breakers are used in thousands of critical & commercial applications ranging from construction & electrical generation, marine, medical, military vehicles, power management & battery backup, recreation vehicles, residential & appliance, specialty vehicles and battery chargers. MP has been management owned since 1998 and maintains manufacturing capabilities in the US and overseas with US facilities in Jackson, Michigan and Lombard, Illinois.


For additional information please contact:
Mechanical Products
Ronald Prokup
(630) 953-4100
helpme@mechprod.com
www.mechprod.com

 

Tags: Circuit Protectors, Overcurrent Protection, Thermal Circuit Breakers, Circuit Breaker, Push to Reset, Transportation, Customer Service

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT - Series 16

Mechanical Products (MP) Series 16 Circuit Breakers for Overcurrent Protection

MP released an updated version of the Series 16 datasheet.


Series 16 UPDATED datasheet is now available online for download!   

 The datasheet includes:

  • Easier to use part numbering guides
  • Updated regulatory approvals
  • Additional hardware options
  • Detailed physical configurations
Click to visit the Series 16 webpage

 

The Series 16 has been in production since 1959 and is a proven reliable single-pole circuit breaker designed to protect equipment in the 0.5 to 70 Amp range.  The MP Series 16 is suitable for diverse applications such as Medical Equipment, Uninterruptable Power Systems (UPS), Portable Generators, Welders, Industrial Cleaning Equipment, and Transportation.

 

 Download Data Sheet

 

Series 16 Features:

  • UL1500 Ignition Protection
  • UL, cUL, CSA, VDE, CCC
  • ROHS Compliant
  • Choice of snap-in or thread mounting
  • Multiple hardware and boot options
  • Variety of termination options

 

Click to visit the Series 16 webpage

           

For questions and application assistance:  Helpme@mechprod.com

 

Download out product selection guide:

 VIEW PRODUCT CATALOG

Group_of_Breakers_081016.jpg  

 

About Mechanical Products

MP has been a leading supplier of thermal circuit protection since 1943.  MP circuit breakers are used in thousands of commercial and industrial applications ranging from medical equipment, appliances, lighting, and communication devices, to recreational and off road vehicles/equipment, and electrical protection devices.  MP has been management owned and operated since 1998, is headquartered in Lombard, Illinois and maintains manufacturing capabilities in the US and overseas. 

 

For additional information please contact:

 Mechanical Products Company                                                                                                                         

(630) 953-4100

helpme@mechprod.com

www.mechprod.com

Lombard, Illinois - June 15, 2017

Tags: Circuit Protectors, Overcurrent Protection, Thermal Circuit Breakers, Circuit Breaker, Push to Reset, Transportation, Short Stop Circuit Breakers, New Products, Shortstop

Mechanical Products Series 17 High Amp Circuit Breakers

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT:  MP High Amp Circuit Breakers

Often used in automotive auxiliary and accessory circuits for trucks, buses, RVs and marine applications

Now available up to 300 Amps.

Series17WithNuts.jpg

Available in ratings from 25 to 300 Amps, the 17 Series offers a robust thermoplastic material case enclosure, designed with superior moisture sealing, in standard surface and panel mount configurations, along with new Side By Side Surface and Easy Access 90° Panel Mount designs.  Each configuration is available with 1/4” terminal studs, and the surface mount units are also designed with heavy duty 3/8” diameter stainless steel terminal studs.  All are available with stainless steel sems nuts.  The termination stud spacing has been designed to accept standard ring terminal configurations. 

The MP 17 Series is designed as a drop in replacement for existing surface and panel mountable configurations in the market today.  In addition, MP now offers the NEW Side-By-Side Surface Mount terminations and Easy Access 90° Panel Mount configurations to accommodate multiple breaker bus bar installations.  Priced competitively, these high quality breakers, commonly known as high amp circuit breakers or hi amp circuit breakers, are assembled right here in the USA, with minimal lead time required.  

Proudly made in the USA, the Series 17 features:

  • Amperage Ratings from 25 to 300 Amps
  • Trip-free operation
  • Industry standard terminations available in panel and surface mount
  • New "Easy Access" Panel Mount and "Side by Side" Surface Mount configurations available
  • Surface Mount available with 1/4" and New 3/8" stainless steel terminal studs and sems nuts
  • Panel Mount available with 1/4" brass, nickel plated terminal studs and stainless steel sems nuts
  • Auto, manual, or manual push-to-trip options
  • Dustproof and waterproof
  • Visible trip indication
  • Ignition Protected

Series17SurfaceAndPanel21.jpg

The new HIGHER AMP ratings, 225A thru 300A are an excellent complement to MP’s existing transportation product lineup including Series 18, 19, and 32 circuit breakers.  For additional information on these and other high quality MP thermal circuit breakers used for overcurrent protection, visit Mechanical Products at www.mechprod.com.

 The Series 17 circuit breaker is available through MP’s authorized distribution partners.

 Visit the full  Series 17 Product Page

 

 About Mechanical Products

MP has been a leading supplier of thermal circuit protection since 1943.  MP circuit breakers are used in thousands of commercial and industrial applications ranging from medical equipment, appliances, lighting, and communication devices, to recreational and off road vehicles/equipment, and electrical protection devices.  MP has been management owned and operated since 1998, is headquartered in Lombard, Illinois and maintains manufacturing capabilities in the US and overseas. 

 

For additional information please contact:

 Mechanical Products Company                                                                                                                         

(630) 953-4100

helpme@mechprod.com

www.mechprod.com

Lombard, Illinois - June 24, 2016

Tags: Circuit Protectors, Overcurrent Protection, Thermal Circuit Breakers, Circuit Breaker, Push to Reset, Marine High Amp circuit Breakers, High Amp circuit Breakers, Transportation, New Products

Mechanical Products ShortStop Thermal Circuit Breakers

New Product Release: MP ShortStop Thermal Circuit Breakers

Mechanical Products (MP) today announced the release of another family of circuit protectors, the Shortstop Series 32.

Available in ratings from 3 to 50 Amps, the NEW Series 32 offers an auto, manual, and modified reset and is a single pole thermal circuit breaker. Short Stop circuit breakers are available in three mounting styles: Standard right angle mounting bracket, parallel mounting bracket, and without a mounting bracket. They have a standard #10-32 threaded termination style. This series can be protected from the elements through the use of the sealing boot available in both red and black.  These boots offer protection against short circuits, as well as from dirt, dust, and splash resistance.

Type I and II models have a rated voltage of 12VDC Max. Type III have a rated voltage of 24VDC Max.   All models have an Interrupt Capacity of 2500A at 12 VDC and a dielectric strength of 1500VAC.  They comply with SAE Standard J553 & J1171, are IP66 rated (with plastic cover), and are ROHS compliant. 

The MP Series 32 Shortstop circuit breakers are designed for various applications: Battery charges, Trucks, Buses, RV’s & Motorhomes, Electric Vehicles, Trolling motors and more!

The NEW Series 32 Shortstop Circuit Breakers are an excellent complement to MP’s existing transportation product lineup including Series 17, 18, & 19 circuit breakers, also designed for harsh environments and available up to 300 Amps.  For additional information on these and other high quality MP thermal circuit breakers used for overcurrent protection, visit Mechanical Products at www.mechprod.com.SS_Breakers.jpgVisit the full  Series 32 Product Page      Download Data Sheet

 The Series 32 Shortstop is available through MP’s authorized distribution partners.

 

 

 

 

About Mechanical Products

MP has been a leading supplier of thermal circuit protection since 1943.  MP circuit breakers are used in thousands of commercial and industrial applications ranging from medical equipment, appliances, lighting, and communication devices, to recreational and off road vehicles/equipment, and electrical protection devices.  MP has been management owned and operated since 1998, is headquartered in Lombard, Illinois and maintains manufacturing capabilities in the US and overseas. 

 

For additional information please contact:

 Mechanical Products Company                                                                                                                         

(630) 953-4100

helpme@mechprod.com

www.mechprod.com

Lombard, Illinois - May 31, 2016

Tags: Circuit Protectors, Overcurrent Protection, Thermal Circuit Breakers, Circuit Breaker, Push to Reset, Transportation, Short Stop Circuit Breakers, New Products, Shortstop

Mechanical Products Series 19 Heavy Duty Circuit Breakers

3Breakers19
NEW Series 19 HEAVY DUTY circuit breaker
available in 25 to 200 Amp ratings
                                         
with optional LED tripIDTM
The New MP Series 19 line of Circuit Breakers offers end users and designers the LED tripIDTM option in Type I Auto Reset and Type III Manual Reset breakers, with multiple installation option, in a wider amperage rating up to 30VDC, and superior Water Ingress Protection meeting IP67 and IP69K applications.  Specifically designed for Heavy Duty and Industrial Transportation vehicle manufacturer applications that require a robust - harsh environment type of breaker.  For more information on these and other quality circuit protection devices, visit Mechancal Products at www.mechprod.com.

Tags: Overcurrent Protection, Hi-AMP, High Amp, Heavy Duty Circuit Breakers, Circuit Breaker, heavy duty

Overcurrent Protection and Overcurrent Protection Devices

Overcurrents and protective devices are not new subjects.  Soon after Volta constructed his first electrochemical cell, or Faraday spun his first disk generator, someone else graciously supplied these inventors with their first short circuit loads.  Patents on mechanical circuit-breaking devices go back to the late 1800’s and the concept of a fuse goes all the way back to the first undersized wire that connected a generator to a load.

In a practical sense, we can say that no advance in electrical science can proceed without a corresponding advance in protection science.  An electric utility company would never connect a new generator, a new transformer, or a new electrical load to a circuit that cannot automatically open by means of a protective device.  Similarly, a design engineer should never design a new electronic power supply that does not automatically protect its solid-state power components in case of a shorted output.  Protection from overcurrent damage must be inherent to any new development in electrical apparatus.  Anything less leaves the apparatus or circuit susceptible to damage or total destruction within a relatively short time.  

Figure 1.1

VIEW PRODUCT CATALOG

 

 

 

Examples of overcurrent protection devices are many:  fuses, electromechanical circuit breakers, and solid state power switches.  They are utilized in every conceivable electrical system where there is the possibility of overcurrent damage.  As a simple example, consider the typical industrial laboratory electrical system shown in Figure 1.1.  We show a one-line diagram of the radial distribution of electrical energy, starting from the utility distribution substation, going through the industrial plant, and ending in a small laboratory personal computer.  The system is said to be radial since all branch circuits, including the utility branch circuits, radiate from central tie points.  There is only a single feed line for each circuit.  There are other network type distribution systems for utilities, where some feed lines are paralleled.  But the radial system is the most common and the simplest to protect.

Overcurrent protection is seen to be a series connection of cascading current-interrupting devices.  Starting from the load end, we have a dual-element or slow-blow fuse at the input of the power supply to the personal computer.  This fuse will open the 120 volt circuit for any large fault within the computer.  The large inrush current that occurs for a very short time when the computer is first turned on is masked by the slow element within the fuse.  Very large fault currents are detected and cleared by the fast element within the fuse.  

Protection against excess load at the plug strip, is provided by the thermal circuit breaker within the plug strip.  The thermal circuit breaker depends on differential expansion of dissimilar metals, which forces the mechanical opening of electrical contacts.  

The 120 volt single-phase branch circuit, within the laboratory which supplies the plug strip, has its own branch breaker in the laboratory’s main breaker box or panel board.  This branch breaker is a combination thermal and magnetic or thermal-mag breaker.  It has a bi-metallic element which, when heated by an overcurrent, will trip the device.  It also has a magnetic-assist winding which, by a solenoid type effect, speeds the response under heavy fault currents.

All of the branch circuits on a given phase of the laboratory’s 3-phase system join within the main breaker box and pass through the main circuit breaker of that phase, which is also a thermal magnetic unit.  This main breaker is purely for back up protection.  If, for any reason, a branch circuit breaker fails to interrupt overcurrents on that particular phase within the laboratory wiring, the main breaker will open a short time after the branch breaker should have opened.

Back-up is an important function in overload protection.  In a purely radial system, such as the laboratory system in Figure 1.1, we can easily see the cascade action in which each overcurrent protection device backs up the devices downstream from it.  If the computer power supply fuse fails to function properly, then the plug strip thermal breaker will respond, after a certain coordination delay.  If it should also fail, then the branch breaker should back them both up, again after a certain coordination delay.  This coordination delay is needed by the back-up device to give the primary protection device – the device which is electrically closest to the overload or fault – a chance to respond first.  The coordination delay is the principal means by which a back-up system is selective in its protection.

Selectivity is the property of a protection system by which only the minimum amount of system functions are disconnected in order to alleviate an overcurrent situation.  A power delivery system which is selectively protected will be far more reliable than one which is not.

For example, in the laboratory system of Figure 1.1, a short within the computer power cord should be attended to only by the thermal breaker in the plug strip.  All other loads on the branch circuit, as well as the remaining loads within the laboratory, should continue to be served.  Even if the breaker within the plug strip fails to respond to the fault within the computer power cord, and the branch breaker in the main breaker box, is forced into interruptive action, only that particular branch circuit is de-energized.  Loads on the other branch circuits within the laboratory still continue to be served.  In order for a fault within the computer power cord to cause a total blackout within the laboratory, two series-connected breakers would have to fail simultaneously – the probability of which is extremely small.

The ability of a particular overcurrent protection device to interrupt a given level of overcurrent depends on the device sensitivity.  In general, all overcurrent protection devices, no matter the type or principles of operation, respond faster when the levels of overcurrent are higher.

Fig12

VIEW PRODUCT CATALOG

 

 

Coordination of overcurrent protection requires that application engineers have detailed knowledge of the total range of response for particular protection devices.  This information is contained in the “trip time vs. current curves,” commonly referred to as the trip curves.  A trip time-current curve displays the range of, and the times of response for, the currents for which the device will interrupt current flow at a given level of circuit voltage.  For example, the time current curves for the protection devices in our laboratory example are shown superimposed in Figure 1.2.

The rated current for a device is the highest steady-state current level at which the device will not trip for a given ambient temperature.  The steady-state trip current is referred to as the ultimate trip current.  The ratings for the dual-element fuse in the computer power supply, the plug strip thermal breaker, the branch circuit thermal-magnetic breaker and the main circuit thermal-magnetic breaker are 2, 15, 20, and 100 amps, respectively.  Note that, except for the fuse curve, each time-current curve is shown as a shaded area, representing the range of response for each device.  Manufacturing tolerances and material property inconsistencies are responsible for these banded sets of responses.  Trip time-current information for small fuses is usually represented in a single-value average melting time curve.

Even with a finite width to the time-current curves, we can easily see the selectivity/coordination between the different protection devices.  For any given steady-state level of overcurrent, we read up the trip time-current plot, at that level of current, to determine the order of response.

Consider the following three examples for the laboratory wiring, plug strip, and computer system.  

 

Example 1: Component failure within the computer power supply:  Assume that a power component within the computer power supply has failed – say two legs of the bridge power rectifier – and that the resulting fault current within the supply, limited by a surge resister, is 70 amps.

We see from the fuse trip curve that it should clear this level of current in approximately 20 milliseconds.  If the fuse fails to interrupt the current – or worse, if the fuse has been replaced with a permanent short circuit by a gambling repairperson – the thermal breaker in the plug strip should open the circuit within 0.6 to 3.5 seconds.  The branch thermal-magnetic breaker will open the entire branch circuit within 3.5 to 7.0 seconds, should the plug strip thermal breaker also fail to respond.  Note that no back-up is provided for this particular fault after the branch circuit breaker.  The main laboratory 100 amp thermal-magnetic unit would respond only if the other loads within the entire laboratory totaled greater than 30 amps at the time of the 70 amp power supply fault.

 

Example 2:  Plug strip overload:  Assume that the computer operator has spilled a drink, and to dry up the mess plugs two 1500 watt hair dryers into the plug strip.  The operator then flips them both on simultaneously, drawing a total plug strip load current of approximately 30 amps.

From the thermal breaker trip curve, we see that the plug strip unit should clear this overload within 5 to 30 seconds.  Note the similarity between the trip curves of the plug strip thermal unit and the branch circuit thermal-magnetic unit in the region of 100 amps and below.  This is because, for these levels of currents, the thermal portion of the detection mechanism within the thermal-magnetic branch breaker is dominant. 

 

Example 3:  Short circuit within the computer power cord:  Assume a frayed line cord finally shorts during some mechanical movement.  Assume also that there is enough resistance within the circuit, plug strip, and line cord system to limit the resulting fault current to 300 amps.  This level of current is 2000% (20 times) of the rated current of the plug strip thermal breaker, and is beyond the normal range of published trip time specifications for thermal breakers (100% to 1000% of rated current).  Thus the exact trip time range of the thermal unit is indeterminate.

At high levels of fault current, greater than 150 amps in this case, we can see the inherent speed advantage of magnetic detection of overcurrents.  This is evidenced by the fact that the response curve for the thermal-magnetic branch circuit breaker knees downward sharply at current levels between 150 and 200 amps.  At these and higher currents, the magnetic detection mechanism within the thermal-magnetic unit is dominant.  The response curve for the unit crosses over the plug strip thermal breaker response curve (assuming that it extends past its 1000% limit), and coordination between the two interrupters is lost.  The range of response for the thermal-magnetic breaker at 300 amps is 8 to 185 milliseconds.  Should both the plug strip breaker and the branch circuit breaker fail to operate, the main laboratory breaker should clear the fault within 11 to 40 seconds.

 


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Tags: Circuit Protectors, Overcurrent Protection, circuit breakers, Thermal Circuit Breaker, Trip Curves, Short Circuit

Circuit Breaker & Supplementary Protector - Contact Resistance

The current in thermal and magnetic circuit breakers passes through both a detection mechanism and a set of electrical contacts.  The contacts are generally spring-loaded and latch restrained.  When triggered by the overcurrent detection mechanism, the latch will release a movable contact arm.  The arm then withdraws from the fixed contact at a rate determined by spring loading and electromagnetic forces due to the contact current.

When the contacts are closed, or “latched”, current flows between them only at very small physical contact points, due to roughness on the surfaces of the contact faces.  The actual area of electrical contact is only a small fraction of the facing surfaces of the contacted pair, typically < 1%.  Current flowing in the contacts is constricted at these contact points, much like fluid flowing through a pipe with an insert containing very small holes.  The resistance created by these contact “spots” is referred to as the contact resistance.  The voltage drop across this resistance is then commonly referred to as the contact drop, which in most cases does not exceed more than 0.1-0.2 volts.

Our next article will examine the Parting Dynamics of a pair of contacts when the circuit breaker switches to the open position.

Tags: Circuit Protectors, Overcurrent Protection, circuit breakers

Circuit Breaker & Supplementary Protector Contact Mechanisms and Arc Physics

Over the course of the next several upcoming articles, we will present the basics of the behavior of the contact mechanism and the physics of the arc which is present in all electromechanical overcurrent protection devices.

Our discussion of contacts will consider both the electrical and mechanical characteristics of contacts in circuit breaker mechanisms.

Following our review of contacts, we will discuss the development of a simple dynamic thermal model which we will use to consider arc behavior within AC and DC electrical circuits.  

In this context, our next article will consider contact resistance and contact parting dynamics.

Tags: Overcurrent Protection, circuit breakers, Arc Physics

Thermal Overcurrent Protection Devices - Electromechanical Circuit Breakers (UL1077 & UL489)

Thermal overcurrent protection devices are a versatile, space saving and economical circuit protection option available to the application engineer – a.k.a. thermal circuit breakers and supplementary protectors.  Thermal circuit breakers and supplementary protectors are offered in a wide variety of standard “off the shelf” specified/qualified VAC and VDC ratings ranging from tenths of an Amp to more than 200 Amps.  And, for more unique/challenging applications, certain circuit breaker manufacturers will work closely with the OEM to provide engineered solutions to customize an overcurrent protection device specific to the application requirements.

Thermal circuit breakers are available in a variety of packages, bezel mounts (including snap in) and actuator configurations.  They are available in automatic reset configurations and in a wide selection of switch and/or indicator configurations including rockers, push/pull, toggle, illuminated and push to reset.  The usual number of poles are up to 2.  Terminals can be wires, quick connect blades, screw terminals, Edison base plug type, or fuse clip terminals.  Shunt trip, relay trip and alarm circuit devices are also available. 

Additional design flexibility is available because many thermal circuit breakers are offered compliant to a wide variety of agencies and requirements such as UL489, UL1077, UL1500, CCC, CSA 22.2 No.235-04, IEC, ABYC, SAE J553 and SAE J1625.   

Given the range of options offered in thermal overcurrent protectors, these robust, space saving, economical devices should warrant serious design consideration for the protection of numerous low voltage electrical circuits.

Tags: UL489, UL1077 Devices, Overcurrent Protection, circuit breakers

A Selection Methodology for Overcurrent Protection Devices – Fuses and Electromechanical Circuit Breakers (UL1077 & UL489)

An application engineer needs all of the facts to make an intelligent choice of an overcurrent protection device for a particular application.

The following link is to an article that suggests a seven step procedure that may be followed when selecting an overcurrent supplementary protector, circuit breaker or fuse.

http://www.mechprod.com/overcurrent-protection-selection/

The first six steps in this procedure define the problem in a detailed engineering sense. Then the seventh step, the actual choice of a particular overcurrent protector, can be made from a logical and relevant knowledge base.

Tags: UL1077 Devices, Overcurrent Protection

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