Does a 30 Amp Auto-Reset Breaker Have to be Mounted or Can it be Loose

Updated 11/14/2017 | Published 11/13/2017

Question:

Hello.... Can you advise if it is MANDATORY that the brake controllers 30 Amp breaker is mounted directly to a metal surface?? In other words does the breaker need a metal mounting surface to provide a related GROUND effect for the breaker to function? The area I have to mount this is a bit encumbered and I was wondering if I had to actually mount it at all...... The duplex cable is very rigid and zip-tied in several locations. So what I was envisioning was simply leaving the breaker in-line on the power wire and heavily wrapping it in electrical tape i.e. not mounting it at all- but of course being sure that it is properly placed and protected against any chance of shorts...

asked by: Tim B

Helpful Expert Reply:

You don't have to mount the circuit breaker such as # PK54530 if you don't want to. It would prevent it from moving around if it were mounted but won't affect how it works. So your plan of leaving it "loose" and wrapping it up in electrical tape will be fine.

expert reply by: Michael H