Abstract: A circuit breaker comprises a line terminal, a middle terminal, and a load terminal, at least one of which is constructed from a positive temperature coefficient material and configured for introducing a predetermined resistance into the current path of the circuit breaker. The predetermined resistance is intended to limit current reaching a bi-metallic trip element as temperature rises so as to protect the bi-metallic trip element from excessive thermal stress, where the predetermined resistance increases with the increased temperature.

Abstract: A circuit breaker comprising a fixed contact; a moveable contact, which is moveable into and out of electrically conductive engagement with said fixed contact; a line terminal operatively coupling said fixed contact with a circuit to be protected by said circuit breaker; a middle terminal operatively coupling said moveable contact with said circuit to be protected, in series with said line terminal, said fixed contact and said moveable contact; and a load terminal in series with said middle terminal and operatively coupling said circuit breaker to a load, a trip mechanism responsive to at least a thermal trip element for causing the moveable contact to move out of engagement with the fixed contact in response to a given amount of thermal energy caused by current over time passing through a circuit breaker current path comprising said fixed contact, said movable contact, said line terminal, said middle terminal, said load terminal and said thermal trip element from a circuit to be protected, wherein at least o