If you are describing a circuit breaker then its electromagnetic trip component will operate in the event of a line*-to-ground (*not 'phase'!) short circuit. The thermal overload component will only operate in the event of a sustained overload.
The term, 'overcurrent', describes either an 'overload current' or a 'short-circuit current'.An 'overload current' is a current that is higher than a circuit's 'rated current'. For example, if you have too many loads plugged into the same circuit, then the resulting current is an 'overload current'.A 'short-circuit current' is a large current resulting when a line ('hot') conductor accidentally makes contact with either a neutral conductor or an earth (ground) conductor.
There is a heated bimetallic strip that provides a time delay small overload protection. When its contact makes, it energizes a coil to trip the breaker. Some breakers are mechanical, though. There is a coil that trips the breaker instantly on large overload.
1. direct ground circuit 2. virtually ground circuit
If you ground the flow of current like the last part of your question states you will not have a complete circuit as the circuit will open on a short circuit. To make a complete circuit operate you need a power source, an overload device to protect the conductors of the circuit, conductors to carry the current and a load across the power source which causes the current to flow in the circuit. Leave any one of these things out and you will not have a complete circuit.
"Grounding a connector" means you join a connector in a circuit to another point in the circuit that is definitely at ground potential. This is done mainly when testing a circuit, to be sure that a particular point in that circuit really is at ground potential if you are not certain that it is already. Alternatively, you could be doing a test to temporarily ground a connector that is not normally at ground potential, to see what effect doing the test has on the behavior of the circuit.
There is an overload or short to ground in the circuit.There is an overload or short to ground in the circuit.
Short to ground or overload in the circuit.Short to ground or overload in the circuit.
Circuit overload?Dead short to ground?
AN over-current situation. Could be a short to ground, or a circuit overload.
Too much current flow in the circuit. Overload or short to ground.
Fuses, Circuit Breakers, GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter), Surge Protector, etc.
The term, 'overcurrent', describes either an 'overload current' or a 'short-circuit current'.An 'overload current' is a current that is higher than a circuit's 'rated current'. For example, if you have too many loads plugged into the same circuit, then the resulting current is an 'overload current'.A 'short-circuit current' is a large current resulting when a line ('hot') conductor accidentally makes contact with either a neutral conductor or an earth (ground) conductor.
The two functions a circuit breaker can do is protect the circuit from a high current short circuit and through its thermal trip it can protect the circuit from overload conditions. A circuit breaker will trip if too large a draw or current flow occurs across a thermal shunt inside, it can also have a ground fault circuit interrupter integrated internally in case of a difference in potential between neutral and ground resulting from voltage leakage from appliances or to protect against potential electrocutions A double circuit breaker provides access to the 2 legs of 120V in the back plane on the breaker panel. There are now typically 4 wires away from this breaker, a bare ground or earth ground, a white wire for neutral or bonded ground, a black wire for 1 leg of 120 and a red or blue wire for the 2nd leg of 120. You can use either leg and the white wire to access 120 or use the black and red/blue to access 240, white would then be used on the 3rd plug and ground goes to the ground lug or if missing it ties with the white and goes on the 3rd leg.
On a star delta starter a motor overload or a motor going to ground and cause a short circuit will cause the overload protection to trip. These overloads have to be reset before the motor can be restarted.
There is a heated bimetallic strip that provides a time delay small overload protection. When its contact makes, it energizes a coil to trip the breaker. Some breakers are mechanical, though. There is a coil that trips the breaker instantly on large overload.
1. direct ground circuit 2. virtually ground circuit
you dont