A solid state circuit breaker apparatus includes a solid state switch, a current sensor, and a control circuit. The control circuit is programmed to operate the solid state switch by, in response to receipt of a signal from the current sensor indicating that an overcurrent condition exists: (i) using pulse width modulation to generate a set of control pulses; and (ii) using the control pulses to trigger the solid state switch to open and close in a pattern that corresponds to the control pulses, and thus limit an amount of let-through current that the solid state switch may pass to a load. The amount of let-through current that the solid state switch may pass to the load may be, for example, a threshold level above which the overcurrent condition will exist.