Standards and description of

circuit-breakers
From Electrical Installation Guide

Contents
1- Standards
2- Description

Standards

Industrial circuit-breakers must comply with IEC 60947-1

and 60947-2 or other equivalent standards.

Domestic-type circuit-breakers must comply with IEC

standard 60898, or an equivalent national standard

For industrial LV installations the relevant IEC standards are, or

are due to be:
60947-1: general rules
60947-2: part 2: circuit-breakers
60947-3: part 3: switches, disconnectors, switch-disconnectors and fuse combination
units
60947-4: part 4: contactors and motor starters
60947-5: part 5: control-circuit devices and switching elements
60947-6: part 6: multiple function switching devices
60947-7: part 7: ancillary equipment
60947-8: Part 8: Control units for built-in thermal protection (PTC) for rotating
electrical machines.

For domestic and similar LV installations, the appropriate

standard is IEC 60898, or an equivalent national standard.

Description
Figure H21 shows schematically the main parts of a LV circuit-
breaker and its four essential functions:
The circuit-breaking components, comprising the fixed and moving contacts and the arc-
dividing chamber
The latching mechanism which becomes unlatched by the tripping device on detection of
abnormal current conditions

This mechanism is also linked to the operation handle of the

breaker.
A trip-mechanism actuating device:
Either: a thermal-magnetic device, in which a thermally-operated bi-metal strip
detects an overload condition, while an electromagnetic striker pin operates at
current levels reached in short-circuit conditions, or
An electronic relay operated from current transformers, one of which is installed
on each phase
A space allocated to the several types of terminal currently used for the main power
circuit conductors

Fig. H21: Main parts of a circuit-breaker

Domestic circuit-breakers (see Fig. H22) complying with IEC 60898

and similar national standards perform the basic functions of:
Isolation
Protection against overcurrent

Fig. H22: Domestic-type

circuit-breaker providing
overcurrent protection and
circuit isolation features

Some models can be adapted to provide sensitive detection (30 mA)

of earth-leakage current with CB tripping, by the addition of a
modular block, while other models (RCBOs, complying with IEC 61009
and CBRs complying with IEC 60947-2 Annex B) have this residual
current feature incorporated as shown in Figure H23.

Fig. H23: Domestic-type

circuit breaker with
incorporated protection
against electric shocks
Apart from the above-mentioned functions further features can be
associated with the basic circuit-breaker by means of additional
modules, as shown in Figure H24; notably remote control and
indication (on-off-fault).

Fig. H24: “Acti 9” system of LV modular switchgear components

Moulded-case circuit-breakers complying with IEC 60947-2 are

available from 100 to 630 A and provide a similar range of
auxiliary functions to those described above (see Figure H25).

Fig. H25: Example of a

Compact NSX industrial type
of circuit-breaker capable
of numerous auxiliary
functions

Air circuit-breakers of large current ratings, complying with IEC

60947-2, are generally used in the main switch board and provide
protector for currents from 630 A to 6300 A, typically.(see Figure
H26).

In addition to the protection functions, the Micrologic unit

provides optimized functions such as measurement (including power
quality functions), diagnosis, communication, control and
monitoring.

Fig. H26: Example of air circuit-breakers. Masterpact provides many control features in its “Micrologic”
tripping unit

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Category: Chapter - LV switchgear: functions and selection

This page was last modified on 9 April 2018, at 12:07.