Suggestion on How to Use

• Industry Trainers are encouraged to use this

material in their sessions
• Download the presentation file
• Print the Notes pages and read them as you
view the presentation in the “Slide Show”
view. In this way you see the slides in large
format and have animation (when available)

© 2015 Eaton. All Rights Reserved.. 1

Types
Types of
of Overcurrent
Overcurrent Protective
Protective Devices
Devices

© 2015 Eaton. All Rights Reserved..

Circuit Breakers
• NEC® Definition - Article 100
• A device designed to open and close a
circuit by nonautomatic means and to open
the circuit automatically on a predetermined
overcurrent without damage to itself when
properly applied within its rating.

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Thermal-Mag CB Construction

• Molded case frame Terminals

provides insulated
Arc
housing for components
Extinguishers
• Contacts open and (Arc Chutes)
close circuit
Contacts
• Handle or Operating
mechanism opens and Handle or
closes contacts – cannot Operating
be “teased” - quick- Mechanism
make, quick break
Molded
Case Frame

© 2015 Eaton. All Rights Reserved.. 4

Thermal-Mag CB Construction
Terminals
• Trip Unit (not shown)
detects overcurrent
Arc
condition – triggers release
Extinguishers
of contacts
(Arc Chutes)
• Contacts are pulled
through Arc Extinguishers Contacts
(Arc Chutes) which help to
confine, divide and Handle or
extinguish the arc when Operating
clearing an overcurrent Mechanism
• Terminals typically rated
60/75 deg C
Molded
Case Frame

© 2015 Eaton. All Rights Reserved.. 5

Thermal-Magnetic CB Trip Unit

© 2015 Eaton. All Rights Reserved.. 6

Thermal-Mag CB Trip Unit - Operation

• Trip Unit –
Thermal
• Overload -
Bimetal element
deflects and
contacts trip bar
which releases
contacts.

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Thermal-Mag CB Trip Unit - Operation

• Trip Unit -
Magnetic
• Short Circuit -
magnetic
element’s
electric field
attracts trip
bar armature
and releases
contacts.

© 2015 Eaton. All Rights Reserved.. 8

 Molded Case Circuit Breaker (MCCB)
Ratings

• Voltage Rating:
• NEC 240.83(E) & 240.85 cover circuit breaker voltage
marking and basic requirements
1) AC assumed, Verify if rated for DC
2) Slash ratings (such as 120/240 or 480/277) can only be used
on solidly grounded systems where the voltage to ground does
not exceed the lower rating and the voltage between any two
conductors does not exceed the higher rating
3) Corner-grounded, resistance-grounded & ungrounded systems
require “straight” rated circuit breakers (240, 480 or 600)
4) 2-pole CBs on corner-grounded systems require special ratings
and must be marked “1 phase - 3 phase”

© 2015 Eaton. All Rights Reserved.. 9

MCCB Ratings
• Ampere Rating:
• 80% rated unless marked and applied in equipment
for 100% rating - Typically rated up to 2500A
• Interrupting Rating:
1) AC assumed unless marked, verify DC ratings with
manufacturer
2) Interrupting rating varies, dependent upon voltage
and manufacturer - Typical values - 10, 14, 18, 22, 25,
30, 35, 42, 50, 65, 100, 125, 200 kA.
3) MCCBs applied on corner-grounded, resistance
(impedance) grounded, and ungrounded systems
may have lower interrupting capabilities.

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 MCCB Types

• Branch-Circuit MCCBs:
• Thermal-Magnetic and Electronic Trip
• Current-Limiting and non-Current-Limiting
• Listed and Recognized (mag-only MCPs for motor
circuits) to UL 489

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Thermal-Magnetic CB

• Known as inverse time circuit breakers

1) Higher the current, faster it trips
2) Sustained overload may take may seconds
to trip
3) Short-Circuit will cause the CB to open
instantaneously and may take ½ to 1
cycles to clear the short-circuit
4) Instantaneous setting can be fixed or
adjustable

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 Thermal-Magnetic CB – Instantaneous
Trip

• Fixed Instantaneous Setting

• 20A CB have fixed instantaneous
setting of approximately 8 times the
ampere rating.
• Adjustable Instantaneous Setting
• Typically 5-10 times the ampere rating.
• Figure shows 100A CB
• Setting of 5X = 500A = I.T.
• Setting of 10X = 1000A = I.T.

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 Electronic Trip CB
• Similar internal
construction as thermal-
magnetic circuit breaker.
• Adjustable Trip Settings:
• Long time pick-up (LTPU)
• Long time delay (LTD)
• Short-time pick-up (STPU)
• Instantaneous Override
(may be fixed)
• Short-time delay (STD)
• Settings may include
Ground Fault

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Current Limiting CB
• Similar to thermal-magnetic circuit
breakers with addition of current-
limiting capabilities
• Current limitation provided by
blow-apart contacts, a fusible
limiter or additional arc
extinguishers
• Increased interrupting ratings up
to (200 kA)
• Current limiting circuit breakers
limit the damage to downstream
components for short circuits
within their current limiting range
© 2015 Eaton. All Rights Reserved.. 15
 Motor Circuit Protector (MCP)

• MCPs are mag-only circuit breakers.

• MCPs typically cannot be used to
replace a thermal magnetic or
electronic trip circuit breaker (unless
in a motor circuit with a starter that is
listed for use with the MCP) – NEC
430.52(C)(3).
• A Mag-only (MCP) trip curve is
compared to a thermal-magnetic CB
at the right

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Supplementary Protectors
• Supplementary Protectors
• Recognized to U.L. 1077 and limited per NEC 240.10.
• Cannot be used as a branch circuit protective device (in
place of a UL 489 circuit breaker).
• For supplemental protection of an appliance or other
electrical equipment where branch circuit overcurrent
protection is already provided, or is not required.
• Low interrupting ratings.
• Typically can be applied only on solidly grounded systems.
• Most are short-circuit tested with fuses or a circuit breaker
upstream and must therefor be applied in series with an
upstream fuse or circuit breaker.

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Insulated Case (ICCB)
• Larger physical size
and amp ratings
• Typically rated up to
5,000A with interrupting
ratings up to 100,000A
or more
• Electronic Trip Units
• Short-time delay
options
• Instantaneous
Overrides

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Low Voltage Power Circuit Breaker
(LVPCB)
• Typically used in industrial facilities where selective
coordination, circuit breaker maintenance, and
drawout capability are required.
• Short-time delay option available without an
instantaneous override, provides improved selective
coordination capabilities.
• Drawout capability means that these circuit breakers
can be racked in and out of the switchgear for
inspection and maintenance.
• Utilize two-step stored energy operating mechanism
• Opening and closing springs
• Opening springs are charged when LVPCB is closed
• Open-Close-Open operation without recharging
• Close & Open is typically 5 cycles or less
• Amp ratings up to 4,000A with interrupting ratings up
to 200,000 amperes
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 LVPCBs

1. May be required upstream of

MCCBs and ICCBs (which have
instantaneous trips or overrides)
for selective coordination
capabilities
2. Can "hold-in" on faults for up to 30
cycles (.5 seconds) in order to
achieve coordination with
downstream devices
3. Typically equipped with adjustable
electronic trip units with STD and
without instantaneous override
4. Downstream components may
need increased short-circuit
current (withstand) ratings

© 2015 Eaton. All Rights Reserved.. 20

 Fuse Basics
• A “fusible” link or links encapsulated in a tube
and connected to contact terminals.
• Resistance of the link is so low that it simply
acts as a conductor.
• Can be single-element or dual-element
construction
• During an overcurrent the fusible link melts and
opens the circuit to protect conductors and
system components from further damage.

© 2015 Eaton. All Rights Reserved.. 21

Fuse Construction

• Dual Element Time-Delay

• Designed to be sized close to load and
accommodate motor and transformer inrush
which could not be accomplished by single-
element non-time-delay or fast-acting fuses.
• Overload (time delay) Element
• Short Circuit (current limitation) Element

© 2015 Eaton. All Rights Reserved.. 22

Overload Operation

• Dual Element Time-Delay

• Under a sustained overload condition, the
spring operated trigger assembly separates
the “connector” from the short-circuit element,
opening the circuit.
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 Short-Circuit Operation

• Dual Element Time-

Delay
• Under a short-circuit
condition, restricted
portions of the short-circuit
element melt and arc to
burn back the resulting
gaps until the arcs are
suppressed by the arc
quenching material and
increased arc resistance.

© 2015 Eaton. All Rights Reserved.. 24

 Branch-Circuit Fuse Ratings
• Branch-circuit fuse holders prevent installation of fuses that
cannot provide a comparable level of protection.
• When installed in rejection style clips, current-limiting branch circuit
fuses cannot be replaced with fuses that are not current-limiting, have
lower voltage ratings or higher current ratings than the fuseholder.
• Branch-circuit characteristics include:
1) 10,000A Minimum Interrupting Rating up to 300,000A
2) 125V AC Minimum Voltage Rating
• NEC 240.60(C) covers required fuse voltage marking.
• NEC 240.60(A)(2) permits 300V cartridge fuses to be used on single-
phase 277V lighting circuits.
• NEC 240.61 allows fuses rated 600V or less to be used for voltages
below their rating.

© 2015 Eaton. All Rights Reserved.. 25

 Branch-Circuit Fuse Classes
• Fuse classes and UL/CSA/ANCE standard governing performance and
characteristics include:
1) Class L – UL/CSA/ANCE 248-10
2) Class H – UL/CSA/ANCE 248-6, & 7
3) Class K – UL/CSA/ANCE 248-9
4) Class RK1 & Class RK5 – UL/CSA/ANCE 248-12
5) Class J – UL/CSA/ANCE 248-8
6) Class T – UL/CSA/ANCE 248-15
7) Class G – UL/CSA/ANCE 248-5
8) Class CC – UL/CSA/ANCE 248-4
9) Class CF - UL/CSA/ANCE 248-17

© 2015 Eaton. All Rights Reserved.. 26

Class L
• 600V AC, 601A up to 6000A
• Amperage case sizes include:
• 800, 1200, 1600, 2000, 2500, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000
• 200kA Interrupting rating or higher
• Time-delay or fast-acting
• Time-delay typically 500% for 4 or 5 seconds
• Current limiting
• Rejection feature – class and size rejecting
• Applications:
• Main or large feeder circuits
• Mixed loads (time-delay)
• Motor or transformer loads (time-delay)

© 2015 Eaton. All Rights Reserved.. 27

 Class H/K Fuses
• 250V AC or 600V AC, up to 600A
• Amperage case sizes include:
• 30, 60, 100, 200, 400, 600
• Interrupting rating is only 10 kA for Class H
fuses, 50 kA to 200kA for Class K5 fuses.
• Non-time delay or time-lag
• These fuses are dimensionally the same
as the Class R fuses, however, they do not
have the rejection feature.
• Renewable Fuses or One-Time Fuses
• They are general purpose fuses for
general applications

© 2015 Eaton. All Rights Reserved.. 28

Class RK1, RK5
• 250V AC or 600V AC, up to 600A
• Amperage case sizes include:
• 30, 60, 100, 200, 400, 600
• 200kA Interrupting rating or higher
• Time-delay or fast-acting
• Current limiting - RK1 more current-limiting
than RK5
• Rejection feature – prevents replacement of
Class R fuses with Class H fuses - Notch in
ferrule (for cartridge fuses) or blade
• Applications:
• Branch, feeder circuits
• Motors & transformers (time-delay)

© 2015 Eaton. All Rights Reserved.. 29

 Class J
• 600V AC, up to 600A
• Amperage case sizes include:
• 30, 60, 100, 200, 400, 600
• 200kA Interrupting rating or higher
• Time-delay or fast-acting
• Current limiting
• Rejection feature – class and size rejecting
• Space saving design compared to Class R
• Applications:
• Branch, feeder circuits
• Motors & transformers (time-delay)

© 2015 Eaton. All Rights Reserved.. 30

Class T
• 300V AC or 600V AC, up to 1200A
• Amperage case sizes include:
• 30, 60, 100, 200, 400, 600, 800, 1200
• 200kA Interrupting rating
• Fast-acting
• Current limiting
• Rejection feature – class and size
rejecting
• Best space saving design of any power
fuse
• Applications:
• Heating and lighting circuits
• 277V single phase lighting circuits
(300V fuses)
• Residential and multi-metering
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Class G Fuses
• 600V AC, up to 20A
• 480V AC, 25-60A
• Amperage case sizes include:
• 15, 20, 30, 60
• 100kA Interrupting rating
• Time-delay (6 to 60 amperes)
• Current limiting
• Rejecting feature
• Length of fuse varies with the
amperage
• Applications:
• Small motors & transformers
• General applications

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 Class CC Fuses
• 600V AC, up to 30A
• 200kA Interrupting rating
• Fast-acting or time-delay
• Current-limiting
• 13/32” Diameter, 1-1/2” Length
• Grooved ferrules provide rejection feature
• Applications:
• General purpose
• Street lighting, lighting ballasts, heating, motor control circuits
(fast-acting)
• Small motors or transformer circuits (time-delay)

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Supplemental Fuses

• Fuses can have many voltages and interrupting

ratings within the same case size.
• Interrupting ratings range from 35 to 100,000 A
• Examples of supplemental fuses are ¼” X 1¼ ”,
5 X 20 mm, and 13/32” X 1½” fuses
• Supplemental fuses can only be used where
proper protection is already being provided by a
branch circuit device or if protection is not
required.

© 2015 Eaton. All Rights Reserved.. 34

Cable Limiters
• NEC 230.82(1) allows the application of cable
limiters on the supply side of the service
disconnect.
• The application of cable limiters on the supply side of
service-entrance conductors provides:
• Short-circuit, current-limiting protection for downstream
equipment
• Decreased possibility of severe equipment
damage or burn-down against high short-circuit
currents.
• Isolation of one or more faulted conductors.
• Only the cable limiters in the faulted conductors
open, other conductors remain in operation.
• Helps keep the service in operation and
continuity of service is improved.

© 2015 Eaton. All Rights Reserved.. 35

 High Speed Fuses
High-Speed Fuses
Required for protection
of VFD – Replacement
fuses must be marked
Replace with:
Bussmann
FWH-400A
VFD
© 2015 Eaton. All Rights Reserved..
• Typically used for protection of
drives, SCRs or sensitive
electronic equipment
• Very Current-limiting
• NEC 430.52(C)(5) permits the
use of high-speed fuses in
power electronic devices in
solid-state motor controller
system if replacement fuses are
marked adjacent to the fuses.
36
GFCI Protective Devices
• Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)
• Article 100 defines a ground-fault circuit
interrupter as a device intended for the
protection of personnel that functions to de-
energize a circuit or portion thereof within an
established period of time when a current to
ground exceeds the values established for a
Class A device.
• Note: Class A ground-fault circuit interrupters
trip when the current to ground has a value
in the range of 4 to 6 mA or greater.

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 GF Protective Devices
• Ground-Fault Protection of Equipment (GFP)
• Article 100 defines ground-fault protection of
equipment as a system intended to provide protection
of equipment from damaging line-to-ground fault
currents by operating to cause a disconnecting means
to open all ungrounded conductors of the faulted
circuit. This protection is provided at current levels
less than those required to protect conductors from
damage through the operation of a supply circuit
overcurrent device.

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Motor Circuit Devices
• Manual Motor Protectors/Starters
• Sometimes called MMPs
• Provide motor overload protection per NEC
430.32(A)(1) & (B)(1)
• Provide controller function (On-Off) per NEC
430.83(A)(1) (HP rated & Listed to UL 508)
• Provide limited amount of short-circuit
protection via a magnetic trip, but not
acceptable for branch-circuit, short-circuit and
ground fault protection (NEC 430.52).

© 2015 Eaton. All Rights Reserved.. 39

Motor Circuit Devices
• Manual Motor Protectors (Cont)
• If marked “Suitable as Motor Disconnect”
(and lockable in the “off” position per UL
508) – can be used as a motor disconnecting
means if located between the final motor
branch-circuit, short-circuit and ground fault
protective device and the motor (NEC
430.109(A)(6).
• Typically suitable for group motor protection
applications (as long as they are protected by
a branch-circuit device) per NEC 430.53(D).

© 2015 Eaton. All Rights Reserved.. 40

Motor Circuit Devices
• Self-Protected Starters
• Often called “Coordinated protected
starters” and “Type E” starters – Listed to
UL 508 as a combination Starter.
• Provide motor overload protection per
NEC 430.32(A)(1) & (B)(1) and motor
circuit (branch-circuit) protection per
NEC 430.52(C)(6), by combining a
magnetic short-circuit trip and adjustable
motor overload in one package.

© 2015 Eaton. All Rights Reserved.. 41

Motor Circuit Devices
• Self-Protected Starters
• Provide controller function (On-Off)
per NEC 430.83(A)(1) (HP rated &
Listed to UL 508) and permitted as the
motor disconnecting means per NEC
430.109(A)(5).
• Many have slash voltage ratings and
can only be applied on solidly grounded
systems where the voltage to ground
does not exceed the lower of the two
ratings and the voltage between any two
conductors does not exceed the higher
of the two ratings.

© 2015 Eaton. All Rights Reserved.. 42

© 2015 Eaton. All Rights Reserved.. 43