Electronic Electrical Devices | Electronic Electrical Components
A low - voltage circuit breaker is one
which is suited for circuits rated at
600 volts or lower. One of the most
commonly used low-voltage air
circuit breakers is the
Electronic Electrical Devices | Electronic Electrical Components
A low - voltage circuit breaker is one
which is suited for circuits rated at
600 volts or lower. One of the most
commonly used low-voltage air
circuit breakers is the molded case
circuit breaker (Figure 1).
Molded Case Circuit Breaker
A circuit can be connected or disconnected using a circuit breaker by manually moving the
operating handle to the ON or OFF position. All breakers, with the exception of very small ones,
have a linkage between the operating handle and contacts that allows a quick make (quick break
contact action) regardless of how fast the operating handle is moved. The handle is also designed
so that it cannot be held shut on a short circuit or overload condition. If the circuit breaker opens
under one of these conditions, the handle will go to the trip-free position. The trip-free position
is midway between the ON and OFF positions and cannot be re-shut until the handle is pushed
to the OFF position and reset.
A circuit breaker will automatically trip when the current through it exceeds a pre-determined
value. In lower current ratings, automatic tripping of the circuit breaker is accomplished by use
of thermal tripping devices. Thermal trip elements consist of a bimetallic element that can be
calibrated so that the heat from normal current through it does not cause it to deflect. An
abnormally high current, which could be caused by a short circuit or overload condition, will
cause the element to deflect and trip the linkage that holds the circuit breaker shut.
breaker will then be opened by spring action. This bimetallic element, which is responsive to
the heat produced by current flowing through it, has an inverse-time characteristic. If an
extremely high current is developed, the circuit breaker will be tripped very rapidly.
Cutaway of Molded Case Circuit Breaker
For moderate overload currents, it will operate more slowly. Molded case breakers with much
larger current ratings also have a magnetic trip element to supplement the thermal trip element.
The magnetic unit utilizes the magnetic force that surrounds the conductor to operate the circuit
breaker tripping linkage.
When the separable contacts of an air circuit breaker are opened, an arc develops between the
two contacts. Different manufacturers use many designs and arrangements of contacts and their
surrounding chambers. The most common design places the moving contacts inside of an arc
chute. The construction of this arc chute allows the arc formed as the contacts open to draw out
into the arc chute. When the arc is drawn into the arc chute, it is divided into small segments
and quenched. This action extinguishes the arc rapidly, which minimizes the chance of a fire and
also minimizes damage to the breaker contacts.
Molded case circuit breakers come in a wide range of sizes and current ratings. There are six
frame sizes available: 100, 225, 400, 600, 800, and 2,000 amps. The size, contact rating, and
current interrupting ratings are the same for all circuit breakers of a given frame size. The
continuous current rating of a breaker is governed by the trip element rating. The range of
voltage available is from 120 to 600 volts, and interrupting capacity ranges as high as 100,000
Much larger air circuit breakers are used in large commercial and industrial distribution systems.
These circuit breakers are available in much higher continuous current and interrupting ratings
than the molded case circuit breaker. Breakers of this type have current ratings as high as 4,000
amps, and interrupting ratings as high as 150,000 amps.
Most large air circuit breakers use a closing device, known as a "stored energy mechanism," for
fast, positive closing action. Energy is stored by compressing large powerful coil springs that
are attached to the contact assembly of a circuit breaker. Once these springs are compressed, the
latch may be operated to release the springs, and spring pressure will shut the circuit breaker.
Circuit breaker closing springs may be compressed manually or by means of a small electric
motor. This type of circuit breaker can be classified as either a manually- or electrically-operated
When a large air circuit breaker is closed, the operating mechanism is latched. As the circuit
breaker is closed, a set of tripping springs, or coils, are compressed, and the circuit breaker may
then be tripped by means of a trip latch. The trip latch mechanism may be operated either
manually 