Breaker Basics

and New Technology

By: Scott Basinger, P.Eng.

Eaton Electrical
Edmonton
Purpose
Circuit Breaker History
First Developed at the request of Fire Inspection
Authorities in the US in the 1920s to provide better
protection against fires.
These fires were caused by users of electrical power
who were bridging plug fuses with pennies or
replacing fuses with ratings too high for the wires
installed.
Modern breaker design was primarily made possible
by the development of the arc chute by Dr. Slepian of
Westinghouse.
Breaker Classifications
MCCB Molded Case Circuit Breaker
This presentation is primarily about MCCBs

ICCB Insulated Case Circuit Breaker

Same standard as MCCBs with some features
found in LVPCBs

LVPCB Low Voltage Power Circuit Breaker

Marking and Terminology
Molded Case Circuit Breakers
Marking and Terminology

Voltage Rating
RMS AC voltage or DC Voltage at which the breaker is
designed to operate.
Breaker voltage markings on MCCBs are significant and
relate to the systems they may be used in.
Straight ratings 600V, 480V, 240V
Slash ratings 600Y/347V, 120/240V
Current Rating
RMS AC current or DC current rating which the breaker will
carry continuously in open air.
Molded Case Circuit Breakers
Marking and Terminology

Ambient Temperature
Temperature of the air surrounding the breaker itself
Not necessarily room temperature
Interrupting Rating
Highest RMS symmetrical AC (or DC ) current which a breaker is
required to interrupt under specified test conditions.
Switching Duty Rated
Breakers marked with SWD for breakers tested to switch florescent
lighting loads on a regular basis.
100% Rated Breakers
Breakers must be marked specifically for 100% continuous operation
in enclosures. All others are 80%.
Breaker Elements
Circuit Breaker Components
Arc Extinguisher / Arc Chutes
Contact parting
creates arc
Magnetic field pulls
arc into arc
extinguisher
Arc divided and
cooled by steel plates
Arc extinguishes,
opening circuit
Circuit Breaker Components
Contact Assemblies
Circuit Breaker Components
Overload Protection
Bimetallic element
Bimetal in series with
connected cable
Thermal memory
Circuit Breaker Components
Overload Protection
Circuit Breaker Components
Short-Circuit Protection
Circuit Breaker Components
Short-Circuit Protection
Circuit Breaker Components
Thermal Magnetic Protection
Circuit Breaker Components
Electronic Circuit Breakers
Circuit Breaker Components
Electronic Circuit Breakers
Thermal Long Time Pickup
Long Time Delay Time

Magnetic Short Time Pickup

Short Time Delay

LSI
Instantaneous Pickup

Ground Ground Fault Pickup

Ground Fault Delay

Time

Ground
Electronic Trip Units
Trip Functions THERMAL

Curve Shaping 1. Long Time Pickup (80%-160%)

The Basis for Coordination 2. Long Time Delay

MAGNETIC

3. Short Time Pickup (400% - 1000%)

4A. Short Time Delay Flat Response
4B. Short Time Delay I2t Response (0.1-0.5s)
5. Instantaneous / Fixed Inst. Override
(500%-1500%)

GROUND FAULT

6. Ground Fault Pickup

Current in Multiples of Plug In Rating 7A. Ground Fault Delay Flat Response
7B. Ground Fault Delay I2t Response
Auxiliary Switch

Consists of contacts that

are activated by the
opening and closing of
breaker.
Bell Alarm/Lockout Switch

Activated only when a

breaker trips due to a
fault.....not when
breaker is turned
manually off and on.
Shunt Trip
Used to trip breaker from
remote location
Consists of a momentarily
rated solenoid
Must be energized by control
power source
Notes:
NOT to be used with maintained
contacts.
NOT to be used as a circuit
interlock.
Undervoltage Release
Trips breaker when voltage
falls below 35 to 70% of
solenoid rating.
Three types available:
automatic reset
handle reset
electric reset
Breaker cannot be turned on
until voltage returns to 85%
of normal
Note: NOT to be used as a
circuit interlock
Standard Requirements
MCCB Standard Requirements
Tests covered by C22.2 No. 5.1
US Manufacturers also comply to UL489
Quick Overview of Tests:
1.2 m of cable on load side of breaker helps test wires
for pull-out and to test for breakage of the MCCB case
from stress
Calibration test
Required to interrupt a number of overload and fault
conditions, be reset, and be put back into service.
Dielectric withstand test (2 x Rated Voltage + 1000V)
Fault test 2 operations: open and close-open
(optional) IER / Series Rating tests in rated enclosures
Unusual Operating
Conditions
MCCB - Unusual Operating
Conditions
High Ambient Temperatures > 40o C
De-rate Thermal Magnetic Breakers Calibrated @ 40o C in
accordance with Manufacturers Tables (note: some
electronic trip units do not require de-rating)
Some manufacturers have special use breakers suitable for
50C
Rule of Thumb from IEEE Std 1015-1997 Blue Book for
MCCBs (assume T1=T2 = 90C):

I 2 = I 1 (T 2 A2) /(T 1 A1)

MCCB - Unusual Operating
Conditions
Low Temperatures
MCCB - Unusual Operating
Conditions

Very Low Ambient Temperatures

Ref: IEEE Standard 1015-1997 Blue Book MCCB and
ICCBs 5C
Ratings from one manufacturer:
Environment Duty 20C -> 50C (CSA listed)
Typically 5C -> 40C
Change of grease required to perform at low temperatures
represents a material change to the breaker.
Use of breakers below temperatures listed by the
manufacturer may require special consideration, such as the
use of a thermostat / space heater in the enclosure. Refer to
manufacturer.
MCCB - Unusual Operating
Conditions
High X/R
Molded case breakers and Power Circuit Breakers are
evaluated differently for X/R
If System X/R > Standard X/R, no de-rating is required.
Power Breakers are tested with X/R ratio of 6.6
MCCBs are tested with varying X/R :
Tested X/R varies from 6.6 to 1.75 depending on interrupting
rating.
Can obtain multiplication factors for short circuit interrupting
rating and ranges in IEEE Blue Book
Harmonics
May affect the accuracy of Peak Sensing Electronic Trip
Units / Relays. Modern protective relays that use RMS sensing
typically do not have this issue.
MCCB - Unusual Operating
Conditions
High Altitude > 6000 Ft
Dielectric is air, which is thinner at high altitude.
Affects both the Voltage and Current Rating.
IC usually unchanged if Voltage is de-rated.
One Manufacturer:
Typ. -3% V per 1000 ft over 6000 with IC remaining as

published.
Typ. De-rate current equal to a 3C increase in Ambient

per 1000 ft over 6000 (in addition to standard 80% de-

rating)
Always use manufacturer tables.
MCCB - Unusual Operating
Conditions
Moisture
High Humidity is usually remedied by space heaters /
thermostat to prevent condensation.
Incorrect installation of panel.
Sample breaker from outdoor panel that was allowing
water ingress.
Common Errors
MCCB Common Application
Errors
Incorrect Interrupting Rating
Fault study not completed.
Add breaker with one of lower interrupting rating.
Interrupting rating not de-rated for altitude > 6000 ft.
MCCB Common Application
Errors
Incorrect Voltage Rating
Consider the Y Resistance grounded system below
Error is using breakers that are slash-rated ie:
347Y/600V vs straight-rated ie: 600V breakers
Further IEEE recommendations in Std. 141-1993 [B4]
MCCB Common Application
Errors
Incorrect Voltage Rating
Grounded B-phase system requires special attention.
A L-G fault, at full L-L voltage would be interrupted by a
single pole of a MCCB. There is a single-pole test at L-L
in C22.2 No 5.1, but at reduced interrupting rating.
UL listed breakers suitable for use will be marked 1ph-
3ph, otherwise refer to manufacturer.
MCCB Common Application
Errors
Incorrect current rating
Breakers, unless noted as 100% Rated are 80% rated
in enclosures.
May cause nuisance tripping.
MCCB Common Application
Errors
Use of Refurbished molded case circuit
breakers.
Better Protection
MCCB Enhanced Protection
Options
Breakers and Relaying
Only simple provisions (shunt trip, trip coil) are required
to trip a breaker safely.
Allows many enhanced protection options via external
or internal breaker relaying.
MCCB Enhanced Protection
Options
Ground Fault Relaying
Ground faults are usually less than 38% of fault level
and are extremely damaging to downstream equipment.
The faster these are cleared the damage is greatly
reduced.
New MCCB Technology /
Advanced Applications
Series Ratings (IER)
New MCCB Technology /
Advanced Applications
Selectively Coordinated Systems
Selectively Coordinated Systems

Zone selective interlocking is a means by which two or more

selectively coordinated trip devices can communicate and
alter their preset tripping mode to provide faster response
time for upstream fault conditions. This allows the nearest
upstream breaker from the faulted zone to clear the circuit
in the shortest time possible and reduce the system
damage level potential.
Selectively Coordinated Systems
LVPCBs with MCCBs
Full discrimination
Optimum continuity of service
Short Time Delay - Allows the main breaker to remain
closed for up to 30 cycles, but
Subjects equipment to high mechanical and
thermal stresses
Higher equipment cost
Larger equipment size
Greater arc flash hazard risks
Short Time Delay
Co-Ordination Benefit Example 1 -
Selective Co-Ordination
Zone Selective and Arc Flash
Unless a Low Voltage Power Circuit Breaker operates in the
Instantaneous trip mode, the arc flash energy values will typically
require Category 3 PPE or greater. The example on the next page
illustrates this.

Zone Selectively Interlocked Breakers provide significantly lower Arc

Flash energy values:
Refer to your manufacturer for test data for arc flash using Selective
Co-Ordination.
During maintenance it is usually recommended to temporarily adjust the
Instantaneous and Ground Fault (if available) trip settings to their lowest
value.
Zone Selective Interlock Example
M1

SD=
0.5S

35kA fault current

F1 F2 X F3

SD= SD= SD=

0.3S 0.3S 0.3S

Without ZSI = 0.5 S: With ZSI = 0.08 S:

43.7 Cal/cm2 7.0 Cal/cm2
Greater than Cat. 4 PPE Cat. 2 PPE
DANGER! FR Shirt & Pants
Home Safety
New MCCB Technology /
Advanced Applications
Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters Home Safety
The CEC and AFCI
CEC
26-722(f): Branch circuits that supply receptacles installed
in sleeping facilities of a dwelling unit shall be protected by
an arc-fault circuit interrupter.

26-722(g): For the purposes of paragraph (f), an arc-fault

circuit interrupter means a device intended to provide
protection from the effects of arc-faults by recognizing
characteristics unique to arcing and functioning to de-
energize the circuit when an arc-fault is detected.
 Causes of Residential Fires

160,000
Smoking
140,000

120,000
Cooking
100,000

80,000
Heating
60,000

40,000

20,000 Arson

Electrical
Distribution
87

89

91

93

95

97
19

19

19

19

19

19

Source: NFPA
Where Do Electrical Fires Start?

Study conducted by NEMA task force

Where Do Electrical Fires Start?

Zone
Zone 00
2%
2%
Zone
Zone 11
Zone
Zone 33 36%
36%
50%
50%

Zone
Zone 22
12%
12%
Why Do Electrical Fires Start?
 Why Do Electrical Fires Start?
Homeowner Abuse:
The Results:
Why didnt the Standard Breaker
Trip?
Current breakers offer three elements of protection

Thermal -
Protects wire from overheating due to low level current overloads -
requires 3+ seconds of overcurrent to move the bimetal

Magnetic
Protects wire from high short circuit currents - utilizes an
electromagnet

Ground Fault (optional)

Senses unbalanced line to neutral loads
5mA and 30mA sensitivity
 Typical Arc Current Waveform

Typical current waveforms observed when a carbon-steel blade cuts

through 16 AWG SPT-2 cord. The available current is 100A.
A Two Tier Challenge
Required Innovation
Determine unsafe versus
acceptable arcing
Avoid unnecessary breaker
tripping

Technical Challenge

Detect Arcing Faults

De-energize the effected
circuit
 AFCI Electronics

The challenge has been to design electronic

circuitry that recognizes arc signatures.
Types of Arcing Faults
Series Arc Fault (undetectable by other means)
Parallel Arc Fault (undetectable by other means)
Arcing Faults to Ground (also GFCI)

Series Arcing
L1
Parallel Arcing (Line-Neutral) Load
N
Parallel Arcing (Line-Gnd)

Gnd Equipment Grounding Conductor

Arc Fault Demo
Questions?