Data Bulletin

0100DB0101 Cedar Rapids, IA, USA 06/01

Determining Current Carrying Capacity in Special Applications

INTRODUCTION
To meet the requirements of Underwriters Laboratories Standard 489, molded case circuit breakers are designed, built, and calibrated for use on 60 Hz ac systems in a 40C (104F) ambient temperature. Time/current characteristic trip curves are drawn from actual test data that meets UL 489 testing requirements. When applied at ambient temperatures other than 40C, at frequencies other than 60 Hz, on dc systems, or in other extreme conditions, the performance characteristics of the circuit breaker may be affected. In these cases, the current carrying capacity and/or trip characteristics of the circuit breaker may vary. This bulletin explains how to correctly apply circuit breakers under these special conditions.

RERATING FOR AMBIENT CONDITIONS

Ambient temperature is defined as the temperature of the air surrounding a circuit breaker. Since thermal-magnetic circuit breakers are temperaturesensitive devices, their rated continuous current carrying capacity is based on a UL specified 40C (104F) calibration temperature. When applied at temperature other than 40C, it is necessary to determine a circuit breakers actual current carrying capacity under this condition. Square D circuit breakers can be applied in ambient temperatures within the range of -10C to 60C (14F to 140F). This document provides guidelines to follow when adjusting for ambient conditions.

WHEN IS AMBIENT RERATING NECESSARY?

By properly applying an appropriate ambient rerating curve (see Figs. 427 on pages 512), a circuit breakers current carrying capacity at various temperatures can be predicted. Follow the procedure outlined in this bulletin and select cable per NEC Table 310-16, taking ambient temperature into account.

Thermal-Magnetic Circuit Breakers

Ambient Temperatures Between 25C and 40C (77F and 104F): No rerating is necessary. Ambient Temperatures Between -10C and 24C (14F and 75F): Circuit breakers operating within this ambient temperature range will carry more than their continuous current rating without tripping. Nuisance tripping will not be a problem. However, if closer protection of the equipment and conductor is required, the increased current carrying capacity of the circuit breaker at the lower ambient temperature should be taken into consideration. Ambient Temperatures Between 41C and 60C (106F and 140F): Circuit breakers operating within this ambient temperature range will carry less than rated continuous current and must be carefully selected to prevent nuisance tripping.

Electronic Trip Circuit Breakers

The trip units on Square D electronic trip circuit breakers are ambientinsensitive from -10C to 60C (14F to 140F). Temperatures outside this range may damage the trip units circuitry or other components. Rerating due to ambient conditions is required on certain circuit breaker frames to prevent overheating of internal circuit breaker components. Consult Square D Company for appropriate circuit breaker rerating factors and the National Electrical Code (NEC) for derating of conductors.

19882001 Schneider Electric All Rights Reserved

Determining Current Carrying Capacity in Special Applications Data Bulletin

0100DB0101 06/01

HOW TO RERATE CIRCUIT BREAKERS FOR AMBIENT CONDITIONS

To determine the continuous current carrying capacity of a thermal-magnetic circuit breaker at an ambient temperature other than rated ambient temperature (40C), perform the following steps: 1. Choose the ambient rerating curve for the circuit breaker family involved (see Figs. 427 on pages 512). 2. Find the curve for the circuit breaker you wish to apply. Note that the curve crosses the 40C (104F) ambient temperature line at the circuit breakers rated continuous current carrying capacity (Circuit Breaker Handle Rating on the curve).

01003000

3. Follow this curve to the appropriate ambient temperature. 4. Read the adjusted continuous current carrying capacity at this point (on the left axis).
Circuit Breaker Handle Rating

5. Add in any other applicable factors, such as continuous loading, per the NEC requirement discussed below. For example, Figure 1 shows the ambient rerating curves for a 400 A frame LA circuit breaker. What is the continuous current capacity of a 400 A circuit breaker applied at 40C (104F)? At 10C (50F)? At 60C (140F)? By finding 40C on the horizontal axis and reading up to the 400 A curve, you find that the circuit breaker will carry 400 A, which is its rated current carrying capacity. If the circuit breaker will be used on a continuous load (defined as three hours or more), Section 210-20(a) of the 1999 NEC requires that loading not exceed 80% of the rating. Here, 400 A x .80 = 320 A. As explained in Section 210-20(a) of the NEC:

CURRENT CARRYING CAPACITY (AMPERES)

600 550 500 450 400 350 300 250 200 150

400 A 350 A 300 A 250 A

Where a branch circuit supplies continuous loads or any combination of continuous and noncontinuous loads, the rating of the overcurrent device shall not be less than the noncontinuous load plus 125 percent of the continuous load.

175 A 100 50 -10 0 (14) (32) 20 (68) 40 (104) 60 (140) C (F) 125 A

Exception: Where the assembly, including the overcurrent devices protecting the branch circuit(s), is listed for operation at 100 percent of its rating, the ampere rating of the overcurrent device shall be permitted to be not less than the sum of the continuous load plus the noncontinuous load.
If you locate 10C (50F) on the horizontal axis and read up to the 400 A curve, you find that the circuit breaker will carry 500 A. Again, if the circuit is used on a continuous load, it must be applied at 80% of its rating. Here, this is 500 A x .80 = 400 A. Finally, if you apply the circuit breaker at 60C, reading the curve will tell you that the circuit breaker will carry 335 A. Used on a continuous load, the circuit breaker must be applied at 80% of its rating. Here, this is 335 A x .80 = 272 A.

AMBIENT TEMPERATURE

Figure 1:

Ambient Rerating ExampleLA, LAL Circuit Breakers

19882001 Schneider Electric All Rights Reserved

0100DB0101 06/01

Determining Current Carrying Capacity in Special Applications Data Bulletin

RERATING FOR HIGH FREQUENCY

Application of thermal-magnetic circuit breakers at frequencies above 60 Hz requires that special consideration be given to the effects of high frequency on the circuit breaker characteristics. Thermal and magnetic operations must be treated separately. At frequencies below 60 Hz, the thermal rerating of thermal-magnetic circuit breakers is negligible. However, at frequencies above 60 Hz, thermal rerating is required. One of the most common high frequency applications is at 400 Hz. Figure 2 indicates the thermal rerating multiplier to be used with each circuit breaker family when applied on 400 Hz systems.
01003001

Thermal Performance EXAMPLE When applying a 200 ampere KA circuit breaker on a 400 Hz system, the circuit breakers current carrying capacity will be as follows: Non-continuous Loads (less than three hours): Using Figure 2, the KA circuit breaker should be applied at .92 of rating, or 184 amperes. Continuous Loads (three hours of more): NEC Article 210-20(a) requires that standard circuit breaker loading does not exceed 80% of the circuit breakers rating when used for continuous loads. (Unless the assembly is rated for operation at 100% of rating.) Therefore, the current carrying capacity of a 200 ampere KA circuit breaker operating under continuous load at 400 Hz would be 200 A x .92 x .80 = 147 A. Magnetic Performance

1.0

EH, FY, FA

Derating Multiplier

.9
KA , LA

.8 QO .7

Q2

, Q4

, MA

, NH

PA, PC .6

.5 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 2000

Current Rating in Amperes

Figure 2:

400 Hz Thermal Rerating Multiplier

At frequencies above 60 Hz, tests indicate that it takes more current to magnetically trip a circuit breaker than is required at 60 Hz. Figure 3 shows the multipliers of 60 Hz current that it takes to instantaneously trip a circuit breaker when applied at various frequencies.
01003002

EXAMPLE At 60 Hz, it takes 1000 amperes (nominal) to instantaneously trip a 200 ampere KA circuit breaker at its low setting. At 400 Hz, it takes 2600 amperes (2.6 multiples) to instantaneously trip the same circuit breaker.

20

lp Magnetic Trip Multiplier

15

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3

2 1.5

60 70 80 90 100

150

200

300

400

500 600

700 800 900 1000

1500

2000

3000

4000

Line Frequency in Hertz

EXAMPLE Unless specifically marked, on 400 Hz systems the interrupting capacity of Square D circuit breakers is reduced to 1/10 of the 60 Hz interrupting capacity. This is generally acceptable because most 400 Hz applications are generator systems with a maximum available fault current of 1000 amperes or less.

Figure 3:

High Frequency Magnetic Trip Multiplier

At frequencies above 60 Hz, the interrupting capacity of thermal-magnetic circuit breakers is less than the 60 Hz interrupting capacity.

5000 6000 7000 8000 9000 10000

15

20

30

40

50

19882001 Schneider Electric All Rights Reserved

Determining Current Carrying Capacity in Special Applications Data Bulletin

0100DB0101 06/01

RERATING FOR HIGH ALTITUDE

EXAMPLE A 100 A, 600 Vac, FA circuit breaker is to be applied at an altitude of 10,000 feet. Its current carrying capacity must be adjusted to 0.96 of rated current (100 x 0.96 = 96 amperes) and voltage rating adjusted to 0.80 (600 x 0.80 = 480 Vac). Therefore, when this circuit breaker is applied at 10,000 feet, it should be considered a 96 A, 480 Vac circuit breaker.

When applying thermal-magnetic circuit breakers at high altitudes, both current and voltage adjustments are required. Current rerating is required because of the reduced cooling effects of the thinner air present in high altitude applications. Voltage rerating is necessary because of the reduced dielectric strength of the air. The following values are taken from the ANSI Standards C37-13-1981 and C37-14-1979 and should be used when aplying Square D circuit breakers at high altitudes:
Altitude Multiplier Altitude
06600 ft. (02011 m) 66008500 ft. (20112591 m)

Current
1 0.99

Voltage
1 0.95 0.80

850013000 ft. (25913962 m) 0.96

RERATING FOR DIRECT CURRENT

Trip curves provide complete time/current characteristics of circuit breakers when applied on ac systems only. When applying Square D thermalmagnetic circuit breakers, 1000 A frame or less, on dc systems, the circuit breakers thermal characteristics remain unchanged. The magnetic portion of the curve, on the other hand, requires a multiplier to determine an equivalent dc trip range. This is necessary because time-current curves are drawn using root-mean-square (RMS) values of arc current, while dc current is measured in peak amperes. The table below lists this multiplier for the magnetic portion of each family of thermal-magnetic circuit breakers:
Circuit Breaker Family Continuous Current Multiplier
QO Q1 Q2 EH FA/FH KA/KH LA/LH MA/MH 1.2 1.3 1.35 1.3 1.15 HI: 1.15, LO: 1.3 HI: 1.2, LO: 1.4 HI; 1.1, LO: 1.2

EXAMPLE Determine the equivalent dc magnetic trip level for a 200 ampere KA circuit breaker: AC HI Value = 2000 A 20% DC HI Value = 2000 A x 1.15 = 2300 A 20% AC LO Value = 1000 A 25% DC LO value = 1000 A x 1.3 = 1300 A 25%

Thermal-magnetic circuit breakers above 1000 A frame and all electronic trip circuit breakersunless specifically marked for use on dc systemsutilize current transformers in the current detection circuitry and can not be used on dc systems. For interrupting ratings in dc applications, please refer to Square D data bulletin 0600DB0104, DC-rated Circuit Breakers.

19882001 Schneider Electric All Rights Reserved

0100DB0101 06/01

Determining Current Carrying Capacity in Special Applications Data Bulletin

AMBIENT RERATING CURVES

01003004

Circuit Breaker Handle Rating

Circuit Breaker Handle Rating

01003003

01003005

150 140 CURRENT CARRYING CAPACITY (AMPERES) 130 120 110

CURRENT CARRYING CAPACITY (AMPERES)

CURRENT CARRYING CAPACITY (AMPERES)

125 A 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 80 A 70 A 60 A 50 A 40 A 30 A 20 20 A 15 A 10 A 20 (68) 40 (104) 60 (140) C (F) 110 A 100 A 90 A

275 250 225 200 175 150 125 100 75 50 25 -10 0 (14) (32) 20 (68) 40 (104) 60 (140) C (F) 200 A 175 A 150 A 125 A

60 50 40 30 30 A 20 10 -10 0 (14) (32) 20 (68) 40 (104) 20 A 15 A

10 -10 0 (14) (32)

60 (140) C (F)

AMBIENT TEMPERATURE

AMBIENT TEMPERATURE

AMBIENT TEMPERATURE

Figure 4:

QOT Circuit Breakers

Figure 5:

QO, QOB Circuit Breakers

Figure 6:

QE Circuit Breakers

Circuit Breaker Handle Rating

160

19882001 Schneider Electric All Rights Reserved

Determining Current Carrying Capacity in Special Applications Data Bulletin

0100DB0101 06/01

Circuit Breaker Handle Rating

160 150 140

CURRENT CARRYING CAPACITY (AMPERES)

CURRENT CARRYING CAPACITY (AMPERES)

120 110 100

300 275 250 225 200

CURRENT CARRYING CAPACITY (AMPERES)

130

325

325 300 275 250 225 200 175 150 125 100 75 50 25

125 A

110 A 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 -10 0 (14) (32) 20 (68) 40 (104) 60 (140) C (F) 100 A 90 A 80 A 70 A

225 A 175 150 125 100 75 50 25 -10 0 (14) (32) 20 (68) 40 (104) 60 (140) C (F) 200 A 175 A 150 A

225 A 200 A 175 A 150 A 125 A 100 A

-10 0 (14) (32)

20 (68)

40 (104)

60 (140) C (F)

AMBIENT TEMPERATURE

AMBIENT TEMPERATURE

AMBIENT TEMPERATURE

Figure 7:

QOM1 Circuit Breakers

Figure 8:

QOM2 Circuit Breakers

Figure 9:

Q2 Circuit Breakers

19882001 Schneider Electric All Rights Reserved

Circuit Breaker Handle Rating

Circuit Breaker Handle Rating

01003006

01003007

01003008

0100DB0101 06/01

Determining Current Carrying Capacity in Special Applications Data Bulletin

Circuit Breaker Handle Rating

Circuit Breaker Handle Rating

160 150 140

160 150 140

CURRENT CARRYING CAPACITY (AMPERES)

CURRENT CARRYING CAPACITY (AMPERES)

CURRENT CARRYING CAPACITY (AMPERES)

130 120 110 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30

130 120 110 100 90 80 70 60 50 40

125 A 110 A 100 A 90 A 80 A 70 A 60 A 50 A 45 A 40 A 35 A 30 A 25 A 20 A 15 A

100 A 90 A 80 A 70 A 60 A 50 A 40 A

60 50 40 30 30 A 20 10 -10 0 (14) (32) 20 (68) 40 (104) 20 A 15 A

30 20 10 -10 0 (14) (32) 20 (68) 40 (104)

20 10 -10 0 (14) (32) 20 (68) 40 (104)

60 (140) C (F)

60 (140) C (F)

60 (140) C (F)

AMBIENT TEMPERATURE

AMBIENT TEMPERATURE

AMBIENT TEMPERATURE

Figure 10: FY Circuit Breakers

Figure 11: EDB, EGB, EJB Circuit Breakers

Figure 12: EH Circuit Breakers

Circuit Breaker Handle Rating

01003010

01003009

01003011

30 A 25 A 20 A 15 A

19882001 Schneider Electric All Rights Reserved

Determining Current Carrying Capacity in Special Applications Data Bulletin

0100DB0101 06/01

Circuit Breaker Handle Rating

Circuit Breaker Handle Rating

160 150 140

350 CURRENT CARRYING CAPACITY (AMPERES) 325 300 275 250 225 200 175 150 125 100 75 50 25 -10 0 (14) (32) 20 (68) 40 (104)

CURRENT CARRYING CAPACITY (AMPERES)

CURRENT CARRYING CAPACITY (AMPERES)

130 120 110 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 -10 0 (14) (32) 20 (68) 40 (104)

600 550 500 450 400 350 300 250 200 150

100 A 90 A 80 A 70 A 60 A 50 A 40 A 30 A 20 A 15 A

250 A 225 A 200 A 175 A 150 A 125 A 100 A

400 A 350 A 300 A 250 A

175 A 100 75 A 50 -10 0 (14) (32) 20 (68) 40 (104) 60 (140) C (F) 125 A

60 (140) C (F)

60 (140) C (F)

AMBIENT TEMPERATURE

AMBIENT TEMPERATURE

AMBIENT TEMPERATURE

Figure 13: FA Circuit Breakers

Figure 14: KA Circuit Breakers

Figure 15: LA Circuit Breakers

19882001 Schneider Electric All Rights Reserved

Circuit Breaker Handle Rating

01003012

01003013

01003014

0100DB0101 06/01

Determining Current Carrying Capacity in Special Applications Data Bulletin

Circuit Breaker Handle Rating

Circuit Breaker Handle Rating

850 800 CURRENT CARRYING CAPACITY (AMPERES) 750 700 650 600 550 500 450 400 350 300 250 200 150 -10 0 (14) (32) 20 (68) 40 (104)

1400 CURRENT CARRYING CAPACITY (AMPERES) 1300 1200 1100 1000 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 -10 0 (14) (32) 20 (68) 40 (104)

600 A

1000 A 900 A 800 A 700 A 600 A 500 A 400 A

CURRENT CARRYING CAPACITY (AMPERES)

1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 1200 A 1000 A 800 A 700 A 600 A

500 A 450 A 400 A 350 A 300 A

300 A 200 A 125 A 60 (140) C (F) 400 200 -10 0 (14) (32) 20 (68) 40 (104)

60 (140) C (F)

60 (140) C (F)

AMBIENT TEMPERATURE

AMBIENT TEMPERATURE

AMBIENT TEMPERATURE

Figure 16: LC Circuit Breakers

Figure 17: MA Circuit Breakers

Figure 18: NH Circuit Breakers

Circuit Breaker Handle Rating

01003015

01003016

01003017

19882001 Schneider Electric All Rights Reserved

Determining Current Carrying Capacity in Special Applications Data Bulletin

0100DB0101 06/01

Circuit Breaker Handle Rating

01003019

01003018

Circuit Breaker Handle Rating

01003024

3200 3000 2800

160 150 140 CURRENT CARRYING CAPACITY (AMPERES) 130 120 110 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10

160 150 140 CURRENT CARRYING CAPACITY (AMPERES) 130 120 110 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 -10 0 (14) (32) 20 (68) 40 (104)

CURRENT CARRYING CAPACITY (AMPERES)

2600 2400 2200 2000 2000 A 1800 1600 1400 1200 1000 1000 A 800 600 400 200 -10 0 (14) (32) 20 (68) 40 (104) 60 (140) C (F) 800 A 700 A 600 A 1800 A 1600 A 1400 A 1200 A 2500 A

100 A 90 A 80 A 70 A 60 A 50 A 40 A 30 A 20 A

100 A 90 A 80 A 70 A 60 A 50 A 40 A 30 A 20 A

-10 0 (14) (32)

20 (68)

40 (104)

60 (140) C (F)

60 (140) C (F)

AMBIENT TEMPERATURE

AMBIENT TEMPERATURE

AMBIENT TEMPERATURE

Figure 19: PA Circuit Breakers

Figure 20: FI Circuit Breakers (manufactured before June 1985)

Figure 21: FI 600 V Circuit Breakers (manufactured after June 1985

10

19882001 Schneider Electric All Rights Reserved

Circuit Breaker Handle Rating

0100DB0101 06/01

Determining Current Carrying Capacity in Special Applications Data Bulletin

Circuit Breaker Handle Rating

Circuit Breaker Handle Rating

01003025

850 800 CURRENT CARRYING CAPACITY (AMPERES) 750 700 650 600 550 500 450 400 350 300 250 200 150

CURRENT CARRYING CAPACITY (AMPERES)

300 275 250 225 200 175 150 125 100 75 50 25 -10 0 (14) (32) 20 (68) 40 (104)

CURRENT CARRYING CAPACITY (AMPERES)

325 300 275 250 225

250 A 200 175 150 125 100 75 50 25 225 A 200 A 175 A 150 A 125 A 110 A

225 A 200 A 175 A 150 A 125 A 110 A

600 A

500 A 450 A 400 A 350 A 300 A

60 (140) C (F)

-10 0 (14) (32)

20 (68)

40 (104)

60 (140) C (F)

-10 0 (14) (32)

20 (68)

40 (104)

60 (140) C (F)

AMBIENT TEMPERATURE

AMBIENT TEMPERATURE

AMBIENT TEMPERATURE

Figure 22: KI Circuit Breakers (manufactured before April 1985)

Figure 23: KI 600 V Circuit Breakers (manufactured after April 1985)

Figure 24: LI Circuit Breakers

Circuit Breaker Handle Rating

01003023

01003021

19882001 Schneider Electric All Rights Reserved

11

Determining Current Carrying Capacity in Special Applications Data Bulletin

0100DB0101 06/01

Circuit Breaker Handle Rating

150 140 CURRENT CARRYING CAPACITY (AMPERES) 130 120 110 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 -10 0 (14) (32) 20 (68) 40 (104)

01003023

160

220 CURRENT CARRYING CAPACITY (AMPERES) 210 200 190 180 170 160 150 140 130 120 110 100

100 A 90 A 80 A 70 A 60 A 55 A 50 A 45 A 40 A 30 A 25 A 20 A 15 A

150 A

125 A 110 A

90 60 (140) C (F) -10 0 (14) (32) 20 (68) 40 (104) 60 (140) C (F)

AMBIENT TEMPERATURE

AMBIENT TEMPERATURE

Figure 25: QI-QIT Circuit Breakers

Figure 26: QIA Circuit Breakers

Square D Company PO Box 3069 3700 Sixth St SW Cedar Rapids IA 52406-3069 USA 1-888-SquareD (1-888-778-2733) www.SquareD.com

Electrical equipment should be serviced only by qualified personnel. No responsibility is assumed by Schneider Electric for any consequences arising out of the use of this material. This document is not intended as an instruction manual for untrained persons.

12

Circuit Breaker Handle Rating

01003022

19882001 Schneider Electric All Rights Reserved