INSTITUTE OF INTEGRATED

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS
Five types of Special Purpose
OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC Circuit Breakers
• Instantaneous Trip circuit breakers
Special Purpose Circuit Breaker • Mine Duty Circuit Breaker
• Current-limiting Circuit Breaker
• Molded Case Switch
By: Engr. Roberto C. Ocampo
• Integrally fused circuit breakers
Managing Director
GREENLIGHT POWER INC

greenlight.power@skyinet.net

INSTITUTE OF INTEGRATED
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS
Instantaneous trip Circuit
OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC Breaker

Instantaneous Trip
Circuit Breaker

By: Engr. Roberto C. Ocampo

Managing Director
GREENLIGHT POWER INC Adjustable Instantaneous trip

greenlight.power@skyinet.net

Instantaneous trip Circuit

Ratings
Breaker
• Motor circuit Protectors • Instantaneous-trip circuit
• Provide adjustable short circuit protection breakers have maximum
but no overload protection continuous current-carrying
• Must not be used as branch circuit capacity
protection because external overload – Prolonged continuous
protection must be used with this breakers currents exceeding this
• Motor Disconnecting means rating may cause damage to
• Also used for welding equipment for short the circuit breaker
circuit protection

1
 Ratings
• Do not carry an interrupting rating
– Most often applied with motor starters
– Combination starters are short-circuit tested
with the starter and instantaneous-trip circuit
breaker installed.
– The short-circuit rating that is applied is
marked on the combination starter as a result
of this test
Current Limiting Attachment
• Add on current limiting attachment if
added to the loadside of the instantaneous
trip circuit breaker
– Contains specially designed fuses that open
and limit the current that flows under high-
level fault conditions
– Low level currents will be interrupted by the
instantaneous trip circuit breaker without
opening the current limiting attachment
Code Considerations
• Section 430-52
– (FPN) For the purpose of this article,
instantaneous-trip circuit breaker may include
a damping means to accommodate a
transient motor inrush current without
nuisance tripping of the circuit breaker.
Ratings
• NOTE
– Per UL 508-1993 test requirement, after a
short circuit has occurred the circuit breaker
and wires must be capable of continued
service.
• UL 508-1993 test is only for one event of short
circuit occurrence. Inspection should be done on
the next occurrence.
– Overload and contactor, or both may require
repair and replacement
Code Considerations
• Section 430-52
– An instantaneous-trip circuit breaker shall be used
only if adjustable and if part of a listed combination
controller having coordinated motor overload and
short circuit and ground fault protection in each
conductor and the setting is adjused to no more than
the value in Table 430-152. A motor short-circuit
protector shall be permitted in lieu of devices listed in
Table 430-152 if the motor short circuit protector is
part of a listed combination controller having
coordinated motor overload protection and short
circuit and ground fault protection in each conductor
and it will open the circuit at currents exceeding 1300
percent of full load motor current.
Code Considerations
• Design E motors are energy-efficient
motors
• Design B energy efficient may have higher
than 1300% of full load current.
• Use of instantaneous trip circuit breakers
in this application is not recommended.
2
 Setting of instantaneous-trip
circuit breaker
• How do you set instantaneous trip circuit
breaker for maximum protection?
– Maximum protection can be achieved without
nuisance tripping if instantaneous trip circuit
breaker is set just above its starting current
Energy Efficient Motors
• Design B Energy efficient motors may
exhibit starting currents higher than
1300% of their full load current.
– Solution is to use thermal magnetic circuit
breaker that can be applied within NEC Table
430-152 and that has an instantaneous trip
level sufficient to the motor starting current
Mine-Duty Circuit Breaker
• Mine-duty circuit breaker are specifically
designed for mining duty applications and
permit the user to comply with mandatory
mine-duty standards.
– Subjects trailing cables to extreme and
frequent flexing, twisting and crushing
– Electrical faults in trailing cables occur much
more frequently than normal stationary
installation
– Presence of loose coal dust and other
combustible materials makes the occurrence
of fault very hazardous
Setting of instantaneous-trip
circuit breaker
• What if information on starting current is
not available?
– Starting current can be estimated by taking
the motor code from its nameplate and using
the code letter to estimate locked rotor current
from NEC Table 430-7(b)
– Starting current in rms amperes will be
approximately two times the locked rotor
current.
INSTITUTE OF INTEGRATED
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS
OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC
Mine Duty Circuit Breaker
By: Engr. Roberto C. Ocampo
Managing Director
GREENLIGHT POWER INC
greenlight.power@skyinet.net
Mine-Duty Circuit Breaker
• Mine-duty circuit breaker
– Have adjustable instantaneous trip settings
with tighter tolerances, dust shields and
gaskets, non moisture-absorbing materials,
heavy duty operating mechanisms, heavy-
duty undervoltage release and corrosion
resistant nameplates
– Available with voltage ratings up to 1000 V ac
and 300 V dc.
3
 Magnetic Trip Setting
• CFR, Title 30, Section 75.601, Part 75
– Circuit breakers providing short circuit
protection for trailing cables shall be set so as
to not exceed the maximum allowable
instantaneous settings specified in this
section; however, higher settings may be
permitted by an authorized representative of
the Secretary when he has determined that
special application are justified
Testing Requirments
• CFR, Title 30, Section 75.900-2, Part 75
– …In performing such tests, actuating any of
the circuit breaker auxiliaries or control
circuits in any manner which causes the
circuit breaker to open, shall be considered a
proper test. All components of the circuit
breaker and its auxiliary devices shall be
visually examined and such repairs or
adjustments as are indicated by such tests
and examinations shall be carried out
immediately.
Mine Duy Circuit Breaker
• Mine-duty circuit breakers offer adjustable
magnetic-trip points or at least several
settings that comply with the required
maximum allowable trip settings in Table
6.1
Testing Requirments
• CFR, Title 30, Section 75.900-2, Part 75
– Circuit breakers protecting low- and medium-
voltage alternating current circuits serving
three phase alternating current equipment
and their auxiliary devices shall be tested and
examined at least once each month by a
person qualified as provided in 75.153.
• Code of Federal Regulation (CFR)
Circuit Breaker Location
• MCCB used to protect underground
circuits are required to be located in areas
that are accessible for inspection and
testing and have a safe roof
4
 Additional Application
Requirements
• Mine-duty circuit breakers feeding three
phase ac circuits are required to be
equipped with devices to provide
protection against undervoltage, grounded
phase, short circuits and overcurrent
INSTITUTE OF INTEGRATED
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS
OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC
Current Limiting Circuit Breaker
By: Engr. Roberto C. Ocampo
Managing Director
GREENLIGHT POWER INC
greenlight.power@skyinet.net
Current Limiting
• Available from 15 A to 1200 A
• Rated up to 600 Volts
• Interrupting ratings up to 200,000 rms
symmetrical Amps
• Completely clear the faulted circuit within
the first half cycle
Add’l Application Requirement
• Mine-duty circuit breakers are specified to
be equipped with undervoltage release.
The undervoltage release can serve the ff
purposes:
– To trip the circuit breaker during an
undervoltage or power outage condition
– To provide a tripping mechanism that can be
used with ground-fault or interlock circuits
– To provide an emergency tripping device that
can be activated by a remote switch or push-
button
UL 489-1991 Definition
• A circuit breaker that does
not imply a fusible element
and that when operating
within its current limiting
range, limits the let-through
I2t to a value less than the
I2t of a ½ cycle wave of the
symmetrical prospective
current
Current Limiting Circuit Breakers
• Same as conventional thermal-magnetic
circuit breaker or electronic trip circuit
breaker
• Designed so that high-speed contact
separation is achieved under high-level
fault condition
• High speed contact separation is achieved
from different manufacturers technology
5
 Current Limiting
• Can be reset and service can be restored
in same manner as a conventional circuit
breaker after clearing a fault
• Caution is to be observed such that for
every trip of the circuit breaker, it is
important to remove the fault and its cause
before reenergizing
• It is also important to document number of
times fault has been experienced.
Application
• Current Limiting circuit breakers not only
provide high interrupting ratings, but also
limit let-through current and energy to
load-side devices and conductors
Series Rating
• Defined in UL as utilizing circuit breaker or
fuses with current limiting capability in
series with lesser-rated downstream
breakers
• Combination must be tested to verify that
the current limiting circuit breaker will
protect the downstream device under the
test conditions
Current Limiting
• If indications are that the fault was a
significant short circuit, the circuit breaker
should be examined before reenergizing.
• Check for cracks after every trip
• Check for operation difficulty
• Check for severe discoloration
Application
• Used to sufficiently reduce IP and I2t let-
through to values that lesser rated
downstream breakers can interrupt
• Used as either an integral or remote main
breaker for lighting panel boards on
systems with high available fault current.
Series Rating
• Important that series ratings are not limited
to current limiting circuit breaker
• Selectivity will not be provided above any
current level at which the circuit breaker
trip characteristic curve overlap
• For continuity of service is desired, series
connected ratings are not recommended
6
 INSTITUTE OF INTEGRATED
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS
Molded Case Switch w/o
OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC Protection
• Standard Molded
Molded Case Switch Case switch have no
thermal and magnetic
tripping element
By: Engr. Roberto C. Ocampo • Non automatic circuit
Managing Director breaker
GREENLIGHT POWER INC

greenlight.power@skyinet.net

Molded Case Switch with

Magnetic Protection
• Molded Case switch with magnetic trip do not
provide overcurrent protection
• Non adjustable magnetic trip element serves to
protect the switch against the damaging effects
of high level fault currents
• Automatic switch will provide the second level of
isolation while the standard switch does not
have to be reclosed and may be desirable in
some logic system
Ratings
• Have maximum continuous-current rating
which if exceeded for long periods of time
may cause damage to the switch due to
overheating
• Must be protected by an overcurrent
protective device of an equivalent or lower
current rating
• Should not be used in excess of their
withstand rating

Ratings
• Withstand rating from 5000 A to 200,000 A
and are labeled for use in series with a
specific overcurrent protective device or
devices specified
Application
• Provide simple and compact disconnecting
means.
• Meet the requirement of NEC Section 430-
109
– The disconnecting means shall be one of the
following types; motor circuit switch rated in
horsepower, a circuit breaker, or molded case
switch, and shall be listed device.

7

Application
• Capable of making and breaking load
currents up to six times their marked rating
• These switch can be applied where
horsepower ratings are required.
Integrally Fused CB
• Available in both molded case and power
circuit breaker
• The provide high interrupting capability
through the use of specially designed
current limiting fuses (limiters)
• Assembled into the housing of the circuit
breaker or in a fuse truck for LVPCB
Integrally Fused CB
• MCCB construction provides an added
housing and are separated and sealed trip
unit of the circuit breaker for easy access
• PCB, the limiters are mounted on the rear
of the Circuit Breaker frame or in a
separately mounted fuse truck
INSTITUTE OF INTEGRATED
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS
OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC
Integrally Fused Circuit
Breaker
By: Engr. Roberto C. Ocampo
Managing Director
GREENLIGHT POWER INC
greenlight.power@skyinet.net
Integrally Fused CB
• The limiters in these device are designed
to open and need replacement only after a
high level fault
• Circuit breaker portion is interlocked so
that when any one of the limiter opens CB
will trip
• Provided with an interlock to prevent
closing with a missing limitier
Application
• Fused circuit breaker should be selected
so that overcurrent and low magnitude
faults are cleared by thermal or long
time/short time tripping action
• Intermediate level short circuits are
cleared by short time delay magnetic or
instantaneous tripping action
• High level short circuit are cleared by
current limiting fuse and instantaneous trip
8
 Application
• Short time delay characteristics is
beneficial if coordination in the
intermediate current range is desired
• There is a lack of coordination with the
load side protective devices when
currents are in the current limiting range of
the fuse.
Application
• NOTE
– Fused circuit breaker do not have any current
limiting effect until the current associated with
the fault exceeds the threshnold current of the
limiter
– Manufacturers coordination data should be
applied carefully to protect standard breakers
downstream
Application
• When applied on high short circuit current
capacity systems let through effects the
characteristics of the fused circuit breakers
on downstream equipment must be
considered
• Does not necessarily mean that
downstream breakers are adequately
protected against effect of let through
current
Application
• NOTE
– Use of this limiters could result in less than
ideal coordination with the fused circuit
breaker
– May cause frequent blowing of the limiters
and in no case should combination of trip
devices and fuses that are not approved by
the manufacturer be installed.