Circuit Breaker Functions

Circuit breakers are crucial to protecting branch circuits from overloads, short circuit and
ground faults. Circuit breakers are switches that can safely open circuits and be locked
open when it’s time to service/troubleshoot, isolate branch circuits, electrical devices and
equipment.

What must the Circuit Breaker do?

The main objective of a circuit breaker is to safely break open the circuit

It should momentarily withstand the fault current

It should safely break open the circuit

It should quickly extinguish the arc.

Its terminals should withstand the voltage after breaking.

It should prevent the arc from re-striking.

Important Parameters in the

Selection of Circuit Breakers:
Interrupting capacity /KA: it is the maximum current in which the
breaker is designed to interrupt safely at a certain voltage.

Instantaneous pickup: The settings at which the circuit breaker

operates immediately without any intentional delay. All MCCBS and
ICBs possess instantaneous trip settings, while for PCBS it is
optional.  

Short Time settings: It is the characteristic of a circuit breaker to

remain closed for a time interval under a range of high fault
currents. It is an important factor in achieving selective
coordination among circuit breakers.

Long Time settings: It is the setting of the circuit breaker to

determine the time duration to allow a certain overload current to
flow before tripping. (for current magnitudes lesser than short time
or instantaneous pickup).

Continuous Amps: It is the current which the device will carry

without tripping or overheating.

Frame size: Frame size indicates the physical size of the breaker as

well as the maximum continuous current it can tolerate.

Rated KV: It indicates the highest system voltage which the circuit
breaker can sustain.

Rated KVA or MVA: An important characteristic of a circuit breaker

is its breaking or rupturing capacity. It is the maximum current that a
circuit breaker is capable of breaking at a given voltage and under
specific conditions e.g. power factor.

          It is given by the following formula:

MVA rating (breaking capacity) =  

√3 x System voltage x SC current106

=  

√3 x VL  x IF 106

  MVA

Where IF =rated breaking current in Amperes.

Steps to Select a Circuit Breaker

 1. Determine load type to know which breaker suits your application.
2. In case of loads with starting current you should consider the circuit
breaker magnetic trip current is higher than the starting current.
3. In case of protecting sources (ex: UPS) you must select a breaker with
the same value as source rated current.
4. In case of protecting loads the circuit breaker rated current will be 1.25
times the load rated current to allow for overloading cases.
5. Calculating the short circuit level at the circuit breaker is essential to
determine its value so the breaker won’t fail in case of fault.
So after these short tips you are ready now to select the suitable breaker for
your load or source. It’s very easy procedure, but must be done so as not to
expose personnel to shocks or your devices to damage. Remember Safety
comes first.

 Applications of Circuit Breaker

Applications include:

 They are used for switching of loads in Industries, Buildings,

Commercial complexes, Hotels etc.
 Air C/B is used for the protection of plants, electrical machines,
transformers, capacitors and generators.

 Air Blast C/B is used in Indian Railways for electrification.

Testing of Circuit Breaker

Testing of circuit breakers is more difficult as compared to other electrical equipment like
transformer or machine because the short circuit current is very large. Testing of the
transformer is mainly divided into two groups, type tests, and routine tests.

Type Tests of Circuit Breaker

Type tests are conducted for the purpose of proving the capabilities and confirming the
rated characteristic of the circuit breaker. Such tests are conducted in the specially built
testing laboratory.Type tests can be broadly classified as the mechanical performance
test, thermal test, dielectric or insulating test, short circuit test for checking the making
capacity, breaking capacity, short time rating current and operating duty.

Mechanical Test – It is mechanical ability type test involving the repeated opening and
closing of the breaker. A circuit breaker must open and close at the correct speed and
perform its designated duty and operation without mechanical failure.

Thermal Test – Thermal tests are carried out to check the thermal behavior of the circuit
breakers. The breaker under test deal with the steady-state temperature rises due to the
flow of its rated current through its pole in a rated condition. The temperature rise for
rated current should not exceed 40° for current less than 800A normal current and 50° for
normal value of current 800A and above.

Dielectric Test – These tests are performed to check power frequency and impulse
voltage withstand capacity. Power frequency tests are kept on a new circuit breaker; the
test voltage changes with a circuit breaker rated voltage.

The test voltage with a frequency between 15-100Hz is applied as follows. (1) between
poles with circuit breaker closed (2) between pole and earth with circuit breaker open,
and (3) across terminals with circuit breaker open.

In impulse tests impulse voltage of specified magnitude is applied to the breaker. For
outdoor circuit dry and wet tests are conducted.

Short -Circuit Test – Circuit breakers are subjected to sudden short-circuits in short-
circuit test laboratories, and oscillograms are taken to know the behavior of the circuit
breakers at the time of switching in, during contact breaking and after the arc extinction.

The oscillograms are studied with particular reference to the making and breaking
currents, both symmetrical and asymmetrical restriking voltages, and switchgear is
sometimes tested at rated conditions.

Routine Tests of a Circuit Breaker

Routine tests are also performed as per recommendations of the standards of Indian
Engineering Service and Indian Standards. These tests are performed on the
manufacturers’ premises. Routine tests confirm the proper functioning of the circuit
breaker. The routine tests confirm the proper functioning of the circuit breaker.

Power frequency voltage test being the same as mentioned under the heading of type
tests, the millivolt drop test is performed to determine the voltage drop within the current
path of the breaker mechanism. Operational test is performed on the breaker by
simulating its tripping by artificially closing the contacts of the relays.
An electrical circuit breaker is a switching device that can be operated manually or
automatically for controlling and protecting the electrical power system. Without a circuit
breaker, there is a high risk of electrical fires, electrocution and electrical shocks.

There are different types of circuit breakers which are based on voltage, installation

location, external design and interrupting mechanism. Read on to know more.

Different types of circuit breakers and how to identify them:

1. Based on Voltage
o Low voltage circuit breakers:These breakers are rated for use at low
voltages up to 2 kV and are mainly used in small-scale industries.
o High voltage circuit breakers:These breakers are rated for use at voltages
greater than 2 kV. High voltage circuit breakers are further subdivided into
transmission class breakers
 Those which are rated 123 kV and above
 Medium voltage class (lesser than 72 kV) circuit breakers
2. By Installation Location
o Indoor circuit breakers:These are designed to use inside the buildings or in
weather-resistant enclosures. They are typically operated at a medium
voltage with a metal clad switchgear enclosure.
o Outdoor Circuit breakers:You can use these breakers outdoors without any
roof due to their design. Their external enclosure arrangement is strong
compared to the indoor breakers and can withstand wear and tear.
3. Based on External Design
o Dead tank circuit breakers:The breakers whose enclosed tank is at ground
potential are known as dead tank circuit breakers. Their tank encloses all
the insulating and interrupting medium. In other words, the tank is shorted
to ground or it is at dead potential.
o Live tank circuit breakers:These breakers have a tank housing interrupter
that is at a potential above the ground. It is above the ground with some
insulation medium in between.
4. By Interrupting Mechanism
o Air circuit breaker: This breaker uses air as an insulating and
interrupting medium. The breaker is sub-classified into two types
 Low voltage circuit breaker whose value lies below 1000 V
 High voltage circuit breaker whose value is 1000 V and above. It is
further classified into oil circuit breakers and the oil-less circuit
breaker
o Oil circuit breaker: It uses oil as an interrupting and insulating medium.
These breakers are divided into two types based on the pressure and
amount of oil used.
o Vacuum circuit breakers: These breakers use vacuum as the interrupting
medium due to its high dielectric and diffusive properties.
o MCB (Miniature Circuit Breaker): The current ratings for this breaker
are less than 100A and has only one over-current protection built within it.
The trip settings are not adjustable in this circuit.
o MCCB (Moulded Case Circuit Breakers): Current ratings for these
breakers are higher than 1000A. They have earth fault protection along
with current protection. The trip settings of the Molded Case Circuit
Breaker can be adjusted easily.
o Single pole circuit breaker: This breaker has one hot wire and one
neutral wire that operate at 120 V. When there is a fault, it will interrupt
just the hot wire.
o Double pole circuit breaker: This is used for 220 V. There are two hot
wires and both the poles need to be interrupted.
o GFI or GFCI circuit breaker (Ground fault circuit interrupter): These
are safety switches that trip on ground fault current. The GFCI breaker
interrupts the electrical circuit when it detects the slightest variance
between phase and neutral wires.
o Arc Fault circuit interrupter (AFCI): The AFCI breaker interrupts the
circuit during excessive arc conditions and prevents fire. Under the normal
arcing condition, this breaker will be idle and won’t interrupt the circuit.