Basic Electricity Information

1 Why do we need electricity?

The whole world runs on electricity from your home, car, communications, factories, banking and
even for a cold beer on a hot day.

2 Where does electricity come from?

AC- Alternating Current Electricity gets generated in POWER STATIONS round South Africa and
then carried by over head lines to our homes and factories in the towns and city’s.

DC- Direct Current -Is supplied from wet cell batteries for our car’s and trucks on the road.
Our torches, radios and toys are powered from dry cells – Eveready Batteries.
Our cell phones and lap top computers are powered from NiCad Batteries,
which are rechargeable
Earth
conductor
3 Basic supply of AC Electricity to our homes and factories.
. Transformer 220 volt Live,
Step up neutral and Earth
voltage Supply to house

Sun-station
Pylon Pylon Sub-station
11kv / 220 volt
Power station Insulators House
3 live
conductors

4 Power Station – What are the types of power stations do we have to generate
electricity?
a) Coal Power Station converts water to steam to drive generators.
b) Hydro power Stations uses water falling to drive generators
c) Nuclear used in Koeberg in Cape Town
d) Wind generated power as in Western Cape
 3 How does Electricity get to our houses and factories?
From the power station electricity is carried over copper wire connected to insulators connected to
pylons or poles. Before it enters your home it goes through a sub-station and a transformer to protect
the equipment and reduce the voltage before it enters your home.

4 Why do we have sub – stations?

In the sub-station we have a medium voltage circuit breakers, transformer and a low voltage circuit
breakers.
Circuit Breakers to protect the equipment for a short circuit.
Transformer are used to increase or reduce voltage.

5 What do transformers do in the supply of electricity?

A transformer has a set of copper coils connected round laminated metal plates and is used to step up voltage or step down
voltage in an electrical network.
E.g. Voltage to a city.
Factory
Power
Station

33/132Kv 132/400Kv 400/132Kv 132/11Kv 11Kv/400volts

Types of transformers? Air Cooled or Oil Cooled

Step up Transformer (Increases the voltage so that it can be sent over long distances)

Step Down Transformer (Reduces the voltage so that it can be used in homes and factories)

Symbol for a transformer

Name the windings found in a transformer?

Incoming winding are called the PRIMARY WINDING (Go into school at Primary Level)
Outgoing winding are called the SECONDARY WINDING (Leave school at Secondary Level)

6 What are Pylons?

Pylons are Steel Poles that carry the copper cables over long distances above the ground from the
power stations to the cities.

7 What are insulators?

They hang under the crossbeam on the pylons and the copper cable is connected to them. The high
voltage is separated from the steel poles by the insulators. If the cables touch the metal then it will
cause I short circuit.

8 What is 3 phase and single phase supply?

Three phase - Power Stations only generate 3 phase, which is actually 3 live supplies. They are
known as L1, L2 and L3 and the colours allocated to them are Red Phase, White Phase and Blue
Phase.

Single phase is the use of one of the above 3 phases and have a return path called the Neutral
Conductor.
9 What is the value of the 3-phase voltage in SA at the factory level?
400 volts

10 What is value of the 1 phase voltage in SA at your homes?

220/230 volts

13 Where do you use 3 phase and why?

3 Phase is used in factories for running machinery and it is much cheaper for the purchase of the
electricity and the 3 phase motors.

14 Where do you use single phase and why?

Electricity supply to our homes because all of our appliances like the fridge, TV’s, sound system all
comes at 220/230 volts

15 Where does the neutral come from?

On the outgoing windings of a transformer (Secondary side) the Copper coils are connected in a STAR
CONNECTION and the NEUTRAL is taken from the center point.

L1
S
U
B Neutral connection to a factory

S L2
T
A
T L3
I
O
N

Star Connection to a Transformer

16 How do you calculate the single-phase supply?

Take the 3-phase voltage and divide it by square root of 3.

3 phase Voltage 400 = 230 Volts

3 3

17 House connections – What is the 3 wires you have supplying a house?

Live - 230-volt supply House wire is RED and appliances BROWN
Neutral -Return Feed supply House wire is BLACK and appliances BLUE
Earth - Safety conductor to be connected to all metal to stop people from shocking. House wire
bare copper and appliances GREEN/YELLOW cover.
18 What devices do you connect in a house?
Stove, Geyser, Heater, Lights, Fans, Swimming Pool Pumps – ALL 230 Volt supply
19 House Light Circuit

Circuit Reason for device.

N L
Circuit Breaker – what is it used for?
Protect the circuit from a short circuit – If the Live touches earth – it will TRIP)

Light switch – what is it used for?

Device to switch the light on and off with out danger to the person.

Light – How do you select it for a house?

By the wattage 100 or 60 watts

20 Plug Circuit

Neutral Earth Live

What is an earth leakage used for?

Protect the person from shocks (30 mA)

What is a circuit breaker used for?

Protect the circuit from short circuit

Why do we have plug sockets in our house?

For the ease of moving appliances.

How do you size a heater?

By the Power in KW

21 What is the symbol for power?

P and is in w (watts) or KW (Kilo watts)

22 What is the symbol for voltage?

V ant it remains constant in a supply – 230 volts for a home and 400 volts for a factory.

23 What is current and the symbol?

The symbol for current in AMPS is an I and the units are in Amps. This is the variable energy (does
the work) part of the power supply. The current drawn by a 50kW motor is different to a 5KW motor
even though the voltage remains the same.
23 What is the formula for power on a single-phase system?
Power = Voltage * Current or P=VI
If a heater draws 10 Amp what is the Power used? ( P=VI+ so P = 10 X 230 = 2300 watts or
2,3KW)

24 How do you calculate the CURRENT of a 3000 watt ( 3KW ) Geyser element (230
volts house supply)?

Current = Power in KW I = 3000 Current I = 13 AMPS

Voltage 230

25 NB…. REMEMBER you must select the correct wire size and circuit breaker size to suit the
load in AMPS

Factories Supply and Motor Control

26 Why do factories have distribution boards?
Distribution Boards are usually used to distribute electricity in a factory and circuit breakers are
installed for short circuit protection.

27 What is known as a MCC in a factory?

MCC stands for a MOTOR CONTROL CENTRE and houses all the starters (contactors) and circuit
breakers for a motor starting.

28 What types of devices do you connect in a factory?

Fan, Lights, Pumps, Blowers, Drills, Grinders, Heaters, Air Conditioners, Lathes, Conveyors, Stirrers,
Crushers, etc

29 What is an electric motor and what is it used for?

It is a mechanical device, which is made up of a mechanical frame, rotating rotor and 3 electrical
copper windings. When electricity is connected to the terminals via a contactor and the rotor then
rotates to drive a fan, pump etc to do work

30 Can you get single and three phase motors.

Yes you can purchase both single phase and three phase motors?
Single phase motors – They run on 230 volt and are used for home devices like the pool pump, rotary
saw, small drilling machine.
Three phase motors – they run on three phases 400 volt and are used in factories for conveyors, water
pumps, stirrers, blowers etc.
NB Motors are always sized in KW (Kilo Watts )

31 Give the different windings you get on single and three phase electric motors?
Single Phase – Starting and Running Winding
Three phase _ A motor can be connected in STAR or DELTA.

What is a STAR connection on a three-phase motor?

All of the 3 windings are connected at the center.

L1

3 Motor Windings in Star Connection

 L2
L3
Always EARTH a MOTOR

What is a DELTA connection?

The beginning of the first winding is connected to the end of the second winding until all 3 have been
connected Thus creating a DELTA connection.

L1 Always EARTH a MOTOR

L2
Motor Windings in Delta Connection

L3

32 How do you connect a MAIN CIRCUIT to a three-phase motor?

Circuit Reason of use

L1 L2 L3
Red White Blue

Circuit breaker – A three phase 3 pole D Curve breaker is used

to protect the cable to the motor against Short Circuit
Protection)

Contactor – THREE POLE SWITCH used to start and stop

the motor by putting the required voltage on the coil.
Overload – This is a device used to trip the control circuit when
the motor experiences overloading. – Thermal protection - Heat

Isolator – It is a SAFETY device to open the MAIN CIRCUIT

when a qualified electrician wants to work on the motor.

Motor – Always connect the motor in the way indicated on the

nameplate.

33 What is the short cut way of calculating the current of a 3 phase motor from the
KW (Kilo watt rating)
Kilowatt X 2 = AMPS eg 22 kW Motor X 2 = 44 AMPS (ONLY FOR 3 PHASE MOTORS)
34 What is the short cut way of calculating the kW of a 3 phase motor from the
current.
Current DIVIDED 2 = Kilowatt eg a 60 Amp motor / 2 = 30 Kw

35 How do you calculate the Amps on a 3 Phase System? (2kVA transformer)

Current I = Power of transformer So I = 2 000 * 1000 = 2886 Amps

3 * Voltage 3 * 400

35 What are the two circuits you get with motor starting?
MAIN or POWER CIRCUIT and CONTROL CIRCUIT.

36 What is the difference between the two?

MAIN or POWER CIRCUIT
This is the circuit where the 3 phases (L1, L2, & L3) are connected to the LOAD (Motor or Heater)
through a Contactor. This can switch very high currents to make the motor turn and are shown in the
above diagram.

CONTROL CIRCUIT
This is the circuit that starts and stops the motor by putting power onto the coil of the contactor.
REMEMBER the control voltage is determined by the control devices.
Eg (Coils – 110volt AC, sensors - 110volt AC, pilot lights –110 volt AC, solenoid valve coils – 110
volts AC then the CONTROL CIRCUIT will be 110volt AC)

37 What other voltages can you have on Control Circuits?

AC Circuits
230 volt AC
110 volt AC
24 volt AC

DC Circuits
24 volt DC

38 What devices can be installed in the MAIN CIRCUIT?

Product Reason for being installed

3 Pole D Curve Circuit Breakers Protection Device to protect cable against SHORT CIRCUITS

3 Pole Contactors Power switch to put power onto the motor

3 Pole Overloads Protection Device to protect the motor against OVERLOAD

3 Pole Isolators Safety Device to Isolate the Main Circuit to the Motor

3 Pole Manual Motor Starters A device with a CIRCUIT BREAKER, OVERLOAD and
ISOLATER in
 3 Phase Variable Speed Drives A device which can change the speed of a normal 3 Phase AC
Motor

3 Phase Soft Starters A device which can soft start and soft stop an 3 Phase AC Motor.

39 What devices can be used in CONTROL CIRCUITS

Product Reason for being installed.

Start Buttons A green push button N/O used to start a motor

Stop Buttons A red push button N/C used to stop a motor

Jog Button (Inch button) A black button used to jog a motor forward or backwards

Emergency Stop Buttons A LATCHING RED STOP BUTTON N/C used to stop whole circuit –
safety

Selector Switches A device used to Auto/Manual or Duty Cycle on pumps

Key Switches A Safety device for authorized people only.

Auxiliary Contacts A N/O or N/C contact or contacts that is on contactors, relays, buttons
Safety Pull Wire switches A rope safety switch that can be connected on the side of a 15-meter
conveyor.

Safety Guard Switches Safety switch used on panels covering dangerous moving parts.

Foot Switches A device used by pressing with a foot to release your hands for other
tasks.

Pressure Switches A device to measure pressure in a pipe or cylinder and switch to stop
control.

Vacuum Switch A device to measure a vacuum on a vacuum pump

Limit Switches A mechanical switch with a lever, which is struck by a moving

Micro Switch A device smaller than a limit switch and to do the same function as a
limit
Proximity Sensors A devices that switches when only METAL passes close to the front
surface
Capacitor Sensors A device that switches when ANY MATERIAL passes in front of its
surface.

Photo Electric Sensors A device, which switches when a light beam is broken.

Ultra Sonic Sensors A device which detect sound waves

Light Curtain A device that works on light between two units

Safety Mat A device which has to be stood on to make contact

Two Hand Control A device to make sure both hands are out of the machine

Temperature Controllers A device which switches when correct temperature is reached.

Timer A device which switches when a pre-set time is reached

Relays A device to use as a memory or aux contacts

 Counter A device, which switches when a pre-set count is reached

Pilot Light A device which lights up to indicate electrical conditions

40 Basic Control Circuit Design

Auxiliary
Contact from
Contactor N/O
(Retaining Contact)
Control Neutral
Circuit
Live Breaker

Contactor
Emergency Start Stop Overload N/C
Coil
Stop N/C Button N/O Button N/C

Circuit Breaker This is used for protecting the circuit from short circuits – Usually a 2 Amp CB

Emergency Stop This is a latch button and is at the beginning of the control circuit - Safety

Start Button This is the signal to start the motor. This passes power to the coil of the contactor

Stop Button This is used for normal stopping of the motor – removed power from the contactor coil

Overload This is a contact which is connected to the power circuit to trip the control for
mechanical overloading

Retaining Contact This is a N/O auxiliary contact from the contactor to keep power on the coil when you
remove your finger.

NB – There are many devices you can use to start or stop a motor.
Eg A pressure switch can start and stop the compressor at your local garage.
A light beam can start the fan when you go into a building and a timer can be the stop button.
A foot switch can start a motor and a safety pull wire switch can be used to stop the motor.
A temperature controller can start and stop a cooler motor
A capacitor switch can stop the motor when the flour silo becomes empty.

41 Main Circuit Devices

Contactors
a) What is a CONTACTOR?
It is an ELECTRO-MECHANICAL device used as a POWER SWITCH for opening and closing of
HIGH CURRENTS. (Motor Starting or Switching Heaters)

b) What do you have on a CONTACTOR?

Main Poles Power (Switches)
Electrical Coil
Auxiliary Contacts
MAIN POLES
A CONTACTOR can have 3 or 4 POLES (Switches) for switching high currents.
The current switched determines the size of a contactor.
Contactors for Motor starting (Known as AC 3 duty) is selected by kW or Amp’s
Contactors for Heating (Known as AC 1 duty) are selected by Amps.
COIL”S
The VOLTAGE determines a COIL SELECTION.
Common voltages used:
24 volt DC BD
24 volt DC Low Consumption BL
24 volt AC B7
110 volt AC F7
220 volt AC M7
380 volt AC Q7

AUXILIARY CONTACTS
These are contacts either built into the contactor or can be added on the front or side.
They are used in the control circuit for latching the coil or indication to show the contactor is in.
You can select between N/O (Normally Open) or N/C (Normally Closed)

c) Questions you need to know before supplying a contactor?

Basic Questions.
What CURRENT or KILOWATT will you be switching?
What voltage coil do you need?

Advanced Questions?
Are you switching a MOTOR (AC 3) or a HEATER (AC 1) on?
If a Heater do you want to switch the Neutral (4 Pole Contactor)
What is the MAIN CIRCUIT voltage?
 Is the motor single or 3 phase?

d) What types do Schneider offer?

K Range 6 Amp.. 12 Amps Motor Duty (AC3)
Model D 9 Amp.. 150 Amps Motor Duty (AC 3)
F Range 115 Amps.. 800 Amps Motor Duty (AC 3)
Vacuum Contactor 160 Amps.. 630 Amps Motor Duty (AC 3)
Clapper 80 Amps.. 1000 Amps Motor Duty (AC 3)

Overloads
a) What are OVERLOADS used for?
They are power devices connected into MOTOR CIRCUITS and are used as a safety device to trip the
control when the motor is overloaded mechanically.

b) How do you size an OVERLOAD?

You always size them to the MOTOR NAMEPLATE CURRENT in Amps.

c) How do OVERLOADS measure the current?

They have a small coil on each phase and the current is converted into heat (Overload is known as a
THERMAL DEVICE) and when the motor is mechanically overloaded the heat deflects a bi-metal
plate, which trips the control circuit.

d) How do OVERLOADS trip the circuit?

An overload has a N/O and a N/C contact built in it and the contactor coil wire has to pass through the
N/C contact. This contact opens on a overload fault and causes the contactor to fall out.

e) What do Schneider have in their offer for OVERLOADS?

K Range 0,10 Amp.. 11.5 Amps Motor Duty ( AC3 )
Model D 9 Amp.. 140 Amps Motor Duty ( AC 3 )
F Range 30 Amps.. 630 Amps Motor Duty ( AC 3 )
Multifunction Relay 1 Amp and 5 Amp CT connections

f) What questions do you ask the customer?

Basic Questions
What is the NAMEPLATE current rating on the MOTOR?

Advanced Questions
Is the motor SINGLE or 3 PHASE?
Is the motor connected in STAR / DELTA?
Do you want a Stand Alone overload?

g) What other devices can be used to protect a MOTOR?

Earth Leakage 300mA – Machine Protection

 Thermistor Protection Selected by the TEMPERATURE of the Motor Windings

Isolators
a) What is an Isolator?
An ISOLATER is a POWER SWITCH used in the POWER CIRCUIT to open the electrical
supply to create a safe environment to work in.

b) Why is an ISOLATOR used?

It is used as a SAFETY DEVICE to isolate the electrical supply from the machine.

c) Where do you install an ISOLATOR?

On a panel as a MAIN SWITCH to isolate the panel when the machine is not in use.
With in one meter from a motor so that the motor can be isolated when needed.

d) How do you choose an ISOLATOR?

You choose a ISOLATOR according to the TOTAL CURRENT in AMPS of the machine or motor.

e) What types of mounting do you get in an ISOLATOR?

Base Mount Mounted at the back of a panel with a shaft to the doorknob.
Panel Mount Mounted on the panel and the wiring has to be wired to the isolator.
In an Enclosure Enclosed isolators are used at motors or heaters.

f) Can you add AUXILIRIES on to Schneider’s ISOLATOR range?

Yes and these can be used for the switching the control circuit.

g) Can you get a 4 Pole ISOLATOR?

YES just add an extra pole onto a 3-pole isolator.

h) What has Schneider to offer in the Isolator Range?

Telemecanique Vario Range From 10 Amp to 175 Amp
Multi 9 Isolators From 20 AMP to 100 Amp 1, 2, 3 & 4 poles
Merlin Gerin Interpact Range From 40 Amp to 2500 Amps
NS Range From 100 Amp to 3200 Amp

i) What Questions do you ask the customer to sell him an ISOLATOR?

What current to be switched?
2,3,or 4 Pole
Base mount or panel mount
Stand alone or in an enclosure
Do you require auxiliaries?

j) What is the international symbol to indicate an Isolator?

 Manual Motor Starters
a) What is a MANUAL MOTOR STARTER?
It is a device used in a POWER CIRCUIT of a MOTOR to give it full protection as discussed below.

b) What do you get in a MANUAL MOTOR STARTER?

It has a:
Circuit Breaker D Curve Motor breaker to protect against SHORT CIRCUITS

Overload Motor OVERLOAD to protect the motor against loading

Loss of Phase Protects the 3-phase motor against single phasing (Loss of a live)

Isolator Unit is recognized as a safety Switch as well

Stand-alone contactor Can be used as a contactor for manual start & stop of a motor

Safety Unit is lockable for the safety of the people.

c) Where do you use a MANUAL MOTOR STARTER?

Replaces a Motor Circuit Breaker, Overload and a contactor when used alone on MOTOR CIRCUITS.

d) Can you use it on a single and three-phase motor?

Yes it can be used on 1 phase or 3 phase motors.

e) What have Schneider to offer on Manual Motor Starters.

GV2 ME or GV2 P From 0,06 Amps to 32 Amps
GV3 ME From 40 Amps to 63 Amps

f) Can Auxiliaries be fitted?

Yes they can: Front Mount N/O and or N/C
Side Mount N/O and or N/C
Fault Signaling Contacts
Shunt Trip Coils
No Volt Coils

g) What questions do you have to ask the customer?

Basic Questions
What is the current of the motor.
Is it going into a panel or do you need an enclosure.
Do you need auxiliaries?

Advanced Questions
What is the fault level at the motor? To chose between ME and the P
Do you need a shunt or NO Volt coil? Safety System

Circuit Breakers
1 What is a CIRCUIT BREAKER used for?
It is a device you install in a electrical circuit to protect it against over loading and short circuits.

2 Name the two types of protection you get in a CIRCUIT BREAKER?

The first protection is known as THERMAL PROTECTION and this is to protect the circuit against
OVERLOADING of the cables. Eg If a 20 Amp breaker is put into a circuit and the equipment draws
30 Amps then the Circuit Breaker will trip on THERMAL. (This is not a short circuit)

The second protection is known as MAGNETIC PROTECTION and this is to protect the circuit
against a SHORT CIRCUIT (when the lives touch or they touch the earth wire).

3 What does THERMAL PROTECTION mean?

This is the same as an overload. When the overload current heats a bimetal strip and this deflects and
causes the circuit breaker to trip. A circuit breaker is not a precise device as an overload and
CANNOT be used as an overload protection for a motor.

4 What does MAGNETIC PROTECTION mean?

This is when a short circuit causes a magnetic field in a coil and pulls in a plunger to trip the breaker.
(Magnetic field from the high current is referred to the magnetic protection)

5 How many poles do you get in a breaker?

You can purchase 1, 2, 3 or 4 pole breakers. It depends on the type of circuit.
1 Pole Control circuit, light circuit at home, plug circuit, single phase circuits etc
2 Poles When you want to protect the LIVE and NEUTRAL on a circuit
3 Poles When you want to protect 3 phase circuits, 3 phase motors etc
4 Poles Change over systems, heaters (when you have to break the neutral.)

Advanced information on Breakers

6 What curve types of breakers do Schneider Manufacture?

Type 2 curve 4 – 7 times inrush Domestic use
C curve 7 – 10 times inrush Industrial use
D curve 10 – 14 times inrush Motor applications, transformers
MA curve 10 – 15 times inrush (Magnetic only) Short circuit protection only

NB The larger breakers the curves are adjustable.

7 What is meant by the curve of a breaker?

This is how much current the breaker can handle when you switch the power on. For example a motor
can draw from 6 to 8 times the current when you start it. This is caused by creating the magnetic field
in the motor to get it to turn. If you use a Type 2 curve then the increased current will trip the Type 2
(4 – 7 times) breaker. If we use a D curve then the 10 – 14 times won’t cause the breaker to trip. The
reason you have 2 settings is because the a circuit breaker is not a precision device and will work
between the 2 settings.

8 What types of breakers do Schneider Manufacture?

Multi 9 Offer MCB 1, 2, 3, & 4 Poles from 1 Amp to 125 Amps Current Limiting
NS Offer MCCB 3 & 4 Pole from 80 to 3200 Amps Current Limiting
Masterpact ACB 3 & 4 Pole from 800 to 6300 Amps Zero Point

9 What does MCB and MCCB stand for and what is our offer?
 MCB stands for Miniature Case Breaker
MCCB stands for Molded Case Circuit Breaker

10 What does ACB stand for and what is our offer?

ACB stands for Air Circuit Breaker

11 What breakers do you use on an AC MOTOR?

D curve breaker (10 – 14 times inrush)

12 What is meant by kA on the front of a breaker?

On all breakers you find a kA rating and this is to show the maximum current a breaker can handle
before it becomes unsafe under short circuit conditions. The correct term is the RUPTURING
CAPACITY OF A BTEAKER.
Minimum Domestic use 2.5kA
Minimum Industrial use 5kA
An Electrical Engineer calculates the kA value. The size of the transformer in kW and the size and
distance of the cable from the transformer determine the fault level.

13 What kA values can Schneider’s breakers go to.

Multi 9 Industrial offer 5kA to 25 kA

NS Compact MCB 25kA, 35kA, 70kA & 150kA
Masterpact 42kA to 150kA

14 What is a ZERO POINT CIRCUIT BREAKER?

This is a type of breaker that will only start to trip when the AC Sin wave passes through the Zero
point. This is known as a slow tripping breaker.

AC Sin Wave
Alternating
Current
This is when the
breaker starts to
open after a fault
15 What is CURRENT LIMITING BREAKERS?
This is a type of breaker, which trips straight away when it sees the fault. These breakers are known as
fast tripping breakers.
Fault Occurs
at this point

Fault cleared
at this point

16 Questions to ask about a circuit breaker

Basic Questions
What Current Rating in AMPS
Number of Poles

Advanced Questions
Type of curve or application
What fault current in kA
Do you need any other Auxiliaries (Extra contacts, shunt trips, no volt coils, rotary handle etc)

17 Basic chart for transformers for currents and fault levels from a transformer.

Estimated Values for 380 Volt (Correct values must be calculated as to Transformer Impedance)
Power kVA 63 100 125 160 200 250 315 400 500 630 800 1000 1250 1600 2000 2500
Impedance % 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 6.25 6.25 6.25
Current Amps 96 155 190 245 305 380 480 610 760 960 1220 1520 1900 2435 3040 3800
Fault Level kA 2.4 4 5 6.1 7.6 9.5 12 15.5 19 24 24.5 30.5 38 39 49 61

18 What does CASCADING of circuit breakers mean?

 This is the term used when you have a panel with a high fault level (20kA) and when you use two
circuit breakers in series and you can install breakers of a lower kA value to save money without
decreasing the safety level. The lower kA breaker kA rating is increased to a higher value.
The only problem with this system is when a fault occurs then the upstream breaker or both breakers
open to clear the fault.

Cascading of Breakers

Upstream C120N C120H NS100N NS160N NS250N NS100H NS160H NS250H

380 / 415 volts 10kA 15kA 25kA 36kA 36kA 70kA 70kA 70kA

Unit Trip TM-D

Downstream Rating (Amps)

C45 5kA 1 - 60 Amps 10 15 25 25 25 25 25 25
C120a 5kA 80 - 100 Amps 10 15 25 25 25 25 25 25

Upstream Circuit Breaker

NS100N - 25kA

Downstream Circuit
Breakers
C45 – 5kA

Panel Fault Level

Calculated at 20kA

The downstream breakers are rated at 5kA but by using an

NS100N upstream the rating is increased to 25kA as per table