Chapter Three Wiring Methods and Regulations

3-6 Low Voltage Circuit Breakers:-

Circuit Breaker ( C.B.): It is a mechanical switching device capable of
passing and cutting the current in normal working conditions, and also
capable of cutting the current in specified abnormal working states, for
example when a short circuit occurs.
Continuous Current Rating ( In ): It is the maximum continuous current at
which the circuit breaker is designed without disconnecting the circuit.
Setting Current ( Ir ): It is the current that can be adjusted for the circuit
breaker, and it is the maximum continuous current that passes through the
C.B. on which the C.B. has been adjusted without disconnecting the circuit.
Ir is measured in amperes or described as a percentage of In.
Withdrawable Circuit Breaker: This type of C.B. contains, in addition to the
disconnecting contacts, a set of contacts that enable the C.B. to be separated
from the main circuit by pulling method for a distance determined by the
work requirements.
Moulded-Case Circuit Breaker: This type of C.B. has a moulded casing
made of insulating material that is an integral part of the C.B. It has a current
carrying capacity of up to 2500A, and its operation is either thermal or
thermal-magnetic, and the disconnect current of the breaker can be adjusted to
larger values.

Miniature Circuit Breaker: This type of C.B. has a rated current of up to 125
A and its operation is either thermal or thermal-magnetic. These circuit
55 Lecturer:
Dr. Habeeb J. Nekad
Chapter Three Wiring Methods and Regulations

breakers are indicated by the rated current in amperes, but are not indicated by
the ampere unit, i.e. by the letter A, but are indicated by one of the letters ("B"
or "C" or "D") which refers to the instantaneous disconnection current, which
is the lowest current value that causes the circuit to be disconnected by the
C.B. without a delay (less than 100 millisecond). In this type of circuit
breakers it is often not possible to adjust the disconnecting current.
Instantaneous Instantaneous Load Type
Tripping Type Tripping limit
B 3 to 5 In Resistance
C 5 to 10 In Inductance
D 10 to 20 In High purity inductive

56 Lecturer:
Dr. Habeeb J. Nekad
Chapter Three Wiring Methods and Regulations

Time-current curves are essential for the proper coordination of circuit

breakers. In the event of a fault, only the C.B. closest to the fault should
operate, leaving other circuits unaffected.
In the example below, three circuit breakers have been coordinated so that the
tripping time of each breaker is greater than the tripping time for the
downstream breaker(s) regardless of the fault magnitude.

Circuit breaker CB-3 is set to trip if an overload of 2000A or greater occurs

for 0.080 seconds. Circuit breaker CB-2 will trip if the overload remains
for 0.200 seconds, and circuit breaker CB-1 if the fault remains for 20
seconds.
If the fault occurs downstream of breaker CB-3 it will trip first and clear the
fault. Circuit breakers CB-2 and CB-1 will continue to provide power to the
circuit.
Temperature De-rating of C.B

57 Lecturer:
Dr. Habeeb J. Nekad
Chapter Three Wiring Methods and Regulations

3-6 Low Voltage Fuses:-

Fuse: It is a device with a strip or element of easily melted metal placed in an
electric circuit so as to interrupt an excessive current by melting.
Minimum Fusing Current: It is the minimum current at which the fuse
element melts.
Fusing Factor: It is the ratio of the minimum fusing current to the current
rating.

Cut-off Current: It is the maximum value of fault current actually reached

before the fuse melts.
Prospective Current: It is the r.m.s. value of the first loop of the fault current.
Rated Breaking Capacity: It is the highest value of fault current that the fuse
has been tested to interrupt.
HRC or HBC: High Rupturing Capacity or High Breaking Capacity denotes
the ability of the fuse to interrupt extremely high fault currents.
Let Through Energy: It is the integral of square of current for a given time
interval
Note: A calculation of energy which is controlled or cuts off through the fuse,
by convention this energy is sometimes referred to as the Joule-integral ( I2t).
These values represent the total operating and pre-arcing times of the fuse
under onerous conditions of maximum arc energy.
Two values or curves are always given for each fuse:
 Minimum pre-melting I2t: represents the amount of energy let through
by the fuse from the start of the fault up until the time the fuse actually
begins to operate.
 Maximum clearing I2t: represents the total package of energy let
through by the fuse until the instant when the fuse finally interrupts the
fault current.
58 Lecturer:
Dr. Habeeb J. Nekad