Products and Devices

4.4 Low-Voltage Devices

4.4.2 Low-Voltage Protection and Switching Devices

The following chapter focuses on the relevant characteristics and selection criteria of the respective devices that are used in the main power distribution circuits in commercial buildings and in industry.

Circuit-breaker protected switchgear (circuit-breaker) ACB Air circuit-breaker Air circuit-breaker Non-current-limiting circuit-breaker Current-zero cut-off circuit-breaker Molded-case circuit-breaker Molded-case circuit-breaker Current-limiting circuit-breaker

MCCB

Note:
All gures apply for low-voltage power systems or distribution boards in IEC applications. Different regulations and criteria apply for systems according to UL standards. Depending on the country, standard specications, local practices, planning engineer, technical threshold values, etc., lowvoltage power distribution systems are made up of various protective devices.* Circuits and device assignment (section 3.3.2 Dimensioning of Power Distribution Systems) Basic conguration of a low-voltage power distribution system and assignment of the protective devices including core functions Core functions in the respective circuits: Supply circuit Task: System protection Protective device: ACB (air circuit-breaker) Distribution circuit Task: System protection Protective devices: ACB (air circuit-breaker) MCCB (molded-case circuit-breaker) SD (switch-disconnector) Final circuit Task: Motor protection Protective devices: MCCB (circuit-breaker for motor protection) SD (switch-disconnector) MSP (3RT contactor, 3RU overload relay, 3UF motor protection and control devices.
MCB

Miniature circuit-breaker Miniature circuit-breaker

MSP

Motor starter protector

MPCB

Motor protector circuit-breaker Circuit-breaker for motor protection

Fig. 4.4-2: Overview of circuit-breaker protected switchgear

Fuse-protected switchgear (fuse switch-disconnector/switch-disconnector) SD Switch-disconnector Depending on the type of operation, these devices are divided into two main groups:

Operator-dependent Without circuit-breaker latching system, with protection (fuse); with these devices, the fuse is also moved when making and breaking (= fuse switch-disconnector) With circuit-breaker latching system, with protection (fuse); with these devices, the fuse is not moved when making and breaking (= switch-disconnector with fuse Operator-independent With circuit-breaker latching system, without protection (without fuse); these devices are only used to interrupt the circuit, similar to a main switch (= switch-disconnector without fuse) Fig. 4.4-3: Overview of fuse-protected switchgear

* If you have questions on UL applications, please contact your local Siemens representative. We provide solutions for these applications, but they must be treated completely differently.

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Siemens Energy Sector Power Engineering Guide Edition 7.0