EVENT, DATE

Short Study of LV Breakers

ACB, MCCB, MCB, RCBO
Ong Peck Seng
Agenda

Short Study of LV Breakers, ACB, MCCB & MCB

Contents
• Introduction
• Primary role of Breakers
• Important Characteristics
• Comparison Charts
• ACB
• MCCB
• MCB
• Coordination and discrimination
• Current Limiting

September 18,
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Short Study of LV Breakers, ACB, MCCB & MCB
Introduction

Objective
This short sharing is intended to give the audiences a good overview and understanding of all
breakers primary role and applications, selection and design, ultimately, we want to achieve with a
safe electrical environment and good system economical results.

Breakers
Generally, there are three types of low voltage Breakers:
• ACB – Air Circuit Breaker, intended to carry high current meant for main circuit.
• MCCB – Molded Case Circuit Breaker, intended to carry average current for feeder circuits.
• MCB – Miniature Circuit Breaker, intended for use in final circuit with low current.

Note: Medium and extra high voltage breakers are in another specialized area which will not
September 18, included in our discussion.
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Short Study of LV Breakers, ACB, MCCB & MCB
Primary Role of Breakers
Recap
Automatic Electric Circuit Breaker or Automatic Circuit Breaker
was first introduced in late 19th Century for high voltage to protect
the transmission and distribution circuits. Not until mid 20th century,
more breakers are commonly applied in the industry to replace Fuses,
especially on the low voltage and small ratings.

Primary Role
The primary role of Breaker is to protect the current carrying
conductor and accessory but not the load.
Although some breakers are built to include the protection of load,
e.g. Motor Circuit Breaker, generally, most breakers are intended to
protect the cable or bus duct and it associated accessories.

Note: Medium and extra high voltage breakers are in another specialized area which will not
September 18, included in our discussion.
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Short Study of LV Breakers, ACB, MCCB & MCB
Example of Motor Circuit Breaker

Example:
Breaker that built-in with load protection –
the Motor Circuit Breaker, commonly known as:
Manual Motor Starter

September 18,
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Short Study of LV Breakers, ACB, MCCB & MCB
Other LV Circuit Breakers

September 18,
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Short Study of LV Breakers, ACB, MCCB & MCB
Type of Electrical Faults

Faults
1. Short Circuit
The fault current can be easily 10 to 100 times
the load current due to direct shorting of the circuit,
usually caused huge damage and fire, dangerous to
building and human life.
(We will focus on addressing this issue)
2. Leakage
Usually is less than 1% of the load current due to
deterioration of insulation, could cause fire or life threatening.
3. Overload
Usually referring to the current of more than
one time the rated current.

September 18,
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Short Study of LV Breakers, ACB, MCCB & MCB
Short Circuit Current

Back to basic – Ohms Law

I = V/R
I : Current
V : Voltage
R : Resistance

Isc
Short Circuit Current
1. When short circuit happen, current flow through the very ‘low resistance’ cables and bypass
‘high resistance’ load thus caused a huge increase in current some 10 to 100 time.
2. Breakers must be design to handle the fault current and protect the circuit.

Note: ABB e-Design soft-ware is a calculation tool help all users and designers to make the
September 18, fault calculation as simple as drag and drop.
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Short Study of LV Breakers, ACB, MCCB & MCB
Important Characteristics of Breakers
Specification Symbol Description

Rated Current In Max continuous current in A (rms)

Rated Voltage
Rated Ultimate short circuit
breaking capacity
Rated Service short circuit
breaking capacity
Rated short time withstand
current (for Cat B only)
Rated breaking capacity
Ue Max continuous voltage in AC(rms) / DC
Icu Max. fault current the breaker is able to clear in kA
rms, with limited number of fault clearance, e.g. ‘O’,
t -> ‘CO’
Ics Usual presented as % of Icu, e.g. 100%. ‘O’, t ->‘CO’,
t ->‘CO’
Icw Max fault current (kA) the breaker is able to
withstand at a defined interval (Sec.)
Icn In kA for MCB in IEC60898

Utilization Category A/B ACB = B, MCCB = A,

Operating temperature degC Min requirement must be > 40 degC ambience

September 18,
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Short Study of LV Breakers, ACB, MCCB & MCB
General Comparison Chart of Breakers
Description ACB MCCB MCB Remarks

Applications Main Circuit Feeder Circuit Final Circuit

Rating > 1000A 100 ->1000A < 100A Overlap exist

Utilization Category Cat B Cat A

Current Limiting No Yes Yes

Current withstand, Icw Yes No No

Operation Multi stroke Single Single

charging
Trip adjustment Yes Yes No

Trip indication Yes Yes No

Withdrawable or Plug-in Usually preferred Not as common Special SmissLineTP

application

September 18,
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Short Study of LV Breakers, ACB, MCCB & MCB
Others Comparison

Description ACB MCCB MCB Remarks

IEC Standard 60947 60947 60898/60947 60898 for

domestic
Icu / Ics 50 ~ 200kA 25 ~ 150kA -

Icn - - ≤ 10kA Re 60898

AT / AF AT ≤ AF AT ≤ AF AT = AF

Test Position Yes No No

(Test of control circuit
without main connected)

September 18, Note: ELCB/RCCB under MCB category

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Short Study of LV Breakers, ACB, MCCB & MCB
Cat A or Cat B Selection

Note: Main or sub-main circuit breaker will be using Cat B, others will be Cat A and for final
September 18, circuit, using MCB is out of the category definition
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Short Study of LV Breakers, ACB, MCCB & MCB
Fault Current

Note: All breakers selection must be based on the “electrical environment” to size the
September 18, “Breaking” Capacity.
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Short Study of LV Breakers, ACB, MCCB & MCB
Icu – Rated Ultimate S/C Breaking Capacity

Icu
The rated ultimate short circuit breaking capacity of a circuit breaker is defined in kA and is the
maximum short circuit current value which the circuit-breaker can break twice (in accordance with a
sequence O – t – CO) at the corresponding rated operating voltage. After the opening and closing
sequence the circuit-breaker is not required to carry its rated current (circuit breaker break-down
and unable to re-close is acceptable but must not create any fire hazardous during the last opening)

Note: Majority of faults did not reached the full rated fault current due to higher fault
September 18, impedance (not bolted fault).
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Short Study of LV Breakers, ACB, MCCB & MCB
Icu – Rated Service S/C Breaking Capacity

Ics
The rated service short circuit breaking capacity of a circuit breaker is defined in kA and is the
maximum short circuit current value which the circuit-breaker can break three times in accordance
with a sequence of opening and closing operation (O – t – CO – t -- CO) at the defined rated
operating voltage (Ue) and at the defined power factor . After this sequence the circuit-breaker is
required to carry its rated current. (must be able to perform it rated current carrying but not subject
to next fault)

Note: Majority of faults did not reached the full rated fault current due to higher fault
September 18, impedance (except bolted fault).
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Short Study of LV Breakers, ACB, MCCB & MCB
Icw – Rated S/T Withstand Capacity
Icw
The rated short-time withstand current is the current that the circuit-breaker in the closed position
can carry during a specified short time under prescribed conditions of use and behaviors, the circuit
breaker shall be able to carry the current during the associated short-time delay in order to ensure
discrimination between circuit-breakers in series.

No action of the breaker if the fault is cleared by

down stream breakers

September 18,
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Short Study of LV Breakers, ACB, MCCB & MCB
Comparison IEC 60947-2 vs IEC 60898

IEC 60947-2 IEC 60898-1

People Instructed Uninstructed

Maintenance Possible Not Possible

Rated Voltage (Ue) < 1000 Vac < 440 Vac

< 1500 Vdc < 220 Vdc
Ambient Temperature 40° C 30° C

Rated Current No limits In = 125 A

(Iu < 6300 A)
Short circuit breaking current No limits for Icu Icn = 25kA (ac)
Icn = 10kA (dc)

September 18,
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