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S E L EC T I O N G U I D E

Power circuit breaker ratings explained

When selecting the right low voltage

power circuit breaker for an
application, it is important to
consider both short-circuit current
ratings and short-time current
ratings. Understanding these
performance characteristics will help
you choose between the various
circuit breaker designs.

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Darryl Moser A circuit breaker is selected based on its electrical in a power system where the available short-circuit
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ratings to serve a particular purpose in each fault current on the supply side terminals does not
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application, proper selection of the circuit breaker is exceed its maximum interrupting rating.
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essential for the safe and correct operation of the
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electrical system. Two important ratings to consider Short-time current ratings defined
are; short-circuit current rating (this is commonly The short-time current rating of a circuit breaker is
referred to as the maximum interrupting rating) and the ability of the circuit breaker to withstand the
the short-time current rating. In this paper, we will effects of the rated short-time current level over
discuss these circuit breaker ratings and how they can defined time duration. It demonstrates the ability of
affect the protection and selective coordination of the breaker to remain closed for a time interval under
the system. high fault current conditions. The short-time current
rating is used by the engineer to determine the ability
Short-circuit current ratings defined of the circuit breaker to protect itself and to
The short-circuit current rating is the maximum short coordinate with other circuit breakers so the system
circuit current that the circuit breaker is rated to will trip selectively.
safely interrupt at a specific maximum voltage. This
short-circuit current rating is normally expressed in Switchgear ratings
rms symmetrical amperes and is specified by the Users of low-voltage switchgear commonly use the
current magnitude only. If a circuit breaker is provided phrase “bus bracing” to refer to the mechanical
with instantaneous phase trip elements, the strength of the bus bar system in the equipment, but
interrupting capacity is the maximum rating of the when you look into the standards you will not find
device with no intentional delay. If the circuit breaker “bus bracing” defined or listed as a rating. The
is provided without instantaneous phase trip product standards applicable to Metal-Enclosed
elements, or if the instantaneous phase trip elements Power Circuit Breaker Switchgear are IEEE C37.20.10
can be disabled by the user, the interrupting capacity for definitions and IEEE C37.20.1-2018 and C37.51-
is the maximum rating of the device for the rated time 2018 for the ratings; [1] [2] [4].
interval. An engineer can safely apply a circuit breaker
“Rated short-circuit withstand current: The maximum The rated short-time current in LVPCBs is a rating
rms current that a circuit can carry momentarily given to non-automatic circuit breakers, those
without electrical, thermal, or mechanical damage or without trip units, and for non-fused automatic circuit
permanent deformation. The current shall be the rms breakers.
value, including the dc component, at the major peak
of the maximum offset phase as determined from the Note: Rated short-time withstand current is not
envelope of the current wave during a given test time applicable to fused circuit breakers as the fuse will
interval.” [1] open prematurely and not allow the current to flow for
the full duration of the rated short-time withstand
For ratings, reference IEEE C37.20.1 – 2015, IEEE test.
Standard for Metal-Enclosed Low-Voltage (1000 Vac
and below, 3200 Vdc and below) Power Circuit Breaker Trip units
Switchgear. [2]

Rated short-circuit withstand current, which is the

rated symmetrical short-circuit current that the
switchgear bus must be able to withstand for a time
duration of at least four electrical cycles, 0.067
seconds on a 60 Hz system. During this test the
voltage must be at the maximum rated value such as
635V as opposed to a nominal value of 600V and it
must be at a power factor of 15% or lower which
translates into a peak current of at least 2.3 times the Low-voltage power circuit breakers have a 30 cycle
rms value. short-time current rating consistent with the ANSI
C37.50 and UL 1066 standards [3] [5]. This allows them
The test to verify rated short-time withstand current to be used without an instantaneous trip element. The
in low-voltage metal enclosed switchgear is interrupting capacity rating of an LVPCB is the rating
conducted by applying the short-time current level for of the circuit breaker with the instantaneous trip
two periods of one-half second (30 cycles), separated element activated or enabled. Anyone who applies a
by a fifteen second interval with no current; or, at the LVPCB without instantaneous trip elements would
option of the switchgear manufacturer, the test can need to ensure that the short-time current rating of
be performed as a single test of one full second (60 the device is greater than or equal to the available
cycles). short-circuit fault current.

Circuit breaker ratings Modern electronic trip units allow for maximum time-
current curve shaping which helps you to selectively
coordinate with other circuit breakers. These trip
units are designed with adjustments for long-time
pickup threshold and time delay, short­time pickup
threshold and time delay, instantaneous pickup, and
ground fault pickup threshold and time delay.

Protection and coordination

Equipment protection and coordination can be
competing objectives of the system designer, when
applied within their electrical ratings circuit breakers
will safely protect both themselves and the electrical
system. Selective coordination is necessary when
continuity of service is desired. This is often achieved
through the use of the circuit breaker’s short-time
These switchgear bus ratings relate directly to the ratings. An intentional tripping delay may be applied
tests and ratings of the low-voltage power circuit only when downstream circuit breakers have an
breakers (LVPCBs) that are used in the switchgear adequate short-time current rating or are self-
assembly. For example, the short-time current rating protecting.
of the switchgear corresponds directly to the rated
short-time current testing requirement for unfused For many applications in low-voltage power
power circuit breakers in ANSI C37.50 – 2018, distribution systems, a lesser short-time current
reference clause 3.10.1. [3] rating may be acceptable; but, for applications such as
 a main circuit breaker in a service entrance Conclusion
switchboard or switchgear, it may not be. A low- Proper selection of LVPCBs is critical to the
voltage power circuit breaker used as a main circuit performance of the electrical system. Choosing circuit
breaker that has a 65 kA short-time current rating breakers with an appropriate short-circuit current
would allow the flexibility to coordinate with rating and short-time current rating provides the
downstream circuit breakers for a fault of any opportunity to have a selectively coordinated system
magnitude up to the full 65 kA short circuit current up to high fault current levels.
rating of the circuit breakers and switchgear.

Emax 2 Circuit Breaker Ratings

Emax 2 - UL 1066 Automatic Circuit Breakers E1.2 E2.2 E4.2 E6.2
Performance Levels B-A N-A S-A B-A N-A S-A H-A V-A S-A H-A V-A H-A V-A
Continuous current rating [A] 800 800 250 1600 1600 800 800 250 2500 2500 800 4000 4000
[A] 1200 1200 400 2000 1200 1200 400 3200 3200 1600 5000 5000
[A] 800 1600 1600 800 3600 3600 2000 6000 6000
[A] 1200 2000 2000 1200 2500
[A] 1600 3200
[A] 2000 3600
Interrupting current rating 254V AC [kA] 42 50 65 42 50 65 85 100 65 85 100 85 100
508V AC [kA] 42 50 65 42 50 65 85 100 65 85 100 85 100
635V AC [kA] 42 42 42 42 50 65 85 85 65 85 100 85 100
Short-time withstand current [kA] 42 50 50 42 50 65 85 85 65 85 100 85 100

References
[1] IEEE C37.20.10 - 2016, IEEE Standard Definitions for AC (52 kV and below) and DC (3.2 kV and below) Switchgear Assemblies
[2] IEEE C37.20.1 - 2015, IEEE Standard for Metal-Enclosed Low-Voltage (1000 Vac and below, 3200 Vdc and below) Power Circuit
Breaker Switchgear
[3] ANSI C37.50 – 2018, Low Voltage AC Power Circuit Breakers Used in Enclosures— Test Procedures
[4] ANSI C37.51 – 2018, Metal-Enclosed Low-Voltage AC Power Circuit Breaker Switchgear Assemblies— Conformance Test Procedures
[5] UL 1066, Fourth Edition, Low-Voltage AC and DC Power Circuit Breakers Used in Enclosures

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