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Circuit Breakers
Definition
Mechanical switching devices capable of
making, carrying and breaking currents
under normal and abnormal conditions


Circuit Breakers Requirements
Opens & closes in shortest possible time
Conducts rated current.
Withstands thermally & mechanically any
short circuit.

Maintains its voltage to earth across open
contacts.
Does not create over voltages during circuit
opening
Easy to maintain.
Not very expensive.
Particulars of a Circuit Breaker
Medium for arc extinction.
Rated line voltage.
Rated breaking current.
Type of construction e.g outdoor,
indoor. Etc
Type of operating mechanism
Total breaking time.

Frequency of LTCB maint.
depends upon.
1. Service condition
2. Frequency of operation
3.Tripping of fault
4. Relative humidity
5. Presence of dust
6. Reactive gases
Circuit breakers Elements
Main Contact
Insulation between main contacts
Interruption chamber
Control, supervisory and auxiliary
devices
Insulating link between control unit and
main contact

Circuit Breakers rating
Rated normal current: to be carried without
temperature rise.
Rated breaking current:
Highest current to be interrupted
rms of the peak value of the Asymmetrical
current.

Circuit Breakers rating
Generally and according to voltage range, a
constant is used to multiply the short circuit

current to obtain the breaking current
Rated MVA = sqrt(3) * Line voltage
(kV) * breaking current (kA)

LT CIRCUIT BREAKER PARTS
Mechanism
Manual operation
Electrical operation
Pole
Main contacts Silver cadmium oxide
Arcing contact Tungsten base alloy
Arc chute
Breaker parts cont..
Cradle for draw out
Service position Main contact + control contact
Test position - Control contact
Isolated position No contact
Control box
Closing and trip push botton
Operating handle
On Off indicator
Breaker part contd..
Built-in-release
Magneto thermal release
Over laod
Short circuit
Voltmetric release
Under voltage release
Shunt release
Remote operation
External relays
Main Parts of ACB


Breaker accessories
Motor
Auxiliary contacts- NO or NC
Terminal row
Micro switches
Mitsubishi ACB

ABB, ACB 1250 A

Heavy Industrial Breaker

Inside of ACB

Schneider Electric

Inside of the Breaker

Types of mainteance
1. preventive
2. breakdown
3. Condition based
4. Predective
INSPECTION SCHEDULE
EVERY YEAR
1. Visual checks
2. Cleaning the insulating parts
3. Check and clean the arc chute
After short circuit clearance
Or
Every 5 yeas or 10000 operation

1. Dismantle the breaker
check the contacts
Tightening the bus bolt
clean the mechanism
replace the worn out parts
Every 5 years
Grease & oil all the bearings, joints
& sliding faces
Clean the auxiliary switches
Tighten the terminals
Greasing
No greasing is required in dust free
& non corrosion atmosphere
Regrease the breaker after a cycle
of 500 operations
Components to be greased
1. Rubbing surfaces in the mechanism
2. Pins
3. Roller assembly
4. Pole latch spring
5. Slotted guide
6. Crank
Recommended grades of
grease

LITHON 2 OF H.P
BALMEROL MOLY GREASE
ML5
Components not be greased
All releases
Main isolating contacts
Earthing terminal
Secondary isolating contacts
Important points for general
maintenance
Isolation of circuit breaker from power & control
supply
Discharging of spring
Observe all the instruction
Understand the procedure of breaker operation
Do not use force
Replace the cover and wire mesh after the inspection
Oiling /greasing after cleaning only
Use always proper tools
Spit pins, lock washers, spring washers
should be replaced with new
All the gaskets, o-rings & rubber washers
should be replaced with new
Dismantled parts should be kept in safe and
dry place
New cloth to be used for cleaning the
interrupter
Do check the all fixing bolts
Test through slow operation
caution
Mechanism must be discharged
before maint
Draw out the breaker
Breakers must be periodically
operated
MCCB
MPCB
Protection against over current
Protection against short circuit
Protection against earth fault
Protection against single phasing
Current Range 0.1630 A

UL Listed for Motor Loads

Short Circuit Protection

Overload Protection

Visible Trip Indication

High Current Limiting

High Switching Capacity
Key Specifications/Special Features:
Rated current: 0.1-0.16, 0.16-0.25, 0.25-0.4,
0.4-0.63, 0.63-1, 1-1.6, 1.6-2.5, 2.5-4, 4-6.3,
6-10, 9-14, 13-18, 17-23, 20-25, 24-32A
Rated voltage: up to 660
Frequency: 50/60Hz

MPCB


MPCB