Article - Characteristics of Circuit Breaker Trip Curves and Coordination

Time-current curves are used to show the amount of time required for a circuit breaker to trip at a given
overcurrent level.
Time-current curves are typically shown on a log-log plot. Figures along the horizontal axis of the curve
represent the continuous current rating (In) for the circuit breaker. The figures along the vertical axis
represent time in seconds.
To determine how long a breaker will take to trip: find the current multiple of (In) at the bottom of the
graph. Next, draw a vertical line to the point where it intersects the curve and then draw a horizontal line to
the left side of the graph to find the trip time.
The total clearing time of a circuit breaker is the sum of the breakers sensing time, unlatching time,
mechanical operating time and arcing time.
Curves are developed using predefined specifications such as operation at an ambient temperature of
40C, so keep in mind that the actual operating conditions of the circuit breaker can cause variations in its
performance.
Most curves have an information box that will define which circuit breaker the curve applies to. This
information box may also contain important notes from the manufacturer such as the allowable deviation
from trip times.
Overload Protection
The upper portion the time-current curve shows the circuit breakers thermal response. The curve line
indicates the nominal performance of the circuit breaker.
In thermal magnetic breakers, a thermal overload occurs when a bimetal conductor inside the circuit
breaker deflects after becoming heated by the current, de-latching the operating mechanism and opening
the contacts.
The larger the overload, the faster the bimetal strip will heat up and deflect to clear the overload. This is
what is known as an inverse time-curve.

Long-Time Function
In electronic circuit breakers, the long-time function (L) simulates the effect of a thermal bimetal element.
The nominal pickup point where an electronic trip unit senses an overload is roughly around 10% of the
selected ampere rating. Once picked up, the circuit breaker will trip after the time specified by the long-time
delay adjustment has been achieved.
Short Circuit Protection
The lower portion of the time-current curve displays the short circuit response of the circuit breaker. Short
circuit tripping occurs with no intentional time delay. In thermal magnetic breakers, tripping place when
overcurrents of significant magnitude operate a magnetic armature inside of the circuit breaker which delatches the mechanism.
Instantaneous Function
In electronic circuit breakers, the Instantaneous (I) function simulates the magnetic characteristic of a
thermal-magnetic circuit breaker. This is achieved through the microprocessor which takes samples from
the AC current waveform many times a second to calculate the true RMS value of the load current.
Short-Time Function
Some electronic circuit breakers may be equipped with a Short-time function (S) which gives the circuit
breaker a delay before tripping on a significant overcurrent. This allows for selective

coordination between protective devices to ensure that only the device nearest to the fault open, leaving
other circuits unaffected.
The I2t characteristic of the short time function determines the delay type. I 2t IN will result in an inversetime delay that resembles the time/current characteristics of fuses. This is similar to the long time function
except with a much faster delay. I2t OUT provides a constant delay, usually 0.5 seconds or less as noted
on the time-current curve.
Circuit breakers with zone interlocking on short delay utilized with no restraining signal from a downstream
device will have the minimum time band applied regardless of setting. This is sometimes referred to as
the maximum unrestrained delay.
When the instantaneous function is disabled, a short-time delay override is used to instantaneously trip
circuit breakers in the event of a significant short circuit. This is called theshort-time withstand rating and
is represented on the trip curve as an absolute ampere value.
Ground Fault Protection
Like the long-time function, the ground fault (G) element consists of a pickup and delay setting. When a
phase-to-ground fault occurs, the sum of the phase currents are no longer be equal because the ground
fault current returns through the ground bus. In a 4-wire system a fourth CT is installed on the neutral bus
to detect this imbalance.
When a current imbalance occurs, the circuit breaker will pick up if the magnitude exceeds the ground fault
pickup setting. If the breaker remains picked up for the time specified by the ground fault delay, the circuit
breaker will trip. Ground fault protection is sometimes supplied with an I 2t function which operates under the
same principle as short-time delay.
Circuit Breaker Coordination
Time-current curves are essential for the proper coordination of circuit breakers. In the event of a fault, only
the circuit breaker closest to the fault should operate, leaving other circuits unaffected.
In the example below, three circuit breakers that 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.
Each function of the trip unit should also be coordinated to prevent nuisance trips. If a circuit breaker is
feeding a piece of equipment with large inrush currents for example, the instantaneous pickup value should
be set higher than the short time pickup value to prevent tripping when the equipment is energized.