SELECTION

OF
CIRCUIT
BREAKERS
 CB SWITCHING CAPABILITIES
OPERATION
CKT. MAKE CARRY BREAK
CONDITION

NORMAL   

OVERLOAD   

SHORT-CIRCUIT   

 : LIMITED CAPABILITY
 CB TYPES
AIR CIRCUIT BREAKER (A.C.B.)
MOULDED CASE CIRCUIT
BREAKER (M.C.C.B.)
MOTOR PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT
BREAKER (M.P.C.B.)
MINIATURE CIRCUIT BREAKER
(M.C.B.)
 ACB MAIN APPLICATION
AREA
 AS A SWITCHING & PROTECTION DEVICE FOR
POWER DISTRIBUTION (AS INCOMER, BUSCOUPLER
& O/G FEEDER)
- FOR TRANSFORMER PROTECTION
- FOR BUSBAR/CABLE PROTECTION
 SWITCHING & PROTECTION OF MOTORS
 SWITCHING & PROTECTION OF LIGHTING LOADS
 SWITCHING & PROTECTION OF HEATING LOADS
 SWITCHING & PROTECTION OF CAPACITORS
 WHY ACB ?

 WIDE RANGE : 400 A TO 6400 A

 HIGH MAKING & BREAKING CAPACITIES
 HIGH SHORT TIME WITHSTAND CURRENT
RATING
 DISCRIMINATION BETWEEN VARIOUS
LEVELS
 VARIOUS TYPES OF OVERCURRENT
RELEASES
 WHY ACB ?

 OVERCURRENT RELEASES ARE FIELD

ADJUSTABLE OVER WIDE RANGE
 VARIOUS ACCESSORIES
- U/V, SHUNT OR E/F RELEASE
- LOCKS & INTERLOCKS
- ELECTRICAL INDICATIONS
 DESIGNED FOR ACCESSIBLE MAINTENANCE
& REPAIR
 SELECTION OF ACB
PARAMETERS
 TYPE
 RATED CURRENT, In
 RATED VOLTAGE, Ue
 RATED S/C BREAKING CAPACITY, Icu & Ics
(ULTIMATE & SERVICE S/C BREAKING
CAPACITY)
 RATED S/C MAKING CAPACITY, Icm
 RATED SHORT TIME WITHSTAND CURRENT, Icw
 UTILIZATION CATEGORY
 DISCRIMINATION
 SELECTION OF ACB
PARAMETERS
 TYPE OF OVERCURRENT RELEASES
 O/L & S/C SETTINGS
 ACCESSORIES
- U/V, SHUNT, E/F RELEASE
- LOCKS & INTERLOCKS
- ELECTRICAL INDICATIONS
 OPERATIONAL LIFE
 EASE OF MAINTENANCE
 AVAILABILITY OF SPARES
 CONTROL VOLTAGE
 VOLUME/WEIGHT
 SELECTION PARAMETERS
TYPE

TYPE OF ACB

MANUALLY ELECTRICALLY
OPERATED OPERATED

FIXED DRAW-OUT FIXED DRAW-OUT

 SELECTION PARAMETERS
ULTIMATE & SERVICE S/C
BREAKING CAPACITY
 AS PER EARLIER IS : 2516 (NOW SUPERSEDED
BY IS 13947) : P1 & P2 CATEGORIES
 AS PER IS 13947 PART 2 :
RATED ULTIMATE S/C BREAKING
CAPACITY (Icu)
&
RATED SERVICE S/C BREAKING
CAPACITY (Ics)

Ics SHOULD BE 25% or 50% or 75% or 100% of Icu

SELECTION PARAMETERS
RATED S/C MAKING CAPACITY
RATIO ‘n’ BETWEEN S/C MAKING CAPACITY & S/C
BREAKING CAPACITY & RELATED POWER FACTOR

S/C BREAKING POWER MINIMUM VALUE

CAPACITY ‘I’ FACTOR OF ‘n’
(KA rms)
4.5  I  6 0.7 1.5
6  I  10 0.5 1.7
10  I  20 0.3 2.0
20  I  50 0.25 2.1
50  I 0.2 2.2
 SELECTION PARAMETERS
UTILIZATION CATEGORY
TYPE APPLICATION WITH RESPECT TO SELECTIVITY

CBs NOT SPECIFICALLY INTENDED FOR SELECTIVITY

UNDER S/C CONDITIONS WITH RESPECT TO OTHER SCPDs
IN SERIES ON THE LOAD SIDE, i.e WITHOUT AN
A INTENTIONAL SHORT TIME DELAY PROVIDED FOR
SELECTIVITY UNDER S/C CONDITIONS, & THEREFORE
WITHOUT A ‘Icw’ RATING

CBs SPECIFICALLY INTENDED FOR SELECTIVITY

UNDER S/C CONDITIONS WITH RESPECT TO OTHER SCPDs
B IN SERIES ON THE LOAD SIDE, i.e WITH AN
INTENTIONAL SHORT TIME DELAY PROVIDED FOR
SELECTIVITY UNDER S/C CONDITIONS, & THEREFORE
HAVE A ‘Icw’ RATING
 SELECTION PARAMETERS
DISCRIMINATION

WHAT IS DISCRIMINATION ?

IN CASE OF FAULT IN THE SYSTEM, THE NEAREST

UPSTREAM CB/FUSE SHOULD CLEAR THE FAULT

THUS ISOLATING FAULTY PART OF THE SYSTEM

WHILE HEALTHY PART REMAINS UNAFFECTED

VARIOUS FAULTS FOR WHICH
DISCRIMINATION IS REQUIRED

• SHORT CIRCUIT

• OVERLOAD

• EARTH FAULT
TYPES OF DISCRIMINATION
POSSIBLE BETWEEN ACBs

 TIME BASED

 CURRENT BASED
TIME BASED DISCRIMINATION
IN CASE OF S/C

FOR TIME BASED DISCRIMINATION

 THE FINAL ACB BEFORE THE LOAD MUST TRIP
IMMEDIATELY UNDER S/C CONDITIONS (AS IT
DOES NOT REQUIRE TIME DELAY)

 ALL UPSTREAM ACBs ARE TIME-DELAYED WITH

PROGRESSIVE DELAY TIMES FOR S/C TRIPPING
CURRENT BASED DISCRIMINATION
IN CASE OF S/C

FOR COMPLETE CURRENT BASED

DISCRIMINATION
PICK-UP SETTING OF S/C PROTECTIVE RELEASE OF

IMMEDIATE UPSTREAM ACB SHOULD BE > FAULT

LEVEL AT THE LOCATION OF DOWNSTREAM ACB

SELECTION PARAMETERS
OVERCURRENT RELEASE

THERMO MAGNETIC

ANALOG SOLID STATE

MICRO-PROCESSOR BASED
I-t CH. OF A TYPICAL THERMO-MAGNETIC RELEASE
10000

OPERATING LIMITS THERMAL

1000
TRIP TIME IN SECONDS

100

ZONE OF S / C OPERATION ( M1 / M2)

10
T. O. T. AT MAX. OF DN2 SETTING
M.I.T. AT MAX. OF DN2 SETTING
M.I.T. AT MIN. OF DN2 SETTING
1

0.20 DN 2 (CONT. 100 - 300 mS )

0.10
DN 1 (25 mS)
TOTAL OPERATING TIME
MIN. IMPULSION TIME
0.01

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 20 30 40 50 100 400 1000

MULTIPLES OF SET CURRENT
I-T CH. OF A TYPICAL SOLID STATE RELEASE

LONG TIME (O/L)

SHORT TIME (S/C)
INSTANTANEOUS (S/C)
TRIP TIME

EARTH FAULT

MULTIPLES OF CURRENT
 SELECTION PARAMETERS
O/L & S/C SETTINGS
WHAT IS PICK-UP SETTING FOR CB ?

IT IS THAT CALIBRATED VALUE OF

MINIMUM CURRENT, (SUBJECT TO CERTAIN
TOLERENCES) WHICH WILL CAUSE A TRIP
DEVICE (e.g.OVERCURRENT RELEASE)
TO ULTIMATELY TRIP THE CB

IT IS NORMALLY EXPRESSED AS MULTIPLES

OR PERCENTAGE OF CT TAP OR THE
LONG-TIME DELAY PICK-UP
 OVERLOAD SETTING

 PICK-UP SETTING :
NO HIGHER THAN NECESSARY
& WHICH MEET APPLICABLE STANDARDS
WITHOUT CAUSING NUISANCE TRIPPING

 TIME DELAY SETTING (WHERE APPLICABLE) :

NO HIGHER THAN NECESSARY TO OVERRIDE
TRANSIENT & STEADY STATE OVERCURRENTS
ASSOCIATED WITH ENERGIZING OF LOAD
EQUIPMENTS & TO COORDINATED WITH
DOWNSTREAM PROTECTION DEVICES
 SHORT CIRCUIT SETTING

 PICK-UP SETTING :
NO HIGHER THAN NECESSARY TO
AVOID NUISANCE TRIPPING & SHOULD NOT BE
MORE THAN THE AVAILABLE S/C CURRENT
AT LOCATION OF THE CB

 TIME DELAY SETTING (WHERE APPLICABLE) :

THAT MINIMUM, WHICH IS REQUIRED
FOR DOING TIME BASED DISCRIMINATION
WITH DOWNSTREAM CBs
 SELECTION PARAMETERS
ACCESSORIES - U/V RELEASE
• VERSIONS : 1) INSTANTANEOUS & 2) TIME
DELAY
• FOR
- PERMITS CLOSING OF CB IF THE VOLTAGE
IS  85% & TRIPS UNDER EXTREME U/V
- ELECT. INTERLOCKING
- REMOTE TRIPPING
• OPERATION : 70% TO 35% OF Vn
• PICK-UP :  85% OF Vn
 SELECTION PARAMETERS
ACCESSORIES - SHUNT RELEASE

• VERSIONS : 1) A.C. COIL & 2) D.C. COIL

• FOR
- REMOTE TRIPPING
- ELECT. INTERLOCKING

• OPERATION : 70% TO 110% OF Vn FOR A.C. COIL

 SELECTION PARAMETERS
ACCESSORIES - E/F RELEASE

• VERSIONS :
1) FIXED SETTINGS OF 10%, 20% OF In &
2) FIXED SETTINGS OF 30%, 40%, 50% OF In
• FOR E/F PROTECTION
• ONLY IN CONJUNCTION WITH THERMO-
MAGNETIC RELEASE
• FOR 3 PHASE 4 WIRE SYSTEM, FOURTH CT
REQUIRED
 SELECTION PARAMETERS
ACCESSORIES - LOCKS & INTERLOCKS

• LOCKABLE TRIP PUSH BUTTON (CAN ALSO BE

USED FOR INTERLOCKING TWO OR MORE CBs)

• ISOLATED/ANY POSITION LOCK (CAN ALSO BE

USED FOR INTERLOCKING TWO OR MORE CBs)

• RACKING INTERLOCK
 SELECTION PARAMETERS
MECHANICAL INTERLOCKING BY LTPB

• FOR
- TWO I/C + ONE B/C SYSTEM
- THREE I/C + TWO B/C SYSTEM

• SUITABLE FOR ALL TYPES OF ACBs

(MF, MDO, EF & EDO)
 SELECTION PARAMETERS
MECHANICAL INTERLOCKING BY LTPB
TWO I/C + ONE B/C SYSTEM

TRANSFORMER STANDBY GENERATOR

1600 KVA G
1250 KVA
PCC
11  )A 13 12  )A
 

)

21 ) 22  ) A 23  ) 24  )
   

TWO A TYPE KEYS ARE PROVIDED

 SELECTION PARAMETERS
MECHANICAL INTERLOCKING BY LTPB
THREE I/C + TWO B/C SYSTEM

TRANSFORMER STANDBY
1600 KVA G G
GENERATORS
PCC
11  )A 12  )A 13  )B
14
 )  15 

)



21 ) 22  ) 23  ) A 24  ) B 25  ) 26  )
     

TWO A TYPE KEYS & ONE B TYPE KEY

ARE PROVIDED
SELECTION PARAMETERS
MECHANICAL INTERLOCKING BY
ISOLATED POSITION LOCK

• FOR
- TWO I/C + ONE B/C SYSTEM
- THREE I/C + TWO B/C SYSTEM

• SUITABLE FOR ONLY DRAW-OUT ACBs

(MDO & EDO)
 SELECTION PARAMETERS
ACCESSORIES - MICROSWITCHES FOR
ELECT. INDICATIONS

• SERVICE/TEST/ISOLATED POSITION INDICATION

• UNDER VOLTAGE/SHUNT/EARTH FAULT

RELEASE TRIP INDICATION

• O/L & S/C TRIP INDICATION - COMMON &

SEPARATE
 SELECTION OF ACB
BASIC CRITERIA
CB SHOULD HAVE ADEQUATE :
• RATED VOLTAGE, Ue
• RATED CURRENT, In
• RATED S/C BREAKING CAPACITY, Icu /Ics
• RATED S/C MAKING CAPACITY, Icm
• RATED SHORT TIME WITHSTAND
CURRENT, Icw
• DISCRIMINATION WITH OTHER CBs &
FUSES
 EXAMPLE OF ACB
SELECTION

SELECTION OF ACB

‘11’, ‘21’ & ‘31’ IN THE SHOWN

SINGLE LINE DIAGRAM

 SINGLE LINE DIAGRAM
TRANSFORMER STANDBY GENERATOR
1600 KVA G
1250 KVA
PCC
11  ) 12  )
 

)

13 F2
21  22  23  24 
F1

) 
) 
) 
)

350 A 300 A 300 A

MCC BUSBAR
31 ) U/G CABLE

) CB

  F3
 
 
 

 SDF

M1 M2 M3 M4 STARTER
50HP 100HP 30HP 150HP
 SYSTEM DATA

 TRANSFORMER : 11/0.433 KV
1600 KVA

 STANDBY GENERATOR : UrG = 415 V

1250 KVA

 INDUCTION MOTORS : M1, IrM = 70A

M2, IrM = 135A
M3, IrM = 40A
M4, IrM = 200A
 AIR CIRCUIT BREAKER ‘11’

REQUIRED CURRENT RATING

TRANSFORMER FL CURRENT = 1600 × 1000

 3 × 433
= 2134 A

CONSIDERING 10% OVERLOADING, TOTAL CURRENT

= 1.1 × 2134 = 2347 A

 In OF CB ‘11’  2347 A
AIR CIRCUIT BREAKER ‘11’

REQUIRED S/C BREAKING CAPACITY

Icu OF CB ‘11’  IK SUPPLIED BY

TRANSFORMER AT F1
 38.77 KA
AIR CIRCUIT BREAKER ‘11’

REQUIRED S/C MAKING CAPACITY

Icm OF CB ‘11’  IP SUPPLIED BY

TRANSFORMER AT F1
 87.71 KA(PEAK)
AIR CIRCUIT BREAKER ‘21’

REQUIRED CURRENT RATING SAME

AS FOR ACB ‘31’

REQUIRED S/C MAKING & BREAKING

CAPACITY SAME AS FOR ACB ‘11’
AIR CIRCUIT BREAKER ‘31’

REQUIRED CURRENT RATING

In OF CB ‘31’   (IrM)

 (70 + 135 + 40 + 200)

 445 A
AIR CIRCUIT BREAKER ‘31’

REQUIRED S/C BREAKING CAPACITY

Icu OF CB ‘31’  IK SUPPLIED BY

TRANSFORMER AT F3
 15.67 KA
AIR CIRCUIT BREAKER ‘31’

REQUIRED S/C MAKING CAPACITY

Icm OF CB ‘31’  IP SUPPLIED BY

TRANSFORMER AT F3
 27.7 KA(PEAK)
 TIME BASED
DISCRIMINATION

SETTING OF DELAY TIMES FOR

UPSTREAM ACBs
MINIMUM IMPULSION TIME OF IMMEDIATE

UPSTREAM ACB SHOULD BE > TOTAL OPERATING

TIME OF DOWNSTREAM ACB

 TIME BASED
DISCRIMINATION BETWEEN
ACBs ‘11’, ‘21’ & ‘31’

SUPPOSE FOR ACB ‘31’

 M.I.T. = 25 mSEC &
 T.O.T = 90 mSEC
 ACB ‘21’
 M.I.T. = 100 mSEC
 T.O.T. = 165 mSEC
 ACB ‘11’
 M.I.T. = 200 mSEC
 T.O.T = 265 mSEC
 CURRENT BASED
DISCRIMINATION BETWEEN
ACBs ‘11’, ‘21’ & ‘31’

 CURRENT BASED DISCRIMINATION IS NOT

POSSIBLE BETWEEN ACB ‘11’ & ‘21’ SINCE FAULT
LEVEL AT THEIR LOCATIONS ARE SAME

 CURRENT BASED DISCRIMINATION IS

POSSIBLE BETWEEN ACB ‘21’ & ‘31’ IF S/C PICK-
UP SETTING OF ACB ‘21’ > IK AT F3
 ACB SELECTION
CHART OF VALUES OBTAINED

CHARACTERISTICS CB ‘11’ CB ‘21’ CB ‘31’

In  2347 A  445 A  445 A

Icu (RMS)  38.77 KA  38.77 KA  15.67 KA

Icm (PEAK)  87.71 KA  87.71 KA  27.7 KA

T.O.T. (mSEC) 265 mSEC 165 mSEC 90 mSEC
(38.77 KA FOR (38.77 KA FOR (15.67 KA FOR
Icw HT CB T.O.T.) 265 mSEC ) 165 mSEC)