Frequently Asked Questions (ACBs)

Q1.Why ACBs? Air Circuit breakers (ACBs) are the only devices, which are required to CARRY short circuit current for a specified time. This specified time, which is usually one second, is invariably more than what the downstream devices require to interrupt faults. In case the downstream devices fail to interrupt the fault current, the, breaker acts as a back-up protective device. In other words, it is this feature of short time rating which makes a circuit breaker an essential upstream device. ACBs are also used for switching motors of higher rating.

Q2.What is understood by "50 kA ACB"? Generally speaking, it means that the ACB can carry 50 kA for 1 second. However, "50kA" alone does not fully define the short circuit capabilities of an ACB. As per IEC 947, for an ACB with utilization category B, three values of short circuit current fully define its short circuit ratings. They are: rated ultimate short circuit breaking capacity (Icu) rated service short circuit breaking capacity (Ics) rated short time withstand current (Icw) IEC permits Icw to be lower than Ics, and many manufacturers actually make use of this definition.

Q3.What are "Releases"?

Fundamentally, a release is a device which provides mechanical output under a specific pre-determined condition. Hence, an undervoltage release provides a mechanical output when the voltage falls below specified level. an overcurrent release provides a mechanical output when any of the current related values exceed their specified limits (overload, short circuit, ground fault, etc.). The mechanical output of the release directly acts on the operating mechanism of circuit breaker and trips it. Hence they are extremely reliable - a fundamental & basic feature of circuit breaker. In contrast, the relays provide electrical signal as an output. They need additional operating device to ultimately act on the operating mechanism. Releases are specific to any product; i.e. releases suitable for a particular make will not fit on a circuit breaker of another make. This should therefore never be attempted.

Q4.What is thermal memory?

This term is used in connection with tripping of circuit breaker on overload. Overload trip devices have inverse characteristics. When a circuit breaker trips on overload, it could happen that the user attempts to re-close it immediately without rectifying the cause of the fault. In such a case, the ACB must trip in LESSER time than earlier because its current carrying parts are close to their limits of operation from temperature point of view. Interestingly, this is exactly how bimetals behave. Let us take a small example. Lets assume that when 5000 amp passes through bimetal, it takes 10 seconds to bend by 5 mm & trip the ACB. This bimetal needs, say, 20 seconds to return to its original shape. If the ACB is re-closed within this period of 20 seconds, it will trip in less time since it now has to bend less than 5mm. Hence all bimetal releases inherently have thermal memory feature. However, this is not true In case of electronic overcurrent releases. Most of the lower end overcurrent releases available in the market do not have this important safety feature.