Low voltage circuit breakers are electrical devices that stop high current circuits to protect and control them in case of fault conditions such as short circuit, over-current, etc. They are suitable for circuits rated at 600 volts or lower, and can be used as main or master circuit breakers in various applications such as factories, buildings, ships, etc. They can be operated manually or remotely, and can be customized with various accessories. They have an integrated protection system with a trip unit and a mechanical actuator, and can be installed by a fixed or a draw-out method.
Siemens ACB
One of the most advanced types of low voltage circuit breakers is the air circuit breaker (ACB), which uses air as an arc extinguishing medium, at a given atmospheric pressure. There are several types of air circuit breakers available in the market today, with ratings from 630 A to 10000 A up to 690 VAC . Anymore, air circuit breakers are used instead of oil circuit breakers, which were used in the past, but had disadvantages such as fire risk, environmental impact, and maintenance issues.
A low voltage Air Circuit Breaker (ACB) has compact construction. All poles of an ACB having fixed and moving contacts are housed in an arc chute assembly. These breakers can be operated both electrically and mechanically through a triggering mechanism. These breakers are provided with rack-in and rack-out features with sliding and guide rail assembly. Push buttons are mounted on ACB for its manual operations. ACBs are also provided with inbuilt CTs, relay, and trip unit provisionsThe air circuit breaker employs a high resistance interruption method for arc extinction. Resistance of the arc is rapidly increased to a high value during the opening of a circuit breaker in fault or normal operating condition such that source voltage becomes incapable to maintain arc voltage.
Schneider Masterpact Series ACB
Some of the applications of air circuit breakers are:
- Air Circuit Breakers are mainly used for Low voltage and Low/high current applications.
- Air Circuit Breakers are used mostly in indoor low to medium-voltage electrical installations such as Power control cubicles & Motor control cubicles.
- Air Circuit Breakers are preferred for applications where there is a high risk of fire hazards as ACBs have a very short arcing time.
- Air Circuit Breakers are used for motor & capacitor starting and protection applications as they are most suitable for frequent and high-speed operations.
- Air blast type circuit breakers are widely used in railways electrifications
Some of the uses of air circuit breakers are:
- Air Circuit Breakers are mainly used for Low voltage and Low/high current applications.
- Air Circuit Breakers are used mostly in indoor low to medium-voltage electrical installations such as Power control cubicles & Motor control cubicles.
- Air Circuit Breakers are preferred for applications where there is a high risk of fire hazards as ACBs have a very short arcing time.
- Air Circuit Breakers are used for motor & capacitor starting and protection applications as they are most suitable for frequent and high-speed operations.
- Air blast type circuit breakers are widely used in railways electrifications
Some of the purposes of air circuit breakers are:
- Air Circuit Breakers are mainly used for Low voltage and Low/high current applications.
- Air Circuit Breakers are used mostly in indoor low to medium-voltage electrical installations such as Power control cubicles & Motor control cubicles.
- Air Circuit Breakers are preferred for applications where there is a high risk of fire hazards as ACBs have a very short arcing time.
- Air Circuit Breakers are used for motor & capacitor starting and protection applications as they are most suitable for frequent and high-speed operations.
- Air blast type circuit breakers are widely used in railways electrifications
