Circuit Breaker Trip Curve Selection Guide and Ordering Tables

Warning!
This information should only be used as a selection guide. The use of a Circuit Breaker in an application with a certain Trip-Characteristic always requires prototype testing! It is the responsibility of the circuit design engineer to select the appropriate Circuit Breaker for his specific application.

Part One

Applications
 

Trip-Characteristics*
Characteristic Trip Boundaries
Thermal Trip Magnetic Trip
Must not Trip>1hr Must Trip <1hr Must not Trip >100ms Must Trip at 100ms
 
 Lighting Wiring Protection  Business Equipment  Appliances  Control Circuits  Transformers  Power Supplies
B-Characteristic **
 1.13xRC  1.45xRC  3xRC  5xRC

+

+

+

+

+

 .
C-Characteristic **
 1.13xRC  1.45xRC  5xRC  10xRC

+

+

+

+

+

 .
D-Characteristic **
 1.13xRC  1.45xRC  10xRC  16xRC
. . . . .

+

+

E-Characteristic **
 1.05xRC  1.35xRC  14xRC  18xRC
             
G-Characteristic **
 1.05xRC  1.35xRC  8xRC 10xRC

+

+

 . .

+

+

 .
Z-Characteristic **
 1.05xRC  1.35xRC  2xRC  3xRC
. . . . . . .
*The values of each characteristic are shown vertically beneath it's corresponding heading. ** Click for PDF file.

Time Versus Current Trip Curve

IT'S HERE !
Updated
Short Form with Ordering Tables

Altech short form with ordering information:
Click any of the following to download as a PDF* file viewable in your browser or to print.

Part Two

Applications
 

Trip-Characteristics*
Characteristic Trip Boundaries
Thermal Trip Magnetic Trip
Must not Trip>1hr Must Trip <1hr Must not Trip >100ms Must Trip at 100ms
 

Motors
  
Heaters General Low
Inrush

High
Inrush

High
Efficiency
 General Electronics Solenoid Semi- conductors Components/ devices with low surge- current and short circuit withstand capabilities Reactive Load
B-Characteristic **
 1.13xRC  1.45xRC  3xRC  5xRC
. .    

+

 . . . .
C-Characteristic **
 1.13xRC  1.45xRC  5xRC  10xRC
. .

+

     . . . . .
D-Characteristic **
 1.13xRC  1.45xRC  10xRC  16xRC

+

 .

+

 . . . .

+

E-Characteristic **
 1.05xRC  1.35xRC  14xRC  18xRC
       

+

          
G-Characteristic **
 1.05xRC  1.35xRC  8xRC 10xRC
.

+

+

    

+

 . . .
Z-Characteristic **
 1.05xRC  1.35xRC  2xRC  3xRC
. .    

+

+

+

 .
*The values of each characteristic are shown vertically beneath it's corresponding heading. ** Click for PDF file.

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This file was last modified on 06/02/2000.