Facts on the Low Voltage Types of an Industrial Circuit Breaker
The industrial circuit breaker is not just a device that performs one action. These are multiple devices of differing types, but typically they perform the same actions just in different ways. The biggest differences that are found in these items are the differences in the voltages that they control.
The industrial circuit breaker that is designed to operate in domestic applications, commercial applications, and industrial applications providing less than 1000Vac are called low voltage. Within the low voltage category these items are broken up into smaller groups. The miniature circuit breaker that is designed for currents that do not exceed 100 amps, the molded case circuit breaker that is designed for not more than 2500 amps, and the little voltage power breakers that can be escalated in the multi tiers in order to establish switchboards or the switchgear cabinets.
Several Types of Industrial Circuit Breaker
The Miniature Circuit Breaker that can be an industrial circuit breaker or a home version is traditionally designed where the trip characteristics are preset and cannot be adjusted or changed. They are generally either thermal or thermal magnetic operating devices and the power circuits require no more than 100 amps.
The Molded Case Circuit Breaker is used in both homes and industrial applications with the main difference being that the designated trip current on these can usually be adjusted to higher settings. This is because the device can handle up to 2500 amps but if you currently do not need that much supply you can set it to trip for lower amounts and protect the appliances you are operating from it. These items are often installed in enclosures that will allow for them to be removed and changed without the individual having to dismantle a switchboard to do so.
Low voltage breakers are designed specifically for nonstop current applications. Things like a subway line require direct current supplies. The breakers made for this application need to be specially designed because the arc is created when the contacts are opened will not actually have a natural trend to go out on the half cycle like the arc that is created on an alternating current. For safety reasons the design of the device must be done so that it can handle this difference.
Most of the direct current items that are designed to operate things like the subway lines contain blow out coils that produce a magnetic ground. This magnetic field will cause the arc to be rapidly stretched when the nonstop current is interrupted. This will effectively control and extinguish the arc protecting the devices running off of the circuit.
Generally you will find that small items made to do this type of service will be installed either directly in the equipment they operate or they will be installed in panels. In the majority of homes in the United States there are panels of these items that control the different appliances and sections of the home. This allows the home owner to make certain the electric current is shut off to an appliance before they start repairs on it.
