Interrupting Ratings: Air Rated Breakers Explained

  • Thread starter Thread starter Josh111
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

Air rated breakers possess interrupting ratings, which range from 22 kA to 65 kA, crucial for ensuring safety in power equipment. Exceeding these ratings can lead to fused contacts, rendering the breaker ineffective and posing risks to both lives and equipment. The discussion highlights a gap in educational resources regarding the consequences of a short circuit surpassing a breaker's interrupting rating, emphasizing the need for detailed information on this critical aspect of circuit breaker functionality.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of interrupting ratings in circuit breakers
  • Familiarity with commercial electrical wiring principles
  • Knowledge of series assemblies in electrical systems
  • Basic concepts of short circuits and their effects on electrical equipment
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the testing methods for interrupting ratings in circuit breakers
  • Explore the installation techniques for breakers in series assemblies
  • Study the failure modes of circuit breakers when interrupting ratings are exceeded
  • Investigate safety standards and regulations related to circuit breaker performance
USEFUL FOR

Electrical engineers, commercial electricians, safety inspectors, and anyone involved in the design and installation of power distribution systems will benefit from this discussion.

Josh111
Messages
37
Reaction score
0
do air rated breakers still have interrupting ratings?
 
Engineering news on Phys.org
Yes, of course they do. I work with several types of breakers with interrupt ratings from 22 to 65 kA. It's an important rating for power equipment because exceeding it can cause the contacts to become fused, rendering the breaker useless and putting lives and equipment at risk.
 
I want to thank you for post regarding the interrupting rating because I am currently in a class on commercial electrical wiring and there is a large section on interrupting rating for circuit breakers in our book covering things like how they are tested and the various ways to install breakers in series assemblies with main and branch, but for some odd reason the book fails to detail what exactly happens when a short circuit actually exceeds a breaker's interrupting rating.

I naturally assumed that the circuit breaker would fail in some respect, but couldn't find any reference to exactly what the outcome might be besides a broken breaker. So thank you for your post.

Any more details you might add would be appreciated regarding the interrupting rating and what happens when a short circuit exceeds the breakers rating.
 
Unfortunately, Negitron (Michael Bell) died in September.

There was a note about this on this page, but it has now gone.
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

Circuit breakers trip on *power* overload?
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
2K
Tripping Behavior of Circuit Breakers
  • · Replies 42 ·
2
Replies
42
Views
4K
Electronic circuit breaker design
  • · Replies 23 ·
Replies
23
Views
4K
Why are MCBs rated differently from fuses?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
963
Maximum Interrupting Time - HFW Breakers
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
NEC: Outlet Rating on 20A Breaker? Current Per Outlet?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Arduino and zero crossing — Non-uniform spikes in interrupt signal
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Interrupts in Arduino not working (for detecting zero crossing)
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Air compressor pump HP requirement?
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
468
HVAC Electrical Issue: Current Leakage from Furnace
  • · Replies 79 ·
3
Replies
79
Views
7K