Circuit breaker

Are you sure that your electrical installation offers correct protection against overcurrents? Errors in protection can have dangerous consequences. Read here what you should pay attention to and the importance of the high-quality miniature circuit breakers from our eibabo® online shop.

The use of electronic devices is a matter of course for us. Their use is comfortable and safe. But what happens if the television, washing machine, oven or refrigerator has a short circuit or overcurrent? These devices would be permanently damaged and fire accidents would be the result if suitable protective mechanisms were not activated as quickly as possible. In everyday life, hardly anyone thinks about these dangers. Why is that? Various safety elements are integrated in today's electrical installations, which protect people, electrical devices or the circuits themselves from damage caused by overcurrent. Modern miniature circuit breakers, among others, perform this task. They are also called circuit breakers or fuses.

 


Do you remember?

Historically, fuses contained a metal wire or strip that would melt if overcurrented, interrupting the flow of current. As a result, a tripped fuse was destroyed and had to be replaced.


 

These so-called safety fuses are still used today, for example in vehicle construction. Circuit breakers work differently, can be reactivated manually after tripping and thus offer obvious advantages over fuses.

What are circuit breakers?

All non-adjustable circuit breakers are referred to as miniature circuit breakers, also known as MCBs. MCB is the abbreviation for the English term 'Miniature Circuit Breaker'. It is always an overcurrent protective device in the electrical installation when used in low-voltage networks. Miniature circuit breakers protect lines from damage caused by heating up as a result of excessive current, usually caused by a short circuit. The miniature circuit breaker is a reusable safety element that does not reset itself automatically. This makes handling very safe and you can quickly restore the power supply after it has been triggered. There are no high maintenance and replacement costs. Combinations of a miniature circuit breaker (MCB) with a residual current device (RCCB) are also available, these combined devices are referred to as RCBO devices (English: 'Residual current operated Circuit-Breaker with Overcurrent protection').

What were the different miniature circuit breakers developed for?

The miniature circuit breakers available from eibabo® differ not only in their rated current and design, but also in their tripping characteristics. The following standardized tripping characteristics are currently permitted for miniature circuit breakers:

Type B (standard line protection)

  • Type B miniature circuit breakers are the usual variants for private use. These switch off the circuit as soon as the current exceeds three to five times the actual current flow.

 

Type C (higher inrush current for machines or lamp groups)

  • Type C switches are used, among other things, in household appliances and in commercial devices such as fluorescent tubes, PCs, printers and servers. These break the circuit when the current exceeds five to ten times the actual current flow.

 

Type D (for highly inductive or capacitive loads, e.g. with transformers, magnets or capacitors)

  • Type D MCBs offer high resistance. These turn off the circuit when the current exceeds ten to twenty times the actual current flow.

 

Type E (SLS / circuit breakers for main lines)

  • SLS stands for 'Selective Circuit Breaker'. This triggers with a time delay when the current exceeds 5 to 6.25 times the actual nominal current. This means that downstream fuses or classic miniature circuit breakers switch off the current beforehand.

 

Type K (with high inrush current with sensitive overload tripping)

  • Type K miniature circuit breakers trip at eight to twelve times the actual current flow. These protect heavy-duty equipment such as compressors, winding motors and X-ray machines.

 

Type Z (semiconductor protection with high line impedance)

  • Type Z miniature circuit breakers are sensitive to short circuits and are used in semiconductor production. These break the circuit when the current exceeds two to three times the actual rated current.

 

Source: eibabo®, Hager MCN316 circuit breaker 3-poleImage: Hager MCN316 miniature circuit breaker 3-pole

Is the installation of miniature circuit breakers absolutely necessary?

Miniature circuit breakers for lighting circuits and socket circuits are mandatory in the circuit distributors of apartments and residential buildings. You must install these. For industrial installations, in industrial plants and in trade, please pay attention to the higher requirements for miniature circuit breakers. Here, miniature circuit breakers / MCBs often also protect equipment and devices.

How does a circuit breaker work?

Miniature circuit breakers usually have two trigger mechanisms, the electromagnetic quick release and the thermal release. When an overcurrent flows through the circuit breaker, a bimetallic strip in the thermal trip unit heats up and bends. This triggers an interlock, interrupting the flow of current in the circuit. This process protects against hazards or damage to devices that can result from the overload. In addition, the melting of the lines is prevented. In the event of a short circuit, the electromagnetic trigger acts. Here the current suddenly increases and a magnetic field builds up inside a coil. A bolt reacts to this, hitting the trigger mechanism in fractions of a second and interrupting the circuit.

Notice

In the circuit breaker, the outer switching lever is not directly connected to the actual switching mechanism. The device also triggers reliably if the shift lever is jammed, locked or manipulated.


To get the current flow going again, the circuit breaker can be reactivated using the shift lever.

What is the difference between single-pole and multi-pole miniature circuit breakers?

You use single-pole miniature circuit breakers, for example, for circuits with single-phase alternating current. Three-pole miniature circuit breakers are used in AC circuits with three current-carrying phases. In the event of an overcurrent or short circuit, these are able to switch off all phases. This happens even if the fault affects only one phase.

 


recommendation

We advise you to protect multi-phase circuits with a multi-pole circuit breaker. Do not divide the individual phases into single-pole circuit breakers.


 

Working with electricity is dangerous. Please have changes or extensions to your system carried out by a specialist electrician.

Which miniature circuit breakers are recommended?

A large selection of miniature circuit breakers for electrical distribution installation can be found in the eibabo® online catalogue. We carry high-quality and reliable miniature circuit breakers from well-known and well-known manufacturers such as Siemens, ETA, ABL Sursum, ABB Stotz S&J, Eaton, Hager, Schneider Electric or from Moeller, Doepke and Stahl.

 

eibabo - technology store

 

Catalogue content:


In this eibabo® catalogue Circuit breakers and fuses > Miniature circuit breaker (MCB) you will find items from the following product groups:

Item overview:

  • AC circuit breaker
  • AC voltage machine
  • Auxiliary circuit
  • Built-in device
  • Built-in distributor device
  • Built-in machine
  • Busbar automat
  • Busbar fuse
  • Cable circuit breaker
  • Circuit breaker
  • Control circuit breaker
  • DC circuit breaker
  • DC voltage
  • Direct current
  • Direct current machine
  • Energy Technology
  • High performance circuit breaker
  • Installation machine
  • MCB circuit breaker
  • Modular installation device
  • Motor protection switch
  • Overcurrent protection
  • Overcurrent switch
  • Plug-in circuit breaker
  • Rail mounted devices
  • Screw circuit breaker
  • Short circuit
  • Tax security


from the following manufacturers:

Manufacturer overview catalogue Circuit breaker:

  • ABB
  • ABN
  • Bachmann
  • Doepke
  • Eaton
  • ETA
  • Hager
  • Murrelektronik
  • Phoenix
  • Schneider Electric
  • Siemens
  • Stahl


 
Are you sure that your electrical installation offers correct protection against overcurrents? Errors in protection can have dangerous consequences. Read here what you should pay attention to and... read more »
Close window
Miniature circuit breakers – safety in the event of overcurrent or short circuit

Are you sure that your electrical installation offers correct protection against overcurrents? Errors in protection can have dangerous consequences. Read here what you should pay attention to and the importance of the high-quality miniature circuit breakers from our eibabo® online shop.

The use of electronic devices is a matter of course for us. Their use is comfortable and safe. But what happens if the television, washing machine, oven or refrigerator has a short circuit or overcurrent? These devices would be permanently damaged and fire accidents would be the result if suitable protective mechanisms were not activated as quickly as possible. In everyday life, hardly anyone thinks about these dangers. Why is that? Various safety elements are integrated in today's electrical installations, which protect people, electrical devices or the circuits themselves from damage caused by overcurrent. Modern miniature circuit breakers, among others, perform this task. They are also called circuit breakers or fuses.

 


Do you remember?

Historically, fuses contained a metal wire or strip that would melt if overcurrented, interrupting the flow of current. As a result, a tripped fuse was destroyed and had to be replaced.


 

These so-called safety fuses are still used today, for example in vehicle construction. Circuit breakers work differently, can be reactivated manually after tripping and thus offer obvious advantages over fuses.

What are circuit breakers?

All non-adjustable circuit breakers are referred to as miniature circuit breakers, also known as MCBs. MCB is the abbreviation for the English term 'Miniature Circuit Breaker'. It is always an overcurrent protective device in the electrical installation when used in low-voltage networks. Miniature circuit breakers protect lines from damage caused by heating up as a result of excessive current, usually caused by a short circuit. The miniature circuit breaker is a reusable safety element that does not reset itself automatically. This makes handling very safe and you can quickly restore the power supply after it has been triggered. There are no high maintenance and replacement costs. Combinations of a miniature circuit breaker (MCB) with a residual current device (RCCB) are also available, these combined devices are referred to as RCBO devices (English: 'Residual current operated Circuit-Breaker with Overcurrent protection').

What were the different miniature circuit breakers developed for?

The miniature circuit breakers available from eibabo® differ not only in their rated current and design, but also in their tripping characteristics. The following standardized tripping characteristics are currently permitted for miniature circuit breakers:

Type B (standard line protection)

  • Type B miniature circuit breakers are the usual variants for private use. These switch off the circuit as soon as the current exceeds three to five times the actual current flow.

 

Type C (higher inrush current for machines or lamp groups)

  • Type C switches are used, among other things, in household appliances and in commercial devices such as fluorescent tubes, PCs, printers and servers. These break the circuit when the current exceeds five to ten times the actual current flow.

 

Type D (for highly inductive or capacitive loads, e.g. with transformers, magnets or capacitors)

  • Type D MCBs offer high resistance. These turn off the circuit when the current exceeds ten to twenty times the actual current flow.

 

Type E (SLS / circuit breakers for main lines)

  • SLS stands for 'Selective Circuit Breaker'. This triggers with a time delay when the current exceeds 5 to 6.25 times the actual nominal current. This means that downstream fuses or classic miniature circuit breakers switch off the current beforehand.

 

Type K (with high inrush current with sensitive overload tripping)

  • Type K miniature circuit breakers trip at eight to twelve times the actual current flow. These protect heavy-duty equipment such as compressors, winding motors and X-ray machines.

 

Type Z (semiconductor protection with high line impedance)

  • Type Z miniature circuit breakers are sensitive to short circuits and are used in semiconductor production. These break the circuit when the current exceeds two to three times the actual rated current.

 

Source: eibabo®, Hager MCN316 circuit breaker 3-poleImage: Hager MCN316 miniature circuit breaker 3-pole

Is the installation of miniature circuit breakers absolutely necessary?

Miniature circuit breakers for lighting circuits and socket circuits are mandatory in the circuit distributors of apartments and residential buildings. You must install these. For industrial installations, in industrial plants and in trade, please pay attention to the higher requirements for miniature circuit breakers. Here, miniature circuit breakers / MCBs often also protect equipment and devices.

How does a circuit breaker work?

Miniature circuit breakers usually have two trigger mechanisms, the electromagnetic quick release and the thermal release. When an overcurrent flows through the circuit breaker, a bimetallic strip in the thermal trip unit heats up and bends. This triggers an interlock, interrupting the flow of current in the circuit. This process protects against hazards or damage to devices that can result from the overload. In addition, the melting of the lines is prevented. In the event of a short circuit, the electromagnetic trigger acts. Here the current suddenly increases and a magnetic field builds up inside a coil. A bolt reacts to this, hitting the trigger mechanism in fractions of a second and interrupting the circuit.

Notice

In the circuit breaker, the outer switching lever is not directly connected to the actual switching mechanism. The device also triggers reliably if the shift lever is jammed, locked or manipulated.


To get the current flow going again, the circuit breaker can be reactivated using the shift lever.

What is the difference between single-pole and multi-pole miniature circuit breakers?

You use single-pole miniature circuit breakers, for example, for circuits with single-phase alternating current. Three-pole miniature circuit breakers are used in AC circuits with three current-carrying phases. In the event of an overcurrent or short circuit, these are able to switch off all phases. This happens even if the fault affects only one phase.

 


recommendation

We advise you to protect multi-phase circuits with a multi-pole circuit breaker. Do not divide the individual phases into single-pole circuit breakers.


 

Working with electricity is dangerous. Please have changes or extensions to your system carried out by a specialist electrician.

Which miniature circuit breakers are recommended?

A large selection of miniature circuit breakers for electrical distribution installation can be found in the eibabo® online catalogue. We carry high-quality and reliable miniature circuit breakers from well-known and well-known manufacturers such as Siemens, ETA, ABL Sursum, ABB Stotz S&J, Eaton, Hager, Schneider Electric or from Moeller, Doepke and Stahl.

 

eibabo - technology store

 

Catalogue content:


In this eibabo® catalogue Circuit breakers and fuses > Miniature circuit breaker (MCB) you will find items from the following product groups:

Item overview:

  • AC circuit breaker
  • AC voltage machine
  • Auxiliary circuit
  • Built-in device
  • Built-in distributor device
  • Built-in machine
  • Busbar automat
  • Busbar fuse
  • Cable circuit breaker
  • Circuit breaker
  • Control circuit breaker
  • DC circuit breaker
  • DC voltage
  • Direct current
  • Direct current machine
  • Energy Technology
  • High performance circuit breaker
  • Installation machine
  • MCB circuit breaker
  • Modular installation device
  • Motor protection switch
  • Overcurrent protection
  • Overcurrent switch
  • Plug-in circuit breaker
  • Rail mounted devices
  • Screw circuit breaker
  • Short circuit
  • Tax security


from the following manufacturers:

Manufacturer overview catalogue Circuit breaker:

  • ABB
  • ABN
  • Bachmann
  • Doepke
  • Eaton
  • ETA
  • Hager
  • Murrelektronik
  • Phoenix
  • Schneider Electric
  • Siemens
  • Stahl
Close filters
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
from to

1 From 533
No results were found for the filter!
RECOMMENDED
3D
Siemens - 5SY4201-7 - Miniature circuit breaker C1A, 2-pole 5SY4201-7
$66.61 excl. VAT

*

plus shipping
($111.80 RRP***)
Miniature circuit breaker C1A, 2-pole
Siemens
| 5SY4201-7
RECOMMENDED
3D
Hager - MBN116 - Miniature circuit breaker 1-pin B-16A MBN116
$3.01 excl. VAT

*

plus shipping
($12.01 RRP***)
Miniature circuit breaker 1-pin B-16A
Hager
| MBN116
RECOMMENDED
3D
Eaton - PXL-B16/1 - Miniature circuit breaker with lettering B 16A, 1-pole PXL-B16/1
$2.04 excl. VAT

*

plus shipping
($12.35 RRP***)
Miniature circuit breaker with lettering B 16A, 1-pole
Eaton
| PXL-B16/1
RECOMMENDED
3D
Hager - MBS116 - Circuit breaker 1-pole, B-16A MBS116
$3.21 excl. VAT

*

plus shipping
($13.03 RRP***)
Circuit breaker 1-pole, B-16A
Hager
| MBS116
RECOMMENDED
3D
Legrand Bticino - 403357 - Miniature circuit breaker 1-p B16A 403357
$2.24 excl. VAT

*

plus shipping
($12.52 RRP***)
Miniature circuit breaker 1-p B16A
Legrand Bticino
| 403357
RECOMMENDED
3D
Schneider Electric - A9F03132 - Miniature circuit breaker, 1-pole, 32A B IC60N A9F03132
$4.75 excl. VAT

*

plus shipping
($23.34 RRP***)
Miniature circuit breaker, 1-pole, 32A B IC60N
Schneider Electric
| A9F03132
RECOMMENDED
3D
Schneider Electric - A9F03332 - Circuit breaker, 3-pole, 32A B IC60N - Miniature circuit breaker 3-p B32A A9F03332
$29.19 excl. VAT

*

plus shipping
($124.04 RRP***)
Circuit breaker, 3-pole, 32A B IC60N - Miniature circuit breaker 3-p B32A
Schneider Electric
| A9F03332
RECOMMENDED
3D
ABB - S203-B16 - Automatic circuit breaker B 16A, 3-pole S203-B16
$19.09 excl. VAT

*

plus shipping
($83.82 RRP***)
Automatic circuit breaker B 16A, 3-pole
ABB
| S203-B16
RECOMMENDED
3D
RECOMMENDED
3D
ABB - S201-B16 f.ZE - Automatic circuit breaker 16A B 1p S201-B16 f.ZE
$2.59 excl. VAT

*

plus shipping
($11.67 RRP***)
Automatic circuit breaker 16A B 1p
ABB
| S201-B16 f.ZE
RECOMMENDED
Returns
3D
RECOMMENDED
3D
1 From 533
Viewed from you