In addition to providing a means to open and close its contacts manually, a circuit breaker must automatically open its contacts when an overcurrent condition is sensed.
The trip unit is the part of the circuit breaker that determines when the contacts will open automatically.
In a thermal-magnetic circuit breaker, the trip unit includes elements designed to sense the heat resulting from an overload condition and the high current resulting from a short circuit. In addition, some thermal magnetic circuit breakers incorporate a “PUSH TO TRIP” button.
Trip Mechanism
The trip unit includes a trip mechanism that is held in place by the tripper bar. As long as the tripper bar holds the trip mechanism, the mechanism remains firmly locked in place.
The operating mechanism is held in the “ON” position by the trip mechanism. When a trip is activated, the trip mechanism releases the operating mechanism, which opens the contacts.
Manual Trip
Some molded case circuit breakers, especially larger breakers, can be manually tripped by pressing the “PUSH TO TRIP” button on the face of the circuit breaker. When the button is pressed the tripper bar rotates up and to the right. This allows the trip mechanism to “unlock” releasing the operating mechanism.
The operating mechanism opens the contacts.
The “PUSH TO TRIP” button also serves as a safety device by preventing access to the circuit breaker interior in the “ON” position. If an attempt is made to remove the circuit breaker cover while the contacts are in the closed (“ON”) position, a spring located under the pushbutton causes the button to lift up and the breaker to trip.
Overload Trip
Thermal-magnetic circuit breakers employ a bi-metalic strip to sense overload conditions. When sufficient overcurrent flows through the circuit breaker’s current path, heat build up causes the bi-metalic strip to bend. After bending a predetermined distance, the bi-metalic strip makes contact with the tripper bar activating the trip mechanism.
A bi-metalic strip is made of two dissimilar metals bonded together. The two metals have different thermal expansion characteristics, so the bi-metalic strip bends when heated. As current rises, heat also rises.
The hotter the bi-metalic becomes the more it bends. After the source of heat is removed, as when the circuit breaker contacts open, the bi-metalic strip cools and returns to its original condition. This allows a circuit breaker to be manually reset once the overload condition has been corrected.
Short Circuit Trip
As previously described, current flow through a circuit breaker’s blow-apart contacts creates opposing magnetic fields. Under normal operating conditions, these opposing forces are not sufficient to separate the contacts. When a short circuit occurs, however, these opposing forces increase significantly.
The current that flows through the contacts also flows through a conductor that passes close to the circuit breaker’s trip unit. At fault current levels, the magnetic field surrounding this conductor provides sufficient force to unlatch the trip unit and trip the breaker.
The combined actions of magnetic fields forcing contacts apart while simultaneously tripping the circuit breaker result in rapid interruption of the fault current. In addition, because the magnetic forces are proportional to the current, the greater the fault current, the shorter the time it takes to interrupt the current.
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Edvard Csanyi
Hi, I'm an electrical engineer, programmer and founder of EEP - Electrical Engineering Portal. I worked twelve years at Schneider Electric in the position of technical support for low- and medium-voltage projects and the design of busbar trunking systems.I'm highly specialized in the design of LV/MV switchgear and low-voltage, high-power busbar trunking (<6300A) in substations, commercial buildings and industry facilities. I'm also a professional in AutoCAD programming.
Profile: Edvard Csanyi
I am unable to find a drawing of the 2010 style switchgears (12yrs ago)
I have a Masterpact NT08 – H1 and I have the thing completely broken down, ( I had a broken movable contact bar break ) while putting it back together. I couldn’t get the contact arm to engage. so now I believe that the arm that engages and disengages the moveable contact arm could possibly be in the wrong spot for the spring to charge. does anyone have a drawing of the mechanical side of these switchgears? or possibly one that they could send me a photo of without the face cover? ( just to clarify I did take photos but i didn’t capture that part I needed, of course)
so it would not matter which direction current flows through the breaker in order for the breaker to open under excesive current flow conditions.
Thank you
One of Schneider Merlin Air circuit breaker got instantly off not trip when it on position, even test mode breaker on -off-trip function found ok , but in live position breaker got off instantly while on the ACB , so I removed trip coil supply even though breaker got off. But by manually we can on the ACB rackout position-test position-service position.kindly advice me I am so surprised regarding this matter.
Hi Dave,
Real checking of earthing system is more complex and it costs (true electrical resistance meter). First, your utility company may check that your grounding rods and outside electrical system is all properly constructed. If we assume that this is already done corrected, you can verify earth ground with little outlet tester. Simple outlet tester checks for ground continuity at each outlet.
There are inexpensive outlet testers that plug in and with lights, give you a visual indication if the ground is present.
However, in your home panel, you should have RCB (residual circuit breaker) as incomer. Testing your system with test button should be pretty safe for you.
What you aren’t sure 100% is will your electrical panel blow when lightning strikes out. In that case you can install surge arrester in your panel. It should be quite enough to keep your installations safe.
BR,
Edvard C.
I am looking for a fan trip Unit, anyone who can help
Hi Edvard,
thanks for the great article… i found my way here while looking for proper methods to test a circuit breaker.
i recently engaged a electrician to re wire my house, after his work, i enquired if the electricity is properly earthed. he then proceeded to “test” by pressing the “push to test” button on the main circuit breaker. Although i am skeptical because what he did was a manual test on a physical mechanism…but i’m not knowledgeable enough.
what i’m wanted was if a short cirucit occurs will it be safe, or what should the proper testing procedures be and if i should re do the earth connection.
thanks so much for your help.
Dave