2.5 CIRCUIT BREAKER CHARACTERISTICS ‘THERMAL-MAGNETIC CHARACTERISTICS ‘As stated earlier in Section 23, thermal-magnetic circuit breakers have an inverse time tripping characteristic (due tothe bimetal) andan instantaneous tripping characteristic due to the electromagnetic portion of the breaker. The following trio curve displays these two circuit breaker tripping characteristics, Figure 25.1. Sirens onan: TMM” ANY WM: We ‘The characteristic trip curve varies according to time and. Ccurrent levels. As the current increases, the tripping time decreases. The upper portion ofthe curve represents the thermal action and.is determined by the bimetal deflection ‘SQUARED wr LATER we gin Taser of SquaeO Compan. CIRCUIT BREAKERS For example, at 200% overload it would take 30 seconds bbefore the bimetal would deflect far enough to hitthe trip, 'bar causing the breaker to open the citcutt. I, for example, ‘a short circuit at 2500% or 25 times the handle rating was, encountered, it would be cleared in approximately 016 seconds, or roughly one cycle. ‘As shown by the diagram, it can sometimes be difficult to determine whether the circuit breaker wil trip by thermal ‘or magnetic action (ve. 600%) Itis evident though that the Circuitbreaker will tip once subjected to overioad or short ‘circuit currents. All the values shown on the Square D thermalmagnetic circuit breaker characteristic curves have been determined through extensive testing (CURRENT LIMITING CHARACTERISTICS ‘The time-curtent characteristic curves of current limiting Ccrouit breakers have basicaly the same shape and contain essentaly the same type of information as those for conventional molded case circuitbreekers. The thermal ‘and magnetic areas of operation may be identied as on any other breaker. The difference is the current limiting action, displayed at higher fauit levels. Although the threshold of current limitation is not clearly detined. Fig. 2.52 shows that at higher interrupting currents, the circuit breaker reacts {aster hana thermal-magnetic breaker. Onhigh level short cecut currents, -LIMITER breakers have total interruption time of 2to 4 miliseconds. The folowingis amore in-depth discussion of current imitation, POINT OF INITIATION AND TIME DURATION HUIMITER current limiting circuit breakers are designed to take advantage of the electromagnetic repulsion created bby closely spaced, parallel contact arms carrying current in opposte directions. This repulsion, intensified by the "O” ‘shaped magnet surrounding the contact arms causes the ‘contacts to blow open in less than one millisecond under 1high level fault conditions, This high speed contact separation enhances the ability ‘Of LIMITER circuit breakers to limit both peak current and, Ptletthrough energy. D) DE FUNDAMENTALS: 19