Circuit Breakers Archives - Electrical Engineering Resource

4 Steps to calculate short circuit current ratings in industrial control panels

March 20, 2024/in Circuit Breakers, Panel Builders, SCCR /by Victoria Anders

short circuit current ratings

Frank Basciano
Global Product Manager
—
This is an update of a 2020 article written by Marcelo E. Valdes, PE, IEEE Fellow Applications Eng. Manager
ABB Electrification Business

Short circuit current ratings (SCCR) are a critical specification when designing industrial control panels. Determining the appropriate SCCR actually requires no calculations. Instead, there is a simple, four-step process to follow.

CHIPS Act creates opportunity for panel builders

April 24, 2023/in Circuit Breakers, Easy to install, Energy efficiency /by Liz Smith

The CHIPS Act will open the floodgates of funding to increase domestic integrated circuit production. For panel builders, this creates a huge opportunity to serve production-equipment OEMs and chip-fabrication facility managers.

Semiconductor manufacturing facility. Application of MCBs.

The basics of trip curves for panel builders

February 23, 2023/in Circuit Breakers, Critical Power, Panel Builders /by Liz Smith

A critical but often confusing characteristic of miniature circuit breakers are trip curves. Knowing the basics of trip curves can ensure selecting the lowest-cost breaker that will provide the needed protection without nuisance tripping.

Solutions for semiconductor panel components

3 Solutions for power panels in semiconductor fabs

December 12, 2022/in Circuit Breakers, Easy to install, Panel Builders, Reliability, Space savings /by Liz Smith

Machine builders serving the semiconductor industry face some particularly tough requirements for power quality and reliability. Read about three technologies available in panel components that can help meet those requirements.

Learn the 4 key benefits of plug-in breakers

November 15, 2022/in Circuit Breakers, Easy to install, Energy efficiency, Panel Builders, Project cost reduction, Reliability /by Liz Smith

Plug-in technology is gaining wider acceptance among panelboard and switchboard equipment builders. They are capitalizing on the four big benefits of plug-in breakers to differentiate themselves with safer, more reliable products.

Choose enhanced breaker and controller options to build more-competitive panels

September 21, 2022/in ABB Ability, Asset Health, Asset Monitoring, Circuit Breakers, Motor Starters and Contactors, Panel Builders /by Liz Smith

Panel builders have many opportunities to incorporate smart, connected devices to make panels more functional and desirable to customers. In this article, we will examine the benefits and applications of 4 potential motor-protection-device configurations.

Three insights on ensuring compliance with UL standards for MCCs

October 28, 2021/in Circuit Breakers, Panel Builders /by Victoria Anders

Builders and buyers of motor control centers (MCCs) rely on standards, notably UL 845, to ensure panel safety and functionality. This article provides insights and tips to help you better understand key elements of those standards.

What you need to know about miniature circuit breaker trip curves

July 27, 2021/in Circuit Breakers /by Victoria Anders

One of the critical criteria when selecting miniature circuit breakers is their trip curve. Awareness of these curves will help you select the right breakers for your applications, and diagnose potential nuisance tripping issues.

Smarter breakers enable higher-performing panels

December 17, 2020/in Circuit Breakers, Panel Builders /by Victoria Anders

Some panel builders are content to offer traditional, serviceable designs. Others position themselves as higher-value providers, offering panels with more functions and performance. They often achieve that by relying on smarter breakers.

Boost the reliability of your backup-power control system

August 25, 2020/in ABB Ability, Asset Health, Circuit Breakers, Energy efficiency, Panel Builders, Reliability /by Victoria Anders

Facility managers with backup-power systems are like skydivers; they can’t know if the backup actually works until they need it. Using smart devices in power-control-system panels greatly increases backup-power system reliability.

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