TESTING MINIATURE CIRCUIT BREAKERS WITH PTE-FCB
Eduardo Marchesi September 19, 2003
TESTING MCBs WITH THE PTE-100-C
PTE-FCB Option Application Note
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
The PTE-FCB is a user-installable add-on designed to enable the testing of single-pole miniature circuit breakers or moulded case circuit breakers with the PTE-100-C. The sensitivity of the monitor input in the PTE-100-C is usually too high to distinguish between closed and open positions of the circuit breakers pole when test voltage is being applied. The small voltage drop across the circuit breaker under test is sufficient to stop the chronometer unwantedly, before the actual trip occurs. By connecting the PTE-FCB in series between the one of the circuit breakers contacts and the monitors voltage input, this voltage can be attenuated until the monitor activity LED goes off.
TESTING A SINGLE-POLE MCB
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Attach the MCB to the mounting bracket and make the connections as shown in the picture above (the MCB is displayed out of the mounting bracket for clarity). Close the MCB manually. Make sure that the current adjustment knob (the variac) is fully turned to the left (position 0) Set selectors A and B in the PTE-FCB to their ZERO position. Activate the PTE-100-Cs current output by pressing ON/OFF once. Progressively increase the current up to the desired test value (usually 1.5 times the MCBs nominal rate). If the monitor LED is OFF while the MCB is still closed, continue with step 9.
EuroSMC, S.A. September 2003 Testing MCBs with the PTE-FCB option
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8.
Start turning the A selector clockwise until the monitor LED goes off. If you reach the top position and the LED continues on, return to ZERO, increase the B selector one position clockwise and try again. Open the MCB manually. If the current output is still active, the monitor LED should go ON.
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10. Deactivate the current output by pressing ON/OFF again. 11. Close the MCB manually and press RESET to set the chronometer to ZERO. 12. Activate the PTE-100-Cs current output by pressing ON/OFF once and wait for the MCB to operate. Depending on the MCBs tripping characteristic and the test current applied, it may take from a few seconds to several minutes. 13. Upon tripping, the operation time and the test current should be displayed by the chronometer (display #1) and the ammeter (display #2) respectively. TESTING MCBs WITH TWO OR MORE POLES
In multiple-pole circuit breakers, you can inject the test current across one of the poles and use any of the remaining non-connected poles as dry signals to the PTE-100-Cs monitor. Dry (non-voltage) signals are perfectly distinguished by the dry (BLACK/GREEN) input of the PTE-100-Cs monitor, so in this case you do not need the PTE-FCBs sensitivity adjustment features. To test multiple-pole MCBs proceed as follows:
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Make the connections as displayed in the figure on the right. Press the chronometers MODE key once or repeatedly until the green START and STOP LEDs illuminate. This mode will start the chronometer when the current output is activated and will stop it when a normally closed contact changes to open position. Set the MCB to CLOSED position. Make sure that the current adjustment knob (the variac) is fully turned to the left (position 0) Press then ON/OFF key to activate the current output and increase the current progressively until you reach the required test value (usually 1.5 times the MCBs nominal current) Press ON/OFF again to deactivate the current and RESET the chronometer to zero. Press ON/OFF again to start the test and wait for the MCB to operate. Depending on the MCBs tripping characteristic and the test current applied, it may take from a few seconds to several minutes. Upon tripping, the operation time and the test current should be displayed by the chronometer (display #1) and the ammeter (display #2) respectively.
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