4/8/2017 Circuit breaker timing test Procedure |

Circuit breaker timing test Procedure

 Syed Noman ud din  January 26, 2016  Power Engineering  3,690 Views

This article explains the timing test of circuit breaker. Why it is necessary to perform breaker timing test.

What is the standard circuit breaker timing test procedure. Which equipment is used for CB timing test

and what are the accepted results.

Contents [hide]

1 Introduction to breaker timing test

2 Importance of timing test of circuit breaker

3 Equipment for CB timing test

4 Circuit breaker timing test procedure and Connections

5 Accepted Results

Introduction to breaker timing test

Circuit breakers are one of the important and critical part of electric power system. Circuit breakers are

the backbone of electrical protection system. Because of their key importance, they must be checked
periodically. Circuit breaker timing test is among different maintenance tests which should be performed
regularly. It measures the mechanical operating time of the circuit breaker. This test is always important

because delay in operation of circuit breaker can have disastrous effects on the equipment when fault
occurs.

Operation time: Operation time of the circuit breaker is the closing and opening times of contacts.

Definition of these operation times is presented by IEC 56.3.105 as follows.

Closing time: The time interval between energizing the coils of the breaker (when CB contacts are in open
position) and the instant when the contacts touch each other.

Check Also
Opening time: It is opposite to that of closing time. It is the time interval between energizing the trip coil
(CB contacts are in open position) and the instant when contacts separate from each other.

Importance of timing test of circuit breaker

As it has already been discussed earlier that circuit has a key role to play in the protection system. The
Circuit breaker specifications
correct operation time of circuit breaker is important due to the following reasons;
mentioned on its nameplate
Minimum damage during fault. When fault occurs, relay senses the abnormal condition
In this and
article we gives
will a
try to
understand the circuit
trip command to the circuit breaker. The circuit breaker after receiving trip signal, energizes
breaker the trip given
specifications coil
on its …
and open its contacts thus detaches the faulty part of system from rest of system. The circuit breaker
takes some time to do the process. The equipment’s installed in the power system are designed such

http://www.help2educate.com/circuit­breaker­timing­test­procedure/ 1/3
4/8/2017 Circuit breaker timing test Procedure |

that they withstand high current (other abnormal condition) for very limited time. If the circuit breaker
failed to operate in that limited time, the equipment may be damaged or destroyed. Therefore it is very

important that circuit breaker must operate in specific minimuk time (operation time) in order to
minimize damage. This feature makes it very important to check the operation time of circuit breaker
periodically.

Relay coordination. Circuit breakers are installed at different positions to provide protection to power
system. It is recommended that only faulty part of power system should be detached while the other
should remain intact. It is only possible that breaker near to the fault should be tripped while breaker
away from load and near to source should remain intact. This is called relay coordination. The timing of

the relay are set in such a way that breaker near the fault should trip first. However if the breaker fails to
operate in its specific time, the breaker away from fault (near to source) will trip hence healthy part of

system will also be detached. So correct operation time is necessary for the relay coordination.

Equipment for CB timing test

Different measuring devices can used to perform timing test of circuit breaker. First- generation devices

were based on oscillographic mode of record curves and currently are not used. Second generation testing
methods based on digital timers with time-pulse conversion e.g. Circuit-breaker timer.

The equipment which is widely used nowadays for performing timing test of circuit breaker is the Circuit
breaker (CB) analyzer. The major probes and connection points are shown in the following figure.


Check Also

Circuit breaker timing test procedure and Connections

To perform breaker timing test, following connections are required.

Connection to the input & output of each phase of circuit breaker from circuit breaker analyzer.

DC supply to the tripping coil of the circuit breaker from external source. Circuit breaker specifications

Connection to the tripping circuit of breaker from CBA.

mentioned on its nameplate
In this article we will try to
understand the circuit
Following figure shows the typical connection diagram. breaker specifications given
on its …


http://www.help2educate.com/circuit­breaker­timing­test­procedure/ 2/3
4/8/2017 Circuit breaker timing test Procedure |

As it can be seen from the figure that

connection to incoming of each phase of breaker is provided from CBA via red, yellow and blue wires

while outgoing is connected with black wire. Positive (+) and Negative (-) sign shows the connection of
external battery to the triggering circuit.

When the connections are done, note the state of the circuit breaker from breaker state indicator (on or
off). Press the ready button, the circuit breaker will be operated and the time will be displayed on the

screen. Results of the timing test of circuit breaker can be printed using thermal printer, downloaded
directly to USB via USB port and displayed on PC via USB interface. Repeat the process for closing and

opening of circuit breaker.

Accepted Results
The exact correct operation time of circuit breaker is provided by the manufacturer. It can be mentioned
on the nameplate of circuit breaker. Click here to learn how to interpret name plate of circuit breaker.

However as a rule of thumb, operating time of circuit breaker should fall in the following ranges

HT breakers (above 11kV) Opening time = 1-2 cycles (20 – 40 ms)

Closing time = 2-5 cycle ( 40 to 100ms)

LT breakers (11kV or below) opening time = 2-3 cycles (40 to 60ms)

Closing time = 3-6 cycles (60 to 120ms)

These are just estimated values which can be regarded as acceptable operation time.

Check Also
You may also like to view
Contact Resistance test of circuit breaker

If you have any question regarding Circuit Breaker timing test, please ask in comments.

Circuit breaker specifications

mentioned on its nameplate
In this article we will try to
understand the circuit
breaker specifications given
on its …


http://www.help2educate.com/circuit­breaker­timing­test­procedure/ 3/3