Name of parts of circuit breakers
Here are the common parts of a circuit breaker:
- Main Contact: The main contact is the moving part that opens and closes the circuit when the breaker trips.
- Fixed Contact: The fixed contact is the stationary part that the main contact moves against to open and close the circuit.
- Arc Chute: The arc chute is a metal plate that helps to extinguish the arc that forms when the breaker trips.
- Trip Unit: The trip unit is the electronic or mechanical device that detects overcurrent and sends a signal to the breaker to trip.
- Trip Coil: The trip coil is a spring-loaded mechanism that is energized by the trip unit to move the main contact and trip the breaker.
- Spring Return: The spring return is a spring that returns the main contact to its normal position after the breaker has tripped.
- Operating Handle: The operating handle is the lever or button that is used to manually trip the breaker.
- Indicator Window: The indicator window is a glass or plastic window that shows the status of the breaker (e.g. tripped or not tripped).
- Busbar: The busbar is the metal strip that carries the electrical current to and from the breaker.
- Mounting Bracket: The mounting bracket is the part that attaches the breaker to the panel or enclosure.
- Terminal Blocks: The terminal blocks are the connectors that attach to the breaker and connect to the wires.
- Grounding Terminal: The grounding terminal is the part that connects the breaker to the grounding system.
- Neutral Link: The neutral link is the part that connects the breaker to the neutral busbar.
- Phase Links: The phase links are the parts that connect the breaker to the phase busbars.
- Overcurrent Sensing Element: The overcurrent sensing element is the part that detects overcurrent and sends a signal to the trip unit.
Note that not all circuit breakers have all of these parts, and some may have additional parts depending on the specific design and application.