Application Paper AP01301001E

Effective September 2009

Determining power circuit breaker

interrupting ratings
Breaker tested conditions
Scale of Current Values
3.0
Total Currenta Wholly Offset Asymmetrical Alternating Wave
2.5

rms Value of Total Current

Alternating Component Symmetrical Wave

2.0
rms Value of Alternating Component
1.5

1.0

0.5
1

0.5

1.0

1.5

Direct Componentthe Axis

of Symmetrical Wave

Time in Cycles
of a 60 Hz Wave

2.0

There has been a lot of confusion in the industry

as to how to properly select the interrupting rating
of a breaker with so many different current values
to consider. For the purposes of selecting the
interrupting rating of a circuit breaker, one
should only concern oneself with the rms
symmetrical current rating of the system, along
with the system %pf or X/R ratio and the circuit
breaker interrupting rating. Other current values,
such as rms asymmetrical current and peak
asymmetrical currents, are dependent on the
%pf or X/R ratio and can thus be removed from
consideration. Figure 1 shows the relationship
between the various current values.
The Magnum DS product line contains circuit
breakers rated at varying levels of interrupting
rating, from 42 kAIC to 100 kAIC at 600V and up to
200 kAIC at 480V. The interrupting ratings shown
are rms symmetrical current values tested with a
%pf of 15, which corresponds to an X/R ratio of 6.6.
Examples of the relationship between these
different current values are shown in Tables 1
and 2. These tables convert the tested X/R ratio
for Eatons Magnum DS breakers with their
varying rms symmetrical interrupting ratings
and their equivalent rms and peak asymmetrical
interrupting ratings. Calculations were
based on a 60 Hz system and t=1/2 cycle
(ANSI/IEEE C37.13.1990/10.14).

Figure 1. Structure of an Asymmetrical Current Wave

Overview
All of Eatons Magnum DS line of power circuit
breakers are 100% rated and tested to applicable
industry standards, including ANSI C37.13,
C37.16, C37.17, C37.50; NEMA SG3; UL 1066;
and CSA 22.2.
When correctly applying a circuit breaker to a
system that has different %pf and X/R values from
those used in the circuit to test the breaker, one
should take into account the systems X/R ratio
and rms symmetrical current to arrive at an adjusted rms symmetrical current that will be compared
to the breakers tested interrupting ratings, among
other considerations.

Table 1. Magnum DS Asymmetrical

Multiplication Factor
%pf

X/R

rms
Multiplication

Peak
Multiplication

15

6.59

1.3308

2.2923

Table 2. Magnum DS Asymmetrical Currents

Circuit
Breaker

rms
Symmetrical

rms
Asymmetrical

Peak
Asymmetrical

MDS4

42,000

55,894

96,277

MDS5

50,000

66,540

114,615

MDS6

65,000

86,502

149,000

MDS8

85,000

113,118

194,846

MDSC

100,000

133,080

229,230

Determining power circuit breaker

interrupting ratings

Application Paper AP01301001E

Effective September 2009

ak
Pe

rm

1.5

2.5

1.8
1.7
1.6
1.5
1.4
1.3
1.2
1.1

actor
ion F
licat
p
i
t
l
s Mu

rms Symmetrical

tor
Fac
on
i
t
ica
ipl
ult

8 9 10

15

20

25

30

40

50

rms Multiplication Factor =

2.8
2.7
2.6
2.5
2.4
2.3
2.2
2.1
2.0
1.9
1.8
1.7
1.6
1.5
1.4

DC2 + rms Sym2 with DC Value Taken at Current Peak

rms Maximum
Asymmetrical

rms Symmetrical
Peak Multiplication Factor =

Peak Maximum
Asymmetrical

Based Upon: rms Asym

60 70 80 90 100

Circuit X/R Ratio (Tan Phase)

Figure 2. Relation of X/R Ratio and Asymmetrical Multiplication Factor

Figure 2 shows the relationship between the X/R ratio and the
multiplication factors used to calculate the circuit breaker rms
and peak asymmetrical currents. Their interdependency allows us
to narrow our consideration to the %pf or X/R ratio and the system
rms symmetrical currents in determining circuit breaker
interrupting ratings.

Selecting breakers with different %pf

To properly size a circuit breaker for a system that has a %pf greater
than or equal to 15 (X/R ratio of less than 6.59), one should simply
ensure that the rms symmetrical interrupting rating of the breaker
is sufficiently large enough to cover the rms symmetrical current
of the system.
In systems where the %pf is less than 15 (X/R ratio greater than 6.6),
an adjusted rms symmetrical current must be determined by applying
a multiplying factor (MF) to the systems calculated rms symmetrical
current. This adjusted rms symmetrical current must then be
compared to the breakers tested rms symmetrical currents. The
breaker selected must have an rms symmetrical interrupting rating
that is larger than the adjusted rms symmetrical current. Table 3

shows the adjusted system rms symmetrical currents at various

%pf and X/R ratios at varying system rms symmetrical currents.
For example, consider a system that has an rms symmetrical
current of 60 kA, with %pf of 7.1 and an X/R ratio of 14. We can
determine from Figure 2 or mathematical calculations that this
system has an rms asymmetrical current of 90.5 kA and a peak
asymmetrical current of 153 kA; however, these figures are not used
in selecting the circuit breaker interrupting rating. Because the %pf
is less than 15 (X/R ratio is greater than 6.6), the adjusted system
rms symmetrical current must be determined. Using Table 3, one
can apply the multiplication factor of 1.111 to the systems rms
symmetrical current to arrive at an adjusted rms symmetrical current
of 66.6 kA. A circuit breaker that has an interrupting rating greater
than this value must be selected, such as the 85 kAIC Magnum DS
breaker (MDS8).
For further information, please consult Eatons Consulting
Application Guide or visit www.eaton.com/consultants.

Table 3. Adjusted rms Symmetrical Currents

%pf
4.0

5.0

5.5

6.2

7.1

8.3

10.0

12.4

15.0

20.0

X/R

25.0

20.0

18.0

16.0

14.0

12.0

10.0

8.0

6.6

4.9

Multiplying factor (MF)

1.162

1.145

1.136

1.125

1.111

1.093

1.069

1.035

1.000

1.000

System rms
symmetrical
current

40,000

46,488

45,814

45,449

45,001

44,440

43,716

42,746

41,383

40,000

40,000

50,000

58,110

57,268

56,811

56,252

55,550

54,644

53,432

51,729

50,000

50,000

60,000

69,732

68,722

68,174

67,502

66,660

65,573

64,119

62,074

60,000

60,000

80,000

92,976

91,629

90,898

90,003

88,880

87,431

85,491

82,766

80,000

80,000

100,000

116,220

114,536

113,623

112,504

111,100

109,289

106,864

103,457

100,000

100,000

Eaton Corporation
Electrical Sector
1111 Superior Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44114
United States
877-ETN-CARE (877-386-2273)
Eaton.com
2009 Eaton Corporation
All Rights Reserved
Printed in USA
Publication No. AP01301001E / Z9004
September 2009

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