Classification of Electrical Circuit Breakers

• Circuit breakers can be classified by various methods however; the most general way of classification is on the basis of medium used for arc extinction.
• Various arc extinction medium used in circuit breakers is usually oil, air sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) or vacuum.
• According to above mediums, circuit breakers are classified as :

1. Oil circuit breakers : These circuit breakers employ insulting oil (e.g. transformer oil) for arc extinction.
2. Air blast circuit breakers : These circuit breakers employ high pressure air-blast for extinguishing the arc.
3. Sulpher hexafluoride circuit breakers : These circuit breakers employ Sulpher hexafluoride (SF6) gas is for arc extinction.
4. Vacuum circuit breakers : These circuit breakers employ vacuum is used for arc extinction.

1. Air Break Circuit Breaker
2. Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB)
3. Molded Case Circuit Breaker (MCCB)
4. Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB)
5. Air Blast Circuit-Breaker