How Ambient Temperature Affects Hydraulic Magnetic Circuit Breakers and Thermal Breakers

To protect against electrical faults, both hydraulic magnetic circuit breakers and thermal circuit breakers have their place

  • How Ambient Temperature Affects Hydraulic Magnetic Circuit Breakers and Thermal Breakers
    How Ambient Temperature Affects Hydraulic Magnetic Circuit Breakers and Thermal Breakers

To protect against electrical faults, both hydraulic magnetic circuit breakers and thermal circuit breakers have their place. However, for applications where harsh environments and wide ranges of ambient temperature are possible, magnetic hydraulic circuit breaker delivers advantages in circuit protection that cannot be matched with thermal circuit breakers.

Thermal circuit breakers need to be de-rated depending on ambient temperature. In hot environments, the current rating is oversized to combat nuisance tripping, so from an electrical protection point of view, carries a risk.

To combat colder environments, the circuit breaker can have a slower trip time and as result can be underrated to overcome this but again affects the real purpose of electrical protection. By comparison, a hydraulic magnetic circuit breaker does not face those same challenges and is consistent in rating and performance from –40° C to +85°C. 

Each device type has its place. But for equipment that can be shipped globally, having a temperature stable solution is critical – which is why hydraulic magnetic circuit breakers are the most effective power control component in telecommunications, data and servers, transportation and rail, defense, marine, power generation, and more.

Read this whitepaper from Sensata Technologies to learn more.