0601DB0401 R05/14

Data Bulletin 05/2014

Replaces 0601DB0401 R11/13, 11/2013

DC Rated Thermal-Magnetic Molded Case Circuit Breakers

Class 601

Retain for future use.

Introduction This data bulletin provides selection and application information for
Square D® thermal-magnetic molded case circuit breakers (MCCBs) when
applied on grounded or ungrounded direct current (dc) systems.
DC system short-circuit and overload characteristics are much different than
those of alternating current (ac) systems. Understanding these differences
is important to ensure adequate circuit protection when selecting ac circuit
breakers for application in a dc system.

Short-Circuit Current Generator dc systems produce a short-circuit current with a rapid current
rise that quickly reaches a steady state. DC battery systems produce a short
circuit with a rapid rise to its maximum level that then decays as a function
of the battery’s chemistry.
All circuit breakers used in generator, rectifier, or battery systems require a
dc rating greater than or equal to the system voltage. In addition, the
interrupting rating must be greater than or equal to the available short circuit
current.

Overload Protection Systems that use batteries as a power source, such as uninterruptible
power supplies (UPS), require special considerations when specifying
overload protection. Typically, the protective device must interrupt
overloads of 300–400% of rated full-load current in less than five seconds to
prevent internal damage to the batteries.
Standard ac circuit breakers in frame sizes of 250–1000 amperes have an
adjustable instantaneous trip range from five to ten times the continuous
current rating of the circuit breaker. Even at the lowest instantaneous trip
setting, a circuit breaker that is sized for appropriate thermal protection has
an instantaneous trip range that is 500% of the circuit breaker continuous
current rating and is thus too high to protect the battery.
Battery manufacturers can provide specific recommendations on overload
protection.

™
© 1988–2014 Schneider Electric All Rights Reserved
DC Rated Thermal-Magnetic Molded Case Circuit Breakers 0601DB0401 R05/14
Data Bulletin 05/2014

Selection and Application The following text, tables, and illustrations provide selection and application
information for applying Square D thermal-magnetic circuit breakers in
grounded and ungrounded systems.

Ungrounded DC Systems Square D circuit breakers are designed for use only in an ungrounded dc
system using an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), with a maximum short-
circuit voltage of 500 Vdc or a maximum floating (unloaded) voltage of 600 Vdc.
This dual voltage rating allows the use of the following circuit breakers in
battery-powered systems that have the short-circuit ratings.
• 25 kA for:
— PAF-DC circuit breakers
— PCF-DC circuit breakers
• 20 kA for:
— FH-DC circuit breakers
— PowerPact J-frame 500 Vdc circuit breakers
— LH-DC circuit breakers
— MH-DC circuit breakers
These circuit breakers are UL® Listed only if three poles are connected
externally in series, as shown in Figures 7 and 8.
All of these circuit breakers, except the PAF-DC and PCF-DC circuit breakers,
have an adjustable instantaneous trip with a single adjustment on the face of
the circuit breaker (see Table 1).

Table 1: UL-Listed1 DC Rated Circuit Breaker Selection—

Ungrounded 500 Vdc Systems

Circuit Breaker Handle Trip Range Short Circuit

Number Rating (Amperes) Rating (kA)
FHL3603013DC 30 50–180 20
FHL3605014DC 50 75–260 20
FHL3610016DC 100 150–580 20
JGL37100D81 100 350–600 20
JGL37125D81 125 350–600 20
JGL37150D81 150 350–600 20
JGL37175D81 175 350–600 20
JGL37200D82 200 500–850 20
JGL37225D82 225 500–850 20
JGL37250D82 250 500–850 20
LHL3625025DC 250 625–1250 20
LHL3630026DC 300 750–1500 20
LHL3635029DC 350 875–1750 20
LHL3640030DC 400 1000–2000 20
MHL3645031DC 450 1125–2250 20
MHL3650032DC 500 1250–2500 20
MHL3660033DC 600 1500–3000 20
MHL3670035DC 700 1750–3500 20
MHL3680036DC 800 2000–4000 20
MHL3690039DC 900 2500–5000 20
MHL36100040DC 1000 2500–5000 20
MHL36120040DC 1200 2500–5000 20
PAF361200DC 1200 1620 and above 25
PAF361600DC 1600 2160 and above 25
PAF362000DC 2000 2700 and above 25
PCF362500DC 2500 3375 and above 25
1 Rated for 500 Vdc; UL Listed only for protection of uninterruptible power systems.

2 © 1988–2014 Schneider Electric All Rights Reserved

0601DB0401 R05/14 DC Rated Thermal-Magnetic Molded Case Circuit Breakers
05/2014 Data Bulletin

Grounded DC Systems Standard dual-rated ac/dc thermal-magnetic circuit breakers may be used in
dc system applications and will provide thermal (overload) protection as
shown on the ac time-current characteristics curve. The instantaneous
tripping performance provided by the magnetic feature is determined by a
multiplier as listed in Table 2.
Standard ac/dc circuit breakers are UL Listed for application in dc systems
using the dc instantaneous trip multiplier for the ac time-current
characteristic curve. These circuit breakers may be used on grounded or
ungrounded dc systems.

Table 2: AC-to-DC Instantaneous Trip Conversion

DC Instantaneous Trip Multiplier

Circuit Breaker Prefix
Low Setting High Setting
QO/QOB 1.200 N/A
QOU 1.200 N/A
FA/FH 1.115 1.115
LA/LH 1.400 1.200
H (15–50 A) 1.2 N/A
H (60–150 A) 1.6 N/A
J 1.6 1.6

Table 3: DC System Device Selection

Circuit Breaker Number Ampere Ampere Interrupting Circuit Connection

System Vdc Recognition
Prefix of Poles Rating Rating (kA) Figure Number
1 10–70 48 5 UL/CSA 1
2 10–70 48 5 UL/CSA 5
3 10–60 48 5 UL/CSA 6
QO/QOB
1, 2 15–30 125 4 Square D Certified 21
1, 2 35–70 125 10 Square D Certified 21
3 15–60 125 8 Square D Certified 3
1 10–70 48 5 UL/CSA 1
2 10–70 48 5 UL/CSA 5
3 10–60 48 5 UL/CSA 6
1 80–100 60 5 UL/CSA 1
QOU 2 80–125 60 5 UL/CSA 5
3 70–100 60 5 UL/CSA 6
1, 2 15–20 125 4 Square D Certified 21
1, 2 25–70 125 10 Square D Certified 21
3 15–50 125 8 Square D Certified 3
1 15–100 125 5 UL/CSA 1
FA (240 Vac) 2, 3 15–100 125 5 UL/CSA 2, 3
2, 3 15–100 250 5 UL/CSA 2, 3
1 15–100 125 10 UL/CSA 1
FA (480 Vac) 2, 3 15–100 125 10 UL/CSA 2, 3
2, 3 15–100 250 10 UL/CSA 2, 3
1 15–100 125 10 UL/CSA 1
2, 3 15–100 125 10 UL/CSA 2, 3
FA (600 Vac)
2, 3 15–100 250 10 UL/CSA 2, 3
3 15–100 600 10 Square D Certified 4
—Continued on next page

© 1988–2014 Schneider Electric All Rights Reserved 3

DC Rated Thermal-Magnetic Molded Case Circuit Breakers 0601DB0401 R05/14
Data Bulletin 05/2014

Table 3: DC System Device Selection (continued)

Circuit Breaker Number Ampere Ampere Interrupting Circuit Connection

System Vdc Recognition
Prefix of Poles Rating Rating (kA) Figure Number
1 15–100 125 10 UL/CSA 1
FH 2, 3 15–100 125 10 UL/CSA 2, 3
2, 3 15–100 250 50 UL/CSA 2, 3
FH (600 Vac) 2, 3 15–100 300 25 Square D Certified 2, 3
FHL-DC 2 3 30–100 500 20 UL/CSA 7 or 8
2, 3 15–150 250 20 UL/CSA 2, 3
PowerPact 2, 3 15–150 250 20 UL/CSA 2, 3
HD/HG/HJ/HL 2, 3 15–150 250 20 UL/CSA 2, 3
2, 3 15–150 250 20 UL/CSA 2, 3
2, 3 150–250 250 20 UL/CSA 2, 3
PowerPact 2, 3 150–250 250 20 UL/CSA 2, 3
JD/JG/JJ/JL 2, 3 150–250 250 20 UL/CSA 2, 3
2, 3 150–250 250 20 UL/CSA 2, 3
PowerPact J-frame 500 Vdc 2 3 100–250 500 20 UL/CSA 7 or 8
LA 2, 3 125–400 250 10 UL/CSA 2, 3
2, 3 125–400 125 10 UL/CSA 2, 3
LH 2, 3 125–400 250 50 UL/CSA 2, 3
2, 3 125–400 300 25 Square D Certified 2, 3
LHL-DC2 3 250–400 500 20 UL/CSA 7 or 8
MHL-DC2 3 450–1000 500 20 UL/CSA 7 or 8
PAF-DC2 3 1200–2000 500 25 UL/CSA 7 or 8
PCF-DC2 3 2500 500 25 UL/CSA 7 or 8
1 Single-pole circuit breakers are connected in pairs
2 UL Listed for 500 Vdc nom. 600 Vdc max. rating; for use with ungrounded UPS systems.

4 © 1988–2014 Schneider Electric All Rights Reserved

0601DB0401 R05/14 DC Rated Thermal-Magnetic Molded Case Circuit Breakers
05/2014 Data Bulletin

T-Suffix Circuit Breakers

T-suffix circuit breakers are thermal-magnetic circuit breakers with standard
thermal or overload characteristics, and modified instantaneous
characteristics. Instantaneous trip ranges for T-suffix circuit breakers are
shown in Table 4.

Table 4: T-Suffix1 Instantaneous Trip Range Selections—

Grounded DC Systems

Circuit Breaker Frame

Circuit Breaker
FA LA
Suffix
Trip Range (Amperes)
11T 9–32 —
12T 21–80 —
13T 58–207 —
14T 86–299 —
15T 115–402 —
16T 173–667 —
17T 288–805 —
18T 345–1265 —
22T — 700–1200
26T — 1050–1800
27T — 750–1500
28T — 1050–1920
30T — 1400–2400
31T — 1575–2700
32T — 1750–3000
33T — 2100–3600
35T — 2450–4200
36T — 2800–4800
54T 24–64 —
1 T-suffix circuit breakers are not UL Listed.

© 1988–2014 Schneider Electric All Rights Reserved 5

DC Rated Thermal-Magnetic Molded Case Circuit Breakers 0601DB0401 R05/14
Data Bulletin 05/2014

Circuit Connections

Figure 1: Single-Pole Circuit Breaker Figure 2: Two-Pole Circuit Breaker

(Two Poles in Series)
+ Supply - + Supply -
06013004

06013005
Load Load

Figure 3: Three-Pole Circuit Breaker Figure 4: Three-Pole Circuit Breaker

(Two Poles in Series) (Three Poles in Series)
+ Supply - + Supply
-

06013007
06013006

Load Jumpers not

factory-installed Load

Figure 5: Two-Pole Circuit Breaker Figure 6: Three-Pole Circuit Breaker

(Single Pole) (Single Pole)
+ Supply - + Supply -
06013009
06013008

Load Load

Figure 7: Three-Pole Circuit Breaker Figure 8: Three-Pole Circuit Breaker

(Three Poles in Series) (Three Poles in Series)
Supply
-
Supply
- +
Supply
-
+ (300 Vdc
Max.)
+ (300 Vdc
Max.)
(600 Vdc Max.)
06013011

Jumpers not
06013010

Load factory-installed Load

Electrical equipment should be installed, operated, serviced, and maintained only by

qualified personnel. No responsibility is assumed by Schneider Electric for any
Schneider Electric USA, Inc. consequences arising out of the use of this material.
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