In the industrial sector, the safety of electrical installations is crucial to ensuring continuity of operations, personal safety and the preservation of equipment.
These installations, which are often complex and power a variety of machines essential to production, require particularly reliable electrical protection devices. Schneider Electric's ComPacT NS circuit breakers, renowned for their reliability and performance for over 30 years, play an essential role in securing industrial electrical installations.
ComPacT NS circuit breakers, guaranteeing the electrical safety of installations
Launched in 1994 by Schneider Electric, the ComPacT NS range is now the benchmark for all players in the electrical industry, with a range covering ratings from 630 to 3200 A.
Protecting electrical distribution involves protecting both networks, whether powered by a transformer or a generator, and cables, which are often very long in industrial installations, in IT and TN earthing schemes.
Particular attention is therefore paid to problems such as overvoltage, short circuits and fire protection, which can cause significant damage to the installation and endanger human life.
ComPacT NS circuit breakers are therefore specially designed to optimise the reliability of the power supply:
- They guarantee optimised selectivity and coordination with all Schneider Electric circuit breakers upstream and downstream of the installation
- They provide corrective, preventive and predictive maintenance of protected equipment, thanks to advanced MicroLogic trip units
- They send remote alerts via the new wireless auxiliary contact, as well as a local indication on the front of the devices
The different protection mechanisms of ComPacT NS circuit breakers
The primary role of a circuit breaker is to protect equipment and people. Protection against overloads, short circuits and earth faults.
Overload protection: this is the function of thermal protection, which protects conductors from excessive heating that could cause a fire hazard.
Short-circuit protection: this is the function of magnetic protection, which causes the circuit breaker to open quickly in the event of high overcurrents.
Protection against earth leakage: This is the function of the residual current device, which limits the risk of electric shock by detecting earth leakage currents in the electrical installation.
Integrated into ComPacT NS circuit breakers, the interchangeable MicroLogic 2.0, 5.0 and 6.0 control units protect electrical systems from damage caused by overloads, short circuits and differential faults (MicroLogic 7.0 only).
ComPacT NS vs ComPacT NSX
Same series but with one key difference: the rating. Up to 630 A for the ComPacT NSX and up to 3200 A for the ComPacT NS.
The ComPacT NS is therefore more suitable for industrial installations, while the ComPacT NSX is more widely used in the tertiary sector.
What is the equivalent of the ComPacT NS from other manufacturers?
Legrand offers the Compact DPX range of circuit breakers up to 1600 A. Hager offers the same with its S and H ranges. For a rated current above 1600 A, you will need to choose a CompacT NS from Schneider Electric.
Tips for installing and maintaining ComPacT NS circuit breakers
The electrical equipment that makes up the electrical panel or cabinet ages, whether it is in operation or not. This ageing is mainly due to the influence of the environment and operating conditions. It is therefore recommended that you install the ComPacT NS circuit breaker in the environmental and operating conditions recommended by the manufacturer. Some examples:
- It is essential to disconnect all power sources from the circuit breaker before performing any work on it
- The circuit breaker must be installed in such a way that a minimum insulation distance from earth-connected metal parts is maintained. This is to avoid any risk of electrocution, explosion or electric arc flash.
- The operating temperature must be between -25 °C and +70 °C.
Refer to the installation instructions provided by the manufacturer.
To ensure that the ComPacT NS circuit breaker retains all its operating and safety characteristics throughout its service life, it is important to have it inspected and serviced regularly by qualified personnel.
Because the safety of electrical installations and of the people working in businesses is paramount, do not skimp on the choice of protective circuit breakers. ComPacT NS circuit breakers from Schneider Electric offer a reliable, robust and standards-compliant solution to meet these needs. Their reliability, ability to protect against overloads and short circuits, adaptability and ease of maintenance make them an ideal choice for industrial electrical installations.
