Standards & Testing
37
WavePro™ Breaker Testing
WavePro Low Voltage Power Circuit Breakers are designed
and tested in accordance with ANSI Standards C37.13,
C37.16, C37.17 and C37.50, and are UL Listed in accor-
dance with UL 1066. WavePro breakers are designed
and tested to meet or exceed these standards.
The following information briefly describes the types of
tests WavePro low voltage power circuit breakers, rated 800
through 5000 amperes, must successfully pass (ref. ANSI
C37.50).
Trip Device Calibration Check Test:
Long time, short
time and instantaneous functions are checked to be in
accordance with the trip time curves.
AC Dielectric Withstand Voltage Test:
The breaker must
withstand applied voltage of 2200 volts on the primary cir-
cuits and 1500 volts on the secondary circuits for one minute.
The Trip Device Calibration Check Test and the AC
Dielectric Withstand Voltage Test as described above are
performed both before and after each sequence of tests as
part of the acceptance criteria. The dielectric test voltage is
reduced to 60% of the above test values when the dielectric
test is performed after a test sequence.
The required five test sequences include:
Continuous Current Test:
Rated current is passed through
the breaker which is in an enclosure. After temperatures
have stabilized, the temperature rise on insulating parts
and conducting parts of the breaker must not exceed
values prescribed in ANSI C37.13.
Overload Switching Test:
50 operations of making and
breaking six times rated current at rated maximum voltage
for 800A frame size (38 operations for 1600A and 2000A
frames). The Overload Switching Test is conducted in a
metal enclosure representing the minimum size enclosure
for which the breaker is suitable. No electrical or
mechanical breakdown is permitted.
Short Circuit Current Tests:
Single-pole and three-pole tests
are performed on the breakers to determine their ability
to close, carry and interrupt currents within their ratings.
The tests are conducted at rated maximum voltage, in a
series of “open” (O) and “close-open” (CO) operations.
Endurance Tests:
The breaker must complete an endurance
test of (1) making and breaking rated current at rated
maximum voltage, and (2) additional no load (mechanical)
on-off operations per Table 36.1.
Table 36.1 Endurance requirements for low voltage AC power
circuit breakers
Short Time Current Test:
Breakers are tested under the same
conditions as the three-pole short circuit test. This test
sequence checks the breaker’s ability to perform the short
time current duty cycle at its rated short time current at
rated maximum voltage. The direct acting trip devices are
disabled for this test. The duty cycle of this test consists
of two periods of
1⁄
2
second each, with a 15 second
interval of zero current between the
1⁄
2
second periods.
Fused Circuit Breaker Tests:
Additional continuous current
and short circuit tests are performed on fused breakers.
Short circuit tests on fused breakers are performed at 600
volts with a maximum power factor of 20%.
GE Trip Unit Testing
GE has developed a qualification test plan for the Power+™,
MicroVersaTrip Plus™ and MicroVersaTrip PM™ trip units
that is in addition to the tests required by UL 1066 and
ANSI C37.17. The objective is to demonstrate performance
and reliability under severe operating conditions. Essential
components of the internal qualification test are:
1. Temperature Cycling. This test verifies that units are
not damaged when exposed to many extreme thermal
cycles. The test consists of ramping units from -20°C to
70°C a minimum of 10 times each. Units are soaked at
each extreme temperature for 1 hour minimum for
each cycle.
2. Storage Temperature. This test ensures that units will
operate properly following exposure to extreme
storage temperatures for 72 hours. Units are stored
in an unpowered state at -55°C and +85°C for 72 hours
and then subjected to functional testing to verify proper
operation.
3. Voltage Surge. This test ensures that the circuit breaker
is not susceptible to direct and coupled surge voltages
on any primary line or any control input or output line.
The test is performed per the ANSI C37.90.1 Surge
Withstand Capability specification on all input and
Number of Make-Break or Close-Open operations
Frame Size
Between
Electrical
Mechanical
Total
(amps)
servicing
endurance
endurance
operations
800
1750
2800
9700
12500
1600
500
800
3200
4000
2000
500
800
3200
4000
3200
250
400
1100
1500
4000
250
400
1100
1500
5000
250
400
1100
1500
