At 8.2 mm Wide, Circuit Breakers are Smallest Pluggable Thermal-Magnetic Devices
Measuring just 8.2 mm wide, Phoenix Contact’s PTCB TM pluggable thermal-magnetic circuit breakers are said to be the smallest devices of their kind on the market. The individual circuit breakers, which feature both protection and signaling in a single module, save up to 65% space compared with other thermal-magnetic circuit breakers.
Specially developed for industrial applications with high inrush currents, the modular circuit breakers are available in finely graduated nominal currents from 0.5 A to 16 A and cover a wide range of applications with the characteristic trip curves F2 and M1. These applications range from sensitive electronic components to power-intensive loads such as motors and transformers.
The PTCB TM features alignable current monitoring with an adjustable signaling threshold, providing local and remote visualization of the load status. Digital outputs make it easy to integrate with a PLC to view the status remotely. A tilting lever clearly shows the switching status, even when the power is off. This reduces required training and minimizes operating errors.
Some common applications include:
- Machine and control panels: Provides reliable protection for individual devices and circuits in machinery and control cabinets.
- Data centers and ICT systems: Offers instant and time-delayed overcurrent protection to safeguard sensitive IT equipment from electrical faults.
- Demanding loads: Thermal-magnetic characteristics (F2 and M1 curves) handle high inrush currents from motors, valves, transformers, and frequency converters without nuisance tripping.
- Infrastructure: Ensures operational safety in water/wastewater treatment plants, rail systems, and transportation networks.
- Process industries: Designed for harsh environments, including marine, offshore, mining, and general process automation.
- Power and energy: Protects equipment in solar and wind power systems, battery storage, and power transmission/distribution.
- Manufacturing and automation: Supports automotive production lines and automated guided vehicles (AGVs).
Learn more about circuit breakers/relays
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About the Author
David MaliniakDavid Maliniak
Executive Editor, Microwaves & RF
I am Executive Editor of Microwaves & RF, an all-digital publication that broadly covers all aspects of wireless communications. More particularly, we're keeping a close eye on technologies in the consumer-oriented 5G, 6G, IoT, M2M, and V2X markets, in which much of the wireless market's growth will occur in this decade and beyond. I work with a great team of editors to provide engineers, developers, and technical managers with interesting and useful articles and videos on a regular basis. Check out our free newsletters to see the latest content.
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In his long career in the B2B electronics-industry media, David Maliniak has held editorial roles as both generalist and specialist. As Components Editor and, later, as Editor in Chief of EE Product News, David gained breadth of experience in covering the industry at large. In serving as EDA/Test and Measurement Technology Editor at Electronic Design, he developed deep insight into those complex areas of technology. Most recently, David worked in technical marketing communications at Teledyne LeCroy, leaving to rejoin the EOEM B2B publishing world in January 2020. David earned a B.A. in journalism at New York University.