ECO automatic circuit breaker 10A 1-pole C characteristic 6KA 230V

The 10A single-pole automatic circuit breaker with tripping characteristic C (slow-blow fuse) is one of the LS switches for devices with high inrush currents but a rather low rated current. The tolerance until tripping is 10 times the rated current of the fuse. The single-pole model has a rated current of 10A. Such a single-pole LS switch is suitable for protecting 230V electrical circuits for sockets and lighting, but not for three-phase circuits. The circuit breaker is therefore used to protect individual sockets and lamps with relatively small loads or with a single load connected. It can also be used specifically for motors and appliances with high starting currents, such as circular saws or other machines in the home tool cellar, on building sites or in industry.

To protect three-phase circuits, you need a three-pole circuit breaker, such as the SIEMENS 5SL6316-7 LS 16A three-pole type C circuit breaker. The cheaper ECO 10A 3-pole type C circuit breaker would also be suitable. For more powerful consumers such as washing machines, refrigerators or televisions, we recommend using 16A (or higher).

For consumers with even higher rated voltages (e.g. water heaters or cookers), fuses with even higher rated currents (e.g. 25A or 35A) should be used. However, this cannot be said in general terms, as it depends very much on the number of consumers connected to an electrical circuit.

Like conventional fuses, this type of circuit-breaker is used to protect lines, installations and people from damage. There are, however, a few differences.

Strictly speaking, a circuit breaker is not a fuse or a circuit breaker in the conventional sense of the term. This is why it is also called a circuit breaker, line protection switch or LS switch.

The terms "fuse" and "circuit breaker" are therefore obsolete, but they are still widely used to designate LS switches. Fuses operate on the principle of the electrical and thermal properties of conducting materials. Circuit-breakers operate on the principle of electromagnetism and switching, and also have a thermal trip function.

One of the main differences between fuses in the traditional sense and circuit breakers is that old-style fuses only protect against overloads, whereas a modern circuit breaker also protects people, lines and appliances against short circuits. It has a magnetic release for short circuits and a thermal release for overloads.

And our LS switches have many more advantages. They take up less space in the fuse box and can be easily reset after tripping in the event of a fault. Conventional circuit breakers had to be replaced once they had tripped. For this reason, it was not possible to manually switch off or on and off again an electrical circuit fitted with a fuse. They are now rarely used in private households. Or do you still have spare fuses in your cupboard?

In addition, modern circuit-breakers have a long service life and do not suffer from changes in tripping behaviour due to ageing (no shift in curve/characteristic). They are easy to combine with operating current releases, undervoltage releases and fire protection switches. They can also be used to manually switch on and off electrical circuits, although they are not designed for this purpose. But in an emergency, or when installing new appliances or a new ceiling light, they can be used to manually cut the circuit if necessary.

This LS circuit-breaker is designed for applications up to 6kA and offers effective protection for people and installations thanks to safe disconnection in the event of overload and short-circuit.