The critical performance metric for a circuit breaker, measuring how fast it can clear a fault. It includes both the mechanical time required to separate the contacts and the arcing time needed to quench the resulting plasma in the interrupting chamber. Fast interrupting times are essential to minimize equipment damage and maintain grid stability during severe short circuits.
The new sulfur hexafluoride breakers have a guaranteed interrupting time of two cycles for maximum fault currents.
Also heard as
- clearing time
Related terms
Circuit breaker
A mechanical switching device capable of making, carrying and breaking currents under normal and fault conditions.
Arc flash
Explosive release of heat, light and pressure when an electric arc forms through air between energised parts.
Trip
To open a circuit breaker automatically through its protection, or to order a breaker open by command.