Circuit Breaker Actuator Type

 

An actuator is the mechanical component used to manually switch a circuit breaker on and off. Circuit breaker actuators also serve to visually indicate whether a breaker is in ON, OFF, or TRIPPED status.

Carling Technologies offers a broad range of actuator types to meet a wide variety of functional and aesthetic needs.

Form & Fit Dimensions Available

Downloadable PDF files which contain the form and fit drawings for the actuators listed below, along with other dimensional and electrical specifications, can be found on the specific series' product page within this web site.

Handle Actuator

Also commonly referred to as a toggle actuator, Carling Technologies' handle actuators offer you choices in pole configuration, trip indication, color and legends.

Pole Configuration

Handle actuators can be provided in a one handle per pole, or a one handle per multi-pole unit configuration. As an example, in the one handle per pole configuration - a three-pole breaker would have 3 actuators. In a one handle per multi-pole configuration, a three-pole breaker would have one actuator located on the middle pole.

The list below specifies handle actuator count and location for the various "one handle per multi-pole" scenarios, when viewed from the front:

  • 2-pole unit - one handle at left pole
  • 3-pole unit - one handle at center pole
  • 4-pole unit - two handles at center pole
  • 5-pole unit- three handles at center poles
  • 6-pole unit- four handles at center poles

Carling A-Series, B-Series, C-Series, D-Series, E-Series, F-Series, and SmartGuard (PD-Series) all offer handle actuators. Of these, the A, B, C, and D-Series breakers offer the one handle per multi-pole configuration.

If more than one handle actuator is used on a multi-pole circuit breaker, those actuators are linked together by handle ties. For C, D, E, and F-Series breakers, the actuators and ties are assembled at the factory. For A and B-Series breakers the handle tie kits are supplied in bulk.

Trip Indication

For handle actuators, there are two basic types of trip indication: ON/OFF or Mid Trip. With the standard ON/OFF trip indication, the actuator moves fully to the "OFF" position when an overload causes the breaker to trip. When the Mid-Trip handle actuator is used, the actuator moves to a middle position (neither ON nor OFF) upon electrical trip of the breaker. Mid Trip actuators can also be configured with an alarm switch, in which case the actuator moves to the middle position and the alarm switch actuates when the circuit breaker is electrically tripped.

All circuit breaker series that offer handle actuators offer the ON/OFF trip indication. Carling A-Series, B-Series, C-Series circuit breakers also offer Mid-Trip handle actuators.

Carling's earth leakage circuit breaker, the SmartGuard (PD-Series), offers an ON/OFF trip indication where an LED is also illuminated when leakage to ground has caused the breaker to trip.

Colors & Legends

The most standard handle actuator colors are black and white; red and yellow are common as well. The standard handle actuator legend is dual I-O/ON-OFF. ON-OFF or I-O only legends are also available, depending on product series. For black and red actuators, the legend will be printed in white. For white and yellow actuators, the legend will be printed in black. For assistance with special color or legend needs, please contact your Carling Technologies Sales Representative.

Rocker Actuators

Carling Technologies offers a broad selection of aesthetically pleasing rocker actuator styles, colors, and legend choices. Rocker styles include Carling's trademarked two-color VISI-ROCKER®, single color curved, flat, and angled rockers, and illuminated rockers. Carling also offers push-to-reset and ROCKERGUARD® options.

Typically, rocker actuators are considered an international choice, providing the 8mm of spacing between the operator and current carrying components of the breaker required by European regulatory agencies.

Unlike handle actuators, rocker actuated circuit breakers will have only one rocker per multi-pole unit- with a maximum of three poles allowed. For UL489 listed breakers, rocker actuators are limited to single pole units.

Visi-Rocker

A Visi-Rocker is double injection molded, two-color curved rocker actuator which provides vivid, unlighted indication of circuit breaker status. The Visi-Rocker is an attractive, durable, and cost-effective form of actuation, requiring no additional circuitry for lamps or concern for lamp life cycles.

The Visi-Rocker provides a choice of trip/status indication. With the "Indicate ON" option, the rocker's vivid radius (end), which contrasts in color to the rocker face and bezel, shows when the breaker is in "ON" status. With the "Indicate OFF" option, the rocker's radius shows when the breaker is in the OFF/Tripped status.

Visi-Rockers also offer a wide range of color and legend configurations. The most standard actuator colors are black, white and grey. The standard "visi-colors", the indicator color of the rocker radius, are white, red, or green. Visi-Rocker legends are molded in to the rocker's face, and their color will always match the visi-color specified. The most standard legend is the dual ON-OFF/I-O legend. I-O and ON-OFF legends are also available separately, depending on the product series. Actuator legends can be orientated vertically or horizontally. For assistance with special color or legend needs, please contact your Carling Technologies Sales Representative.

Carling Technologies' M-Series, Q-Series, A-Series, C-Series, and D-Series circuit breakers offer Visi-Rocker actuators.

Single Color Rockers

Carling offers three types of single color rockers: curved, flat, and angled. Like handle actuators, these rockers offer the standard ON/OFF trip indication where the actuator moves fully to the "OFF" position when an overload causes the breaker to trip. The standard imprinted legend, which can be oriented horizontally or vertically, is the dual ON-OFF/I-O legend. I-O and ON-OFF legends are also available separately, depending on the product series.

Standard curved rocker colors include black, red, green, blue, yellow, gray, and orange. For black, red, green, and blue actuators, the legend will be printed in white. For yellow, gray, and orange actuators, the legend will be printed in black. For assistance with special color or legend needs, please contact your Carling Technologies Sales Representative.

Carling's A-Series, C-Series, and D-Series circuit breakers offer single color curved rocker actuators.

Flat and angled rockers can be illuminated or non-illuminated. Illuminated actuators offer an independent Neon or LED lamp. Neon lamps do not include external resistors. LED lamps may include external resistor, if specified. Illuminated actuator colors include: clear, red, green, amber, smoke gray, and white translucent. LED lamp colors include red, green, and amber. Legends are imprinted in black for the white translucent rocker. All others are imprinted in white.

For non-illuminated flat and angled rockers, standard colors are white, black, red, and orange. White and orange rockers are imprinted in black; black and red rockers are imprinted in white. For assistance with special color or legend needs, please contact your Carling Technologies Sales Representative.

Carling's M-Series and Q-Series offer illuminated and non-illuminated flat and angled rockers.

Push-to-Reset & Rockerguard Options

To prevent accidental actuation of a circuit breaker, Carling offers the Push-to-reset and Rockerguard options. With the standard push-to-reset actuators, the rocker is shrouded when in the OFF position. A 0.55 x .205 inch slot is located at the bottom of the shroud into which an implement can be inserted to reset the breaker to the ON position.

The Rockerguard provides rocker side barriers that create a "head-on" channel for finger actuation, guarding against accidental, indirect actuation of the breaker. Push-to-reset and rockerguard options can also be combined on the same breaker for the highest level of actuation protection.

The Push-to-reset option is available on Carling's A-Series and C-Series circuit breakers. The rockerguard option is available on M-Series, Q-Series, A-Series, and C-Series rocker actuated breakers.

For assistance with special rocker protection requirements, please contact your Carling Technologies Sales Representative.

Pushbutton Actuators

Carling Technologies offers two types of pushbutton actuated circuit breakers, Push-Pull and Push-to-Reset. The Push-Pull actuator provides ON/OFF trip indication. The actuator is pushed-in when the circuit breaker is ON; it can be manually pulled outward to switch the breaker OFF, and will automatically be pushed out when the breaker has TRIPPED. Additionally, the actuator color on the stem of the pushbutton is only visible when in the OFF/TRIPPED condition. Push-Pull pushbutton colors include white and red. The standard actuator cap color is black. Push-Pull actuators can also include the breaker's amp rating as an imprinted legend on the cap.

The Push-to-Reset pushbutton actuator also provides ON/OFF trip indication; the actuator is pushed-in when the circuit breaker is ON, automatically pushed out when the breaker has TRIPPED. Unlike the push-pull actuator, the push-to-reset breaker cannot be manually pulled out to switch the breaker OFF. Standard actuator colors include white and red; they do not have a black color cap or imprinted legends.

Should you have special rocker color requirements, please contact your local Carling Technologies Sales Representative for assistance.

Carling Technologies' M-Series circuit breakers offer pushbutton actuators in one or two pole configurations, with one pushbutton per unit.

Baton & Paddle Actuators

Carling also offers single color baton and paddle actuators. The baton actuator is .625 inches long, with a .180 inch diameter. The paddle actuator is .500 inches long. Both actuator types indicate a tripped condition by moving fully to the OFF position when an overload causes the breaker to trip. Color offerings for baton and paddles include white, black, red, green, blue, yellow, and orange. Legends cannot be imprinted on the actuator; however, I-O and ON-OFF legend plates are available in both vertical and horizontal orientations.

For assistance with special rocker color requirements, please contact your Carling Technologies Sales Representative.

Carling Technologies' M-Series circuit breakers offer baton and paddle actuators in one or two-pole configurations.