12 best circuit breaker manufacturers

The circuit breaker is installed after entering electricity into an apartment or house. It can be general or separate, in order to protect the lines laid in different rooms to consumer devices. Automatic shutdown device is activated in two ways: during thermal overload and short circuit. In the first case, from the passage of high current inside the automaton, the plate is heated, the contact opening. This prevents the wiring from melting the winding. In the second case, when two phases are closed, the electromagnetic unit reacts, instantaneously shifting to the off side, which protects the cable from fire, and the electrical equipment from damage.

In contrast to fuse plugs, the automata are reusable and after the problem is fixed they can be re-enabled to restore the electrical circuit. Such devices equip residential premises, hospitals, schools, workshops and workshops. To facilitate the selection, we have prepared a rating of the best manufacturers of circuit breakers, based on customer feedback and characteristics of the products.

How to choose a circuit breaker

Before considering the manufacturers rating, let us recall the main selection criteria for the circuit breakers, so that the subsequent data in the TOP would be clear. Automatic machines for protection of electrical circuits are chosen, paying attention to:

1. Maximum rated current. The indicator varies from 1 to 6300 A, and depends on the wiring cross-section. For example, if wires with a cross section of 1.5 mm2 are laid in a house, an automatic machine will fit from 15 to 20 A. You can find out the wiring parameters from the data on the winding or by measuring the diameter of a bare conductor.
2. Number of poles. Varies from 1 to 4. Allows you to power several lines from one machine at once. This saves space in the panel and speeds up the connection, but when one of the directions is triggered, everything will be de-energized immediately. It also affects the connection to a single-phase or three-phase network. For the latter, it is practical to choose modular designs with three or four poles in order to completely de-energize the circuit with one device.
3. Expected load. This parameter is closely related to the cross section of the wire, but also depends on the power of the connected devices to the line (electric kettle, electric stove, microwave, multi-cooker, etc.). For example, if the total load on the machine is 5 kW, then the indicator is 25 A.
4. Tripping characteristic. This is a response time to increasing the passing power. In an apartment where there are no high starting currents, it is worth buying automatic switches with a value B, implying an instant response. In a private house that has a powerful electric boiler, the characteristic C, which passes the primary overcurrent, and reacts only if it does not go down in the first seconds will do. Electrical equipment with category D is chosen for a workshop with machine tools.

Rating best circuit breakers

Nomination	a place	manufacturer	rating
The best foreign manufacturers of circuit breakers	1	ABB	4.9
	2	Legrand	4.8
	3	Schneider electric	4.8
	4	General electric	4.7
	5	Siemens	4.7
	6	Moeller	4.6
The best Russian manufacturers of automatic switches	1	Contactor	4.8
	2	KEAZ	4.7
	3	DEKraft	4.6
	4	Iek	4.5
Top Chinese circuit breaker manufacturers	1	Ecf	4.8
	2	Chint	4.6

The best foreign manufacturers of circuit breakers

When choosing circuit breakers, most prefer foreign brands, since they are better and more durable. Here is the ranking of manufacturers from Europe and the USA who have the most reliable reputation.

ABB

Rating: 4.9

This manufacturer belongs to the Swedish brand and is known to many professionals for its bright red abbreviated logo. The company has the widest range of circuit breakers, among which are the newest TruOne models and others. The rated current range from 0.5 to 100 A covers the needs of any building. In addition to the production of electrical goods, the manufacturer is engaged in training, having organized the ABB University in Russia. At the Learning Center, customers and craftsmen can get complete information about the technologies used to better understand the benefits of the products.

Our experts have included the manufacturer in the ranking of the best as the most reliable. The circuit breakers of the Swedish brand have a lot of positive feedback from both ordinary users and professional circles. Protective devices are made in a durable plastic case and are equipped with sturdy handles that do not break even with frequent use. This is the best option for equipment panel in the apartment or private house, to forget about the replacement of damaged machines.

Legrand

Rating: 4.8

This is a French manufacturer, which ranks second in the ranking of the best and distinguished by a wide range of products. Today, the catalog contains four lines: DRX - for industry, and DX, RX, TX for domestic needs and small workshops. The manufacturer produces machines with poles from 1 to 4. The developer uses dust-proof enclosures and simplified access to the terminals. The chip of the company is the allocation of empty space on the front panel (above the toggle switch) so that an electrician can apply auxiliary marking during installation.

We added the manufacturer to the rating because it has models designed for the highest voltage and amperage. The company produces circuit breakers with a nominal value of 6 to 630 A, including 125, 260, 320 and 400 A. This allows their use not only in everyday life or hotel complexes, but also in industries where powerful machines are operated. Users like the reviews that, in addition to Series B and C, the manufacturer has devices with fixed settings, where the owner can choose the speed of operation himself depending on the connected equipment.

Schneider electric

Rating: 4.8

This French manufacturer confidently entered the TOP-3 and is recognizable by its green badge on a white background. The company is a global expert in the field of energy management and has been on the market for 170 years. Three series of circuit breakers are available: Acti9, Easy9 and Brownie. At the nominal response of the device are designed for the indicator from 0.5 to 63 A.The manufacturer pays great attention to security, so all the terminals are recessed deep inside the case, and the inlets are molded with stiffeners to prevent burglary from the pressing thick wire.

We included the manufacturer in the rating, because it has a lot of modular models. The release of several single-phase machines in one package simplifies the arrangement of the switchboard, saves space and speeds up the connection. Owners and electricians in reviews like comfortable handles of tumblers that contain grooves on the crossbar - due to this, it is convenient to start the machine into operation after operation.

General electric

Rating: 4.7

This is an American manufacturer, whose machines can be recognized by bright orange toggle switches. The company specializes exclusively in the household series, developing circuit breakers with ratings from 0.5 to 63 A. Breaking capacity is provided for all models at a single level of 6 kA. On the market there are up to 30 types of protective devices that interact with a single-phase and three-phase network. The manufacturer offers products for 230-400 V AC networks. Buyers in the reviews are divided that of the famous brands of electrical goods of this company a little cheaper.

According to our experts, the manufacturer has earned a place in the rating for high wear resistance. The cheapest circuit breaker from this brand is able to transfer up to 10,000 actuations by electrical part (electromagnetic coil, cut-off contact during short circuit) and 20,000 disconnections by mechanical part (open circuit during static heating). Therefore, it is worth looking at the devices of the American brand if a frequent triggering of the machine occurs, despite the correctly selected values.

Siemens

Rating: 4.7

German brand in the ranking, known to the whole world. It produces three series automatic circuit breakers, of which SY is made directly in Germany, and SJ and SX in the Czech Republic and Romania. But the quality of all goods is good. The breaking capacity is triggered at 6 kA. The automat has holes for cable entry with a section from 0.5 to 35 mm2. The screws that fix the tightening of the terminals have Pozidriv spline caps. This provides a strong fixation and preservation of the shape of the cap even after repeated reconnections.

We included the manufacturer in the rating, because its products are soft drive. If the circuit breaker has tripped, then restoring the circuit is very easy due to the pliable lever with minimal resistance. Users in the reviews like their special design, shifted to the bottom (and not in the middle, like other manufacturers), which makes it easy to access with your fingers in a narrow junction box.

Moeller

Rating: 4.6

Products manufactured in Serbia. The manufacturer offers in the catalog series of circuit breakers PL4, PL6, PL7 and FAZ. Their rated current is limited to 63 A and it is allowed to connect a cable with a cross section of 25 mm2. The figure of the line indicates the power of the machine, where PL4 is the weakest (up to 4.5 kW). There is another separate industrial series PLHT, which is designed for voltage transmission through cables with a cross section of 32 mm2 and a current of 125 A. The FAZ models include advanced functionality where the customer can choose a breaking capacity according to the standard 6 or 10 kA.

Our experts ranked the manufacturer in the ranking of the best for high safety circuit breakers. Unlike other products from the rating, each machine has a window under the toggle switch that changes color when triggered. A red window indicates an open circuit, and a green and on position. Masters in reviews like the versatility of the connection, where you can choose a mount to pin or fork tires.

The best Russian manufacturers of automatic switches

Domestic companies for the production of automatic disconnecting devices have made great strides in recent times. Were applied new technologies for casting cases, creating a contact group and design development. Here is the rating of Russian manufacturers, whose products will help save a little on European brands.

Contactor

Rating: 4.8

The first place in the ranking of domestic manufacturers is the factory "Kontaktor". At first, the company produced the classic models of automatic switches, but then it re-trained and began to focus on the industrial series. The company manufactures switching devices for mounting on tires in a shield as well as in separate housings designed to be placed on an individual place and closed by covers. Household series is designated "Kpro" and supports a current of up to 100 A, all other machines are exclusively industrial.

As our experts have established, the circuit breakers of this manufacturer have no analogues in the rating for the maximum power of protective devices. In addition to the “youngest” VAZ series, designed for currents up to 250 A, the Proton units are able to interact with voltages up to 1600 A, and the Electron line up to 6300 A. As can be seen from the characteristics and feedback, this is the best option for large enterprises and enterprises with a lot of electrical equipment that needs protection.

KEAZ

Rating: 4.7

Domestic manufacturer of the rating, which began its activities in 1945. Today, the production area occupies 60,000 m2, which operates up to 1900 machines. The company's products are divided into two lines and are manufactured under the brands KEAZ (classic time-tested machines) and KEAZ Optima (embodying all the latest developments and know-how). A distinctive feature of the manufacturer is the manufacture of automatic type switches for both direct and alternating current.

According to our experts, the manufacturer deserves to be in the rating, because it is constantly evolving and trying to keep up with European technologies. For example, it has a series of OptiDin BM circuit breakers in its catalog, which are distinguished by a slim design and snaps on the case. The novelty allows you to fasten an independent release or auxiliary contact modules. All actions take place in one touch, what the masters like in the reviews.

DEKraft

Rating: 4.6

Domestic company called Delixi Electric, which produces circuit breakers under the brand DEKraft. A separate line was launched in Moscow in 2007 and is now known in Russia, the CIS and abroad. In Europe comes under the second brand name Himel. Production facilities are located in China in three cities, which contributes to the production of large volumes of products and affordable cost.

We have added the manufacturer to the rating as the best in price and durability of goods. When the contacts are opened due to a short circuit, the device will withstand 6000 cycles, but if the wiring is heated gradually from the increased load, the device will be able to disconnect the circuit and recover after cooling the jumper up to 25000 times. This ability does not even have European counterparts.

Iek

Rating: 4.5

This manufacturer is in the ranking with the legal address in Russia, but the release of electrical goods is established in China to reduce the cost of the process. The company catalog has about 4,000 positions, among which 200 types of circuit breakers. Every year the brand tries to develop new models, for which its own laboratory operates, and tests, for solidity, are ordered from independent European centers. Among modular automata, models with 18 variants of rated current from 0.5 to 64 A and characteristics B, C and D are produced.

The manufacturer has been added to our rating, because it produces the best products for the price, and its automatic devices are not of the lowest quality. For example, models have deep-set contacts, a narrow thick plastic case and an active indicator window with two colors (red and green). At the same time they cost two times cheaper than imported ones, which absolutely all users like in a review.

Top Chinese circuit breaker manufacturers

We included in the rating Chinese companies that actively supply their products to Russia and the CIS. At the price of goods are similar to the Russian and even lower, so the devices are perfect for protecting wiring in places with low loads and a minimum of technology.

Ecf

Rating: 4.8

This is a Chinese manufacturer in the ranking, which is a direct competitor to the Russian IEK. Produces similar in price products and about the same quality.Since 2001, the manufacturer was called “Flavier”, but in 2007 he re-branded the brand and expanded its product range, going international. Today, the company has 40 production sites and more than 3,500 items of goods. There are one-, two-, and three-pole devices for machines rated for 240/400 AC. The minimum rated current starts at 6 A.

We noted the manufacturer in the rating due to the presence in the range of switches with insulation that can withstand 690 V against 660 V from competitors. If a high surge occurs, they will survive it better. This available product wins by the number of electrical shutdown cycles: 10,000 versus 6000.

Chint

Rating: 4.6

Chint products are “pure China”, not trying to disguise themselves as other countries. But the manufacturer conducts the release of products at the factory and provides a wide range of circuit breakers, which would be impossible in the case of “handicraft” production. Modular devices are divided into a series of NB1, DZ47, DZ158, NBH8. Accessories are additionally available to the NB1 line. All devices are designed for alternating current up to 400 V. Automatic machines are made in a narrow case with IP20 protection.

Our experts have rated and added the manufacturer to the rating as producing the cheapest electric products. All the masters and regular users in the reviews agree that this is the most affordable option. At the same time, Chint is “industrial China”, rather than self-made products, and goods are accompanied by quality certificates.

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Attention! This rating is subjective, is not advertising and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you should consult with a specialist.