iC60H - 10kA
The iC60H MCB is a high‑breaking‑capacity Miniature Circuit Breaker from Schneider Electric’s Acti9 range, designed for installations where very high short‑circuit levels are expected—typically industrial and heavy commercial environments.
Below is a clear, standards‑based explanation grounded in Schneider Electric datasheets and catalogues.
What is the iC60H MCB?
The Acti9 iC60H is a thermal‑magnetic miniature circuit breaker that provides:
- Overload protection
- Short‑circuit protection
- Safe isolation
It is multi‑standard certified, complying with:
- IEC/EN 60947‑2(industrial circuit breakers)
- IEC/EN 60898‑1(final distribution/building installations)
This makes iC60H suitable for both final circuits and upstream protection in demanding systems.
Key difference: iC60H vs iC60N
The main distinction is breaking capacity:
| Series | IEC 60898‑1 (Icn) | IEC 60947‑2 (Icu) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| iC60N | 6 kA | up to ~50 kA | residential/commercial |
| iC60H | 10 kA | 15–70 kA(model & voltage dependent) | industrial/high fault level |
The iC60H is chosen when the prospective short‑circuit current is very high, such as near transformers or in industrial panels.
Breaking capacity (core feature)
Depending on voltage and model, iC60H offers extremely high fault interruption capability:
- 15 kA @ 220–240 V AC(IEC 60947‑2)
- 30–42 kA at lower AC voltages
- Up to 70 kA on specific low‑voltage AC models
- 10 kA Icn under IEC 60898‑1
This is significantly higher than standard residential MCBs.
Tripping curves
Available curves:
- Curve B – 3–5 × In (sensitive circuits)
- Curve C – 5–10 × In (general industrial loads)
- Curve D – 10–20 × In (high inrush: motors, transformers)
Magnetic tripping thresholds are defined in Schneider technical sheets.
Electrical and mechanical characteristics
- Rated current (In): typically 1 A to 63 A
- Pole options: 1P, 2P, 3P, 4P
- Rated insulation voltage (Ui): 500 V
- Impulse withstand (Uimp): 6 kV
- Operating temperature: –35 °C to +70 °C
- Mechanical endurance: 20,000 cycles
- Electrical endurance: 10,000 cycles
These figures are consistent across Schneider iC60H datasheets.
Safety and diagnostics
The iC60H includes Schneider Electric Acti9 safety features:
- VisiTrip™ – mechanical trip indicator
- VisiSafe™ – confirms physical contact separation
- Current‑limitation Class 3 – reduces downstream stress
- Compatible with Vigi iC60 add‑on RCD blocks
- Supports auxiliaries (OF, SD, shunt trip, undervoltage release)
Installation
- DIN‑rail mounted (35 mm)
- 18 mm width per pole
- IP20(IP40 in enclosure)
- Accepts comb busbars (top or bottom)
Typical applications
The iC60H MCB is commonly used in:
- Industrial switchboards
- Main & sub‑distribution boards
- Panels close to transformers
- Motor feeders with high inrush currents
- Installations requiring a very high short‑circuit withstand
