What Is a Smart Circuit Breaker

A smart circuit breaker is an electronic device providing remote and intelligent electrical circuit control. Smart circuit breakers can be operated through a mobile app, web portal, or integrated with other smart home systems, allowing for convenient and efficient electrical system management and monitoring. This article explores a smart circuit breaker's features, construction, and installation. Read our circuit breaker overview article for more details on the working and types of circuit breakers.

Table of contents

• Definition
• Features
• How does a smart circuit breaker work
• Installation
• Selecting a smart circuit breaker
• Applications
• FAQs

Definition

Smart circuit breakers remotely manage the status of a circuit breaker and load equipment. These circuit breakers use various protocols for their operation, such as WIFI, 4G/5G, network port, and Bluetooth. A smart circuit breaker gathers and tracks electrical system data from circuit and load equipment. As it's connected to the internet, smart circuit breakers allow remote monitoring and control of load demands, temperature settings, and other crucial system information. Unlike conventional, smart circuit breakers give immediate data and remote control of protective measures.

Example

Consider a smart circuit breaker that is connected to the refrigerator. If the refrigerator were to malfunction and draw an excessive amount of current, the circuit breaker would sense this and would automatically trip, cutting power to the refrigerator to prevent further damage. At the same time, the circuit breaker would also send an alert to the smartphone, informing the user that there's a problem with the refrigerator. The user can then remotely turn it back on or investigate the issue and either repair or replace the refrigerator as needed. Once the issue is resolved, the user can reset the circuit breaker from the smartphone or another device, restoring power to the refrigerator and allowing it to operate normally again.

Features

The overload protection in a smart circuit breaker functions similarly to a conventional circuit breaker if the circuit becomes overloaded or experiences a short circuit fault. However, smart circuit breakers' added intelligence and connectivity improve energy efficiency, increase safety, and provide more control and convenience for managing a building.

Efficient communication

• Traditional circuit breakers rely on simple mechanical switches to detect and isolate faults. In contrast, smart circuit breakers use advanced sensors, such as current and temperature sensors, to monitor electrical currents and detect any irregularities or faults in the system. Consider a circuit that's supposed to be drawing 10A current, but due to a fault in the wiring or an appliance malfunction, it's actually drawing 20A. A traditional circuit breaker might not be able to detect this right away unless it's tripped at its rated capacity. However, a smart circuit breaker with a current sensor would be able to detect the abnormal amount of current flowing through the circuit and immediately cut off power to prevent damage or danger. The circuit breaker would also communicate this information to a central system, such as a smart home hub, which could alert the homeowner to the problem.
• With the help of advanced algorithms and machine learning, smart circuit breakers can predict electrical failures before they occur, enabling preventive maintenance and reducing downtime.
• Smart circuit breakers use sophisticated communication technologies like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to communicate with other devices and systems, including building management systems and the utility grid. This advanced technology enables smart circuit breakers to respond to a fault in a matter of microseconds, shutting down the affected circuit before damage occurs.

Monitoring energy usage

• Smart circuit breakers can measure electrical data with high precision, including electricity usage, voltage, current, power, and frequency. Visualizing this data makes it easy to implement case-specific electricity metering and conduct quality checks on the power grid.
• The platform can manage and store electricity data regularly reported by smart circuit breakers. The app allows the user to view the hourly electricity usage data for the recent week or the daily electricity usage data for the recent year in the app. The user can get details on the house's total instantaneous power and the total electricity consumption history for the building or an individual circuit.
• The user can also be notified if an adjustable total instantaneous power threshold is reached. Traditional circuit breakers do not provide this level of detail and only interrupt the flow of electricity in the event of an overload or fault.

Remote control and protection

You can control the opening or closing of the smart circuit breaker from a remote location using the app. This is particularly helpful when the smart circuit breakers and connected devices are outside. This functionality enables you to conveniently manage these devices and monitor their performance away from the office.

Choice of energizing circuits

For traditional circuit breakers, the sole method of selecting which circuits were activated or deactivated involved physically flipping breakers. Although this was sufficient during power outages, smart electrical panels offer a more convenient solution. Users have the option to manually control circuits, but they can also establish schedules based on priority. Critical loads such as refrigeration and heating can be programmed to remain active at all times, critical circuits like WIFI or television can be set to activate at specific intervals, or non-critical circuits can be turned off entirely.

Alarms

• The application panel can support alarm systems, which allows manufacturers to create unique product functions.
• If there is an issue, the circuit breaker will alert the app. The app will then send a notification to remind you to address the issue as soon as possible. You can set up the circuit breaker to take specific actions (like shutting down the power to the affected circuit or resetting itself again after a certain period) when certain issues occur.

How does a smart circuit breaker work

The functional principle of a smart circuit breaker can be divided into electromagnetic and electronic parts.

Electromagnetic

The electromagnetic component in a smart circuit breaker panel circuit is identical to a conventional circuit breaker. The overload protection works like a traditional circuit breaker if the circuit becomes overloaded or experiences a short circuit fault.

Electronic part

• The electronic component of the smart breaker comprises one or more circuit boards integrated with various control and communication modules.
• The electronic circuit board receives the instructions and information through the signal from a remote control terminal, such as a mobile phone application or a computer program.
• The circuits on the breaker collect and record the necessary data and information and transmit them back to the remote terminal.
• Users can perform real-time remote control, adjust values, set schedules, and develop plans using the information parameters. Unlike traditional circuit breakers that require on-site operation and multiple electrical devices to gather fault information, the smart breaker allows for seamless remote control.

Installation

The process for installing a smart circuit breaker is identical to that of a regular circuit breaker, except that a Wi-Fi-enabled antenna is integrated into the smart breaker for remote control.

Connection procedure

1. Identify the input and output sides of the circuit breaker, as well as the phase and neutral terminals.
2. Connect the input power supply lines to the circuit breaker, ideally through the distribution board if installed in a home or other domestic area.
3. Connect the output to the device the circuit breaker intends to operate or protect. This can include appliances such as air conditioners, refrigerators, lights, fans, washing machines, and other devices.

Operation

1. After the circuit breaker is connected, install the application on your smartphone by either scanning the QR code provided on the circuit breaker or following the manufacturer's instructions.
2. Once the application is installed, pair your smartphone with the circuit breaker by enabling the WiFi network on your phone.
3. Open the application to operate the circuit breaker and access useful information on the display. When the circuit breaker is switched on, you will see your smartphone's 'ON' status. If the circuit breaker trips due to a fault, you will see the 'TRIP' status displayed on your smartphone.

For additional details, refer to the user manual, which provides a comprehensive guide for installation, including step-by-step instructions.

Selecting a smart circuit breaker

Several factors should be considered while selecting a smart circuit breaker.

• Working voltage: The working voltage of a smart circuit breaker refers to the voltage range it is designed to operate within. It can either be single-phase or three-phase.
• Current: The current rating of a smart circuit breaker refers to the maximum value of current that the device can handle without tripping. It is important to select a circuit breaker that is rated for the current that will be flowing through the electrical system.
• Breaking power: The breaking power of a smart circuit breaker refers to the maximum current that the device can interrupt or break without being damaged. If a circuit breaker cannot interrupt the current flow when needed, it can damage equipment or even cause a fire. This is an important consideration for safety reasons.
• Closing power: The closing power of a smart circuit breaker refers to the maximum current that the device can withstand without being damaged when turned on or closed. This is an important consideration when selecting a circuit breaker for high-current applications, as it can prevent damage to the device during normal operation.
• Number of poles: The number of poles on a smart circuit breaker refers to the number of connectors connected to the device. It is important to select a circuit breaker with the appropriate number of poles for the electrical system being used. For example, a single-pole circuit breaker is designed for a single-phase system, while a three-pole circuit breaker is designed for use in a three-phase system.
• Communication protocol: Smart circuit breakers may be equipped with various communication protocols such as Modbus, Profibus, or Ethernet/IP. The communication protocol is important when integrating the circuit breaker into a larger control system or monitoring application.

Applications

Smart circuit breakers have various applications in various industries and settings.

• Residential and commercial buildings: Residential and commercial buildings use smart circuit breakers to provide real-time data and insights into energy usage. They can monitor and control energy usage at the circuit level, providing users with detailed insights into power consumption and enabling better energy management. Smart circuit breakers can also be used to improve the safety and reliability of electrical systems.
• Industrial settings: In industrial settings, smart circuit breakers can be used to monitor and control power usage at the circuit level, enabling better energy management and maintenance of equipment. They can also provide safety features such as fault detection, isolation, and rapid shut-off.
• Data centers: Smart circuit breakers can be used in data centers to provide real-time data and insights into power usage, enabling data center managers to optimize energy consumption and reduce costs. They can also enhance the electrical system's safety and reliability.
• Renewable energy systems: Renewable energy systems use smart circuit breakers to monitor and control the flow of electricity, ensuring that the system operates efficiently and safely. Smart circuit breakers balance the load and prevent overloading in renewable energy systems that use multiple sources, such as solar panels and wind turbines.

Read our articles on miniature circuit breakers, residual current circuit breaker, and earth leakage circuit breakers for more details on the features of various circuit breaker types.

FAQs

What kind of devices can I connect to a smart circuit breaker?

Generally, any electrical device connected to a traditional circuit breaker can be connected to a smart circuit breaker. This includes devices such as lights, ceiling fans, air conditioners, heaters, refrigerators, and washing machines.

Can I control a smart circuit breaker remotely using a smartphone or other device?

Yes, you can control a smart circuit breaker remotely using a smartphone or other device using WI-FI or other connection protocols.