Utilization Categories indicate the type of Load and Duty Cycle of the load basis which selection of Switchgear should be done for the intended application.
Utilization Categories defines operating conditions for Switchgear – Contactor, Relay, Circuit Breaker, Fuse, Semiconductor Controllers, Transfer Switch, etc. The Operating Conditions are dependent on the load to be Switched / Controlled.
| AC Category | Typical Application : Load, Switchgear, Operation | Switchgear Standard |
|---|---|---|
| AC 1 | Load Type: Non Inductive or Slightly inductive loads, with Power Factor greater than 0.95, eg: Resistive load, heating. Switchgear: Electromechanical contactors. Operation: Switching. | IEC60947-4-1 |
| AC 2 | Load Type: Slip-ring motor. Switchgear: Electromechanical contactors. Operation: Switching off. | IEC60947-4-1 |
| AC 3 | Load Type: Squirrel cage motors. Switchgear: Electromechanical contactors. Operation : Starting, Switching off during running. | IEC60947-4-1 |
| AC 4 | Load Type: Squirrel cage motor. Switchgear: Electromechanical contactors. Operation: Starting, Plugging, Inching. | IEC60947-4-1 |
| AC 5a | Load Type: Discharge lamps. Switchgear: Electromechanical contactors. Operation: Switching. | IEC60947-4-1 |
| AC5b | Load Type: Incandescent lamps. Switchgear: Electromechanical contactors. Operation: Switching. | IEC60947-4-1 |
| AC 6a | Load Type: Transformers. Switchgear: Electromechanical contactors. Operation: Switching. | IEC60947-4-1 |
| AC 6b | Load Type: Capacitor banks. Switchgear: Electromechanical contactors. Operation: Switching. | IEC60947-4-1 |
| AC 7a | Load Type: Slightly Inductive Household load, eg. Mixer. Switchgear: Electromechanical contactors for household purpose, eg. Miniature Contactor. Operation: Switching. | IEC61095 |
| AC 7b | Load Type: Household motor loads, eg; Fan, Vaccume pump motor. Switchgear: Electromechanical contactors for household purpose, eg. Miniature Contactor. Operation: Switching, occasional inching, plugging | IEC61095 |
| AC 7c | Load Type: Compensated electric discharge lamp control. Switchgear: Electromechanical contactors for household purpose, eg. Miniature Contactor. Operation: Switching. | IEC61095 |
| AC 8a | Load Type: Hermetic refrigerant compressor motor Switchgear: Electromechanical contactors. Operation: Manual resetting overload control. | IEC60947-4-1 |
| AC 8b | Load Type: Hermetic refrigerant compressor motor Switchgear: Electromechanical contactors. Operation: Automatic resetting overload control. | IEC60947-4-1 |
| AC 12 | Load Type: Resistive and solid state load with Opto-coupler Isolation. Switchgear: Electromechanical control circuit devices, eg. Aux Contacts. Operation: Switching, Control. | IEC60947-5-1 |
| AC 13 | Load Type: Solid state load with transformer Isolation. Switchgear: Electromechanical control circuit devices, eg. Aux Contacts. Operation: Switching, Control. | IEC60947-5-1 |
| AC 14 | Load Type: Small Electromagnetic loads. Switchgear: Electromechanical control circuit devices, eg. Aux Contacts. Operation: Switching, Control. | IEC60947-5-1 |
| AC 15 | Load Type: AC Electromagnetic loads. Switchgear: Electromechanical control circuit devices, eg. Aux Contacts. Operation: Switching, Control. | IEC60947-5-1 |
| AC 20A | Load Type: All. Switchgear: Switches, disconnectors, switch-disconnectors. Operation: Switching under no load condition. Frequent operation. | IEC60947-3 |
| AC 20B | Load Type: All. Switchgear: Switches, disconnectors, switch-disconnectors. Operation: Switching. Infrequent operation. | IEC60947-3 |
| AC 21A | Load Type: Resistive load with moderate overload. Switchgear: Switches, disconnectors, switch-disconnectors. Operation: Switching. Frequent operation. | IEC60947-3 |
| AC 21B | Load Type: Resistive load with moderate overload. Switchgear: Switches, disconnectors, switch-disconnectors. Operation: Switching. Infrequent operation. | IEC60947-3 |
| AC 22A | Load Type: Mix Resistive and Inductive loads with moderate overload. Switchgear: Switches, disconnectors, switch-disconnectors. Operation: Switching. Frequent operation. | IEC60947-3 |
| AC 22B | Load Type: Mix Resistive and Inductive loads with moderate overload. Switchgear: Switches, disconnectors, switch-disconnectors. Operation: Switching. Infrequent operation. | IEC60947-3 |
| AC 23A | Load Type: Highly Inductive load, eg: Motor. Switchgear: Switches, disconnectors, switch-disconnectors. Operation: Switching. Frequent operation. | IEC60947-3 |
| AC 23B | Load Type: Highly Inductive load, eg: Motor. Switchgear: Switches, disconnectors, switch-disconnectors. Operation: Switching. Infrequent operation. | IEC60947-3 |
| AC 31A | Load Type: Non Inductive, slightly inductive. Switchgear: Multiple function equipment – Transfer switching equipment, eg: ATS Operation: Switching. With no rated short time withstand capacity. | IEC60947-6-1 |
| AC 31B | Load Type: Non Inductive, slightly inductive. Switchgear: Multiple function equipment – Transfer switching equipment, eg: ATS Operation: Switching. With rated short time withstand capacity. | IEC60947-6-1 |
| AC 32A | Load Type: Mixed resistive and slightly inductive load with moderate overload. Switchgear: Multiple function equipment – Transfer switching equipment, eg: ATS Operation: Switching. With no rated short time withstand capacity. | IEC60947-6-1 |
| AC 32B | Load Type: Mixed resistive and slightly inductive load with moderate overload. Switchgear: Multiple function equipment – Transfer switching equipment, eg: ATS Operation: Switching. With rated short time withstand capacity. | IEC60947-6-1 |
| AC 33A | Load Type: Highly Inductive load, eg: Motor. Switchgear: Multiple function equipment – Transfer switching equipment, eg: ATS Operation: Switching. With no rated short time withstand capacity. | IEC60947-6-1 |
| AC 33B | Load Type: Highly Inductive load, eg: Motor. Switchgear: Multiple function equipment – Transfer switching equipment, eg: ATS Operation: Switching. With rated short time withstand capacity. | IEC60947-6-1 |
| AC 35 | Load Type: Electric discharge lamp. Switchgear: Multiple function equipment – Transfer switching equipment, eg: ATS Operation: Switching. | IEC60947-6-1 |
| AC 36 | Load Type: Incandescent lamp. Switchgear: Multiple function equipment – Transfer switching equipment, eg: ATS. Operation: Switching. | IEC60947-6-1 |
| AC 40 | Load Type: Mix Resistive and Inductive loads. Switchgear: CPS-Control and protective switching devices, eg. Integral Contactor breaker. Operation: Control & Switching. | IEC60947-6-2 |
| AC 41 | Load Type: Non Inductive, slightly inductive. eg: resistance furnace. Switchgear: CPS-Control and protective switching devices, eg. Integral Contactor breaker. Operation: Control & Switching. | IEC60947-6-2 |
| AC 42 | Load Type: Slip-ring motor. Switchgear: CPS-Control and protective switching devices, eg. Integral Contactor breaker. Operation: Control & Switching. Operation: Switching off. | IEC60947-6-2 |
| AC 43 | Load Type: Squirrel cage motors. Switchgear: CPS-Control and protective switching devices, eg. Integral Contactor breaker. Operation: Starting, Switching off during running. | IEC60947-6-2 |
| AC 44 | Load Type: Squirrel cage motors. Switchgear: CPS-Control and protective switching devices, eg. Integral Contactor breaker. Operation: Starting, Plugging, Inching. | IEC60947-6-2 |
| AC 45A | Load Type: Electric discharge lamp. Switchgear: CPS-Control and protective switching devices, eg. Integral Contactor breaker. Operation: Control & Switching. | IEC60947-6-2 |
| AC 45B | Load Type: Incandescent Switchgear: CPS-Control and protective switching devices, eg. Integral Contactor breaker. Operation: Control & Switching. | IEC60947-6-2 |
| AC 51A | Load Type: Non Inductive or Slightly inductive loads. Switchgear: AC semiconductor motor controllers and starters, eg. Soft Starter. Operation: Switching. | IEC60947-4-2 |
| AC 51B | Load Type: Non Inductive or Slightly inductive loads. Switchgear: AC semiconductor motor controllers and starters, eg. Soft Starter. Operation: Switching. | IEC60947-4-2 |
| AC 52A | Load Type: Slip ring motor. Switchgear: AC semiconductor motor controllers and starters, eg. Soft Starter. Operation: Control of slip ring motor stators for 8 hour duty with on load current for start, acceleration & run. | IEC60947-4-2 |
| AC 52B | Load Type: Slip ring motor. Switchgear: AC semiconductor motor controllers and starters, eg. Soft Starter. Operation: Bypassed during motor running. | IEC60947-4-2 |
| AC 53A | Load Type: Control of squirrel cage Induction motor on 8 hour duty with on load current for start, acceleration and run. Switchgear: AC semiconductor motor controllers and starters, eg. Soft Starter. Operation: Soft-Starter Control. These Soft starters are not bypassed during motor running. | IEC60947-4-2 |
| AC 53B | Load Type: Control of squirrel cage induction motors on intermittent duty. Switchgear: AC semiconductor motor controllers and starters, eg. Soft Starter. Operation: Soft-Starter Control. These Soft starters are bypassed during motor running. | IEC60947-4-2 |
| AC 55A | Load Type: Electric Discharge lamp. Switchgear: AC semiconductor controllers and contactors for non-motor loads, eg. IGBT. Operation: Switching. | IEC60947-4-3 |
| AC 55B | Load Type: Incandescent Switchgear: AC semiconductor controllers and contactors for non-motor loads, eg. IGBT. Operation: Switching. | IEC60947-4-3 |
| AC 56A | Load Type: Transformer. Switchgear: AC semiconductor controllers and contactors for non-motor loads, eg. IGBT. Operation: Switching. | IEC60947-4-3 |
| AC 56B | Load Type: Capacitor bank. Switchgear: AC semiconductor controllers and contactors for non-motor loads, eg. IGBT. Operation: Switching. | IEC60947-4-3 |
| AC 58A | Load Type: Hermetic refrigerant compressor motor with automatic resetting of overload releases. Switchgear: AC semiconductor motor controllers and starters, eg. Soft Starter. Operation: Control for 8 hour duty with on load current for start, acceleration & run. | IEC60947-4-2 |
| AC 58B | Load Type: Hermetic refrigerant compressor motor with automatic resetting of overload releases. Switchgear: AC semiconductor motor controllers and starters, eg. Soft Starter. Operation: Start of Motor, then bypassed during motor running. | IEC60947-4-2 |
| AC 140 | Load Type: Small electromagnetic loads with holding (closed) current 0.2A or less. Switchgear: Control circuitdevices and switching elements – Proximity switches, eg. contactor relays Operation: Switching. | IEC60947-5-2 |