Lovato P1MB3PC16 Miniature Circuit Breaker 3P C16

Lovato P1MB3PC16 miniature circuit breaker, 3P C curve 16 A

The Lovato P1MB3PC16 is a three-pole miniature circuit breaker with a C tripping curve, a rated current of 16 A and a 10 kA short-circuit rating. It is three DIN modules wide and certified to IEC and UL1077 as per the data table. Seven Star LLC supplies the P1MB3PC16 in Oman and the GCC as an independent supplier in Muscat.

Decode it as P1MB (the miniature breaker family), 3P (three poles), C (tripping curve) and 16 (rated current in amperes). The same family lists single-pole versions such as P1MB1PC16 and 2-pole ones, and other curves and ratings.

P1MB3PC16 technical specifications

What the C curve means for the P1MB3PC16

The tripping curve describes how the instantaneous magnetic trip relates to the rated current. A C-curve breaker is made for circuits with moderate inrush, such as lighting banks, small motors on contactors, control transformers and general power. It is wider than the B curve used for long cable runs on resistive loads and narrower than the D curve used for heavy inrush. The device also has limiting class 3, which describes how well it restricts the let-through energy during a fault.

The short-circuit rating is 10 kA, so check the prospective fault level where the breaker is installed; at a transformer-fed main board the fault level may exceed that and a higher-rated device or back-up protection is needed.

Where the P1MB3PC16 fits

It protects three-phase feeders and small motor circuits, and acts as the incoming device of control panels. For motor starters with overload settings, motor protection breakers such as the SM1P series are more appropriate; the P1MB3PC16 suits supply feeders to drives, power supplies, heaters and similar loads. The 345 g weight is typical of a three-pole MCB.

P1MB3PC16 selection and ordering checklist

• Load current and cable size; 16 A rated
• Choice of curve for inrush
• Fault level at installation against 10 kA
• Three poles with no neutral switching
• Cables of 1 to 35 mm² and torque of 1.8 to 2 Nm
• Panel temperature within -40 to +70 °C

Installation and maintenance of the P1MB3PC16

Snap on a 35 mm rail in a vertical position, tighten terminals to 1.8 to 2 Nm with a Pz2 screwdriver and leave space around the breaker in crowded rows. Test the mechanism by operating the handle periodically and inspect for heat marks at the terminals. After a fault trip, find and clear the cause before resetting.

Typical P1MB3PC16 applications in Oman and the GCC

Typical uses include feeders to air-conditioning units, heater banks, small three-phase pumps and machine control panels. High panel temperatures reduce the effective trip current of thermal-magnetic breakers, so check the manufacturer derating guidance for enclosures hotter than normal, and keep a few spare breakers of the same curve and rating in the store, since a tripped or damaged unit on a three-phase feeder usually stops a whole machine.

Coordination and cable protection with the P1MB3PC16

A 16 A breaker protects cables of 1.5 mm² or 2.5 mm² depending on installation method and local code; check the cable rating, grouping factor and the ambient temperature of the board. At the magnetic trip of five to ten times the rated current for a C curve, the breaker opens in milliseconds on a short circuit, but only if the fault current is high enough, so long cable runs with high loop impedance may need a B curve or a residual current device to guarantee disconnection time.

When several breakers are installed side by side at full load, heat builds up: each pole dissipates up to 1.69 W, so a three-pole breaker adds around 5 W. Keep the board ventilated, and derate according to the manufacturer for banks of breakers at 40 °C or higher. In remote kiosks without air conditioning, spacing adjacent breakers is a cheap way to keep them within limits.

The data table also records the B10d value of 10,000 cycles at rated load for the performance level calculation under EN/ISO 13849-1. That figure matters only if the breaker is used as part of a safety function, in which case the safety engineer needs the value, but for ordinary feeder protection it can be ignored. The grid distance of 60 mm per Annex H.1 of IEC/EN 60898-1 helps when sizing busbar combs or accessory strips.

Information to send with an RFQ for the P1MB3PC16

• Part number P1MB3PC16 and quantity
• Load and voltage
• Fault level
• Curve and rating
• Panel temperature
• Delivery location

Site conditions in Oman for the P1MB3PC16

Low-voltage switching and protection devices in Oman often sit in motor control centres and outdoor panels where internal temperatures are high for much of the year. When you select the P1MB3PC16, check its rated values at your real ambient temperature, as stated in the manufacturer documentation, and confirm the coordination with upstream protection and with the motor or load it serves. Short-circuit levels differ from site to site, so verify the breaking capacity required at the point of installation.

Standardising ratings and coil voltages across a project reduces the number of spare part numbers that need to be stocked. Keeping a small stock of the P1MB3PC16 and recording settings such as trip ranges or ramp times shortens repair work during a breakdown.

Documents and quotation

Send the part number P1MB3PC16 and we will confirm the documents available for it, such as the technical data sheet, wiring diagram and instruction sheet, together with availability and lead time.

Seven Star LLC is an independent supplier in Muscat and is not an official channel of the manufacturer. Share the quantity, delivery location and project reference with the request and we will answer with a formal quotation.