Lovato SM1P0160 Motor Protection Circuit Breaker 1-1.6 A

Lovato SM1P0160 motor protection circuit breaker, 1 to 1.6 A

The Lovato SM1P0160 is a three-pole motor protection circuit breaker with a thermal adjustment range of 1 to 1.6 A and a fixed magnetic trip at 13 times the rated current. It sits at the small end of the SM1P family and suits the many small motors found on pumps, fans, dosing skids and instrument-air equipment. Seven Star LLC supplies the SM1P0160 in Oman and the GCC as an independent supplier in Muscat.

The code is easy to decode. SM1P is the family (the SM1R series is the related Type E version), and 0160 is the rated current of 1.6 A, which is also the top of the adjustment band. A neighbouring part, SM1P0100, covers 0.63 to 1 A, and SM1P0250 starts where this breaker stops, at 1.6 to 2.5 A.

SM1P0160 technical specifications

How the SM1P0160 protects a small motor

Inside the breaker a bimetal element follows the motor current and trips on sustained overload within the tripping class 10A curve, which is the normal choice for direct-on-line starting of pumps and fans with starting times of a few seconds. A magnetic release acts instantly at 13 times the setting for short circuits, and a phase-failure mechanism makes the thermal element trip earlier when one phase is lost, protecting the winding from single-phasing.

With a 1.6 A band the breaker is intended for motors of roughly 0.55 kW class at 400 V, but the setting must always come from the nameplate current, not from kilowatts. At this size the magnetic trip is about 21 A at the top setting, so the inrush of a small motor and its contactor never nuisance-trips it. The very high breaking capacity of 100 kA at 400 V is unusual for a unit this small and removes the need for a separate back-up fuse in most installations.

Where the SM1P0160 fits in the starter assembly

The usual arrangement is the breaker feeding a Lovato BF-series contactor such as the BF0910A230 or BF1210A230 through a connecting link, which gives a compact combination starter with protection and switching. The same family continues upward through SM1P0250, SM1P0400, SM1P1000 and SM1P2500, so all feeders in a motor control centre can share handles, accessories and mounting. The 3-phase UL data in the manufacturer table applies for group motor installations and motor disconnect duty, but the listed horsepower ratings should be checked against the exact UL marking on the unit.

SM1P0160 selection and ordering checklist

• Read the motor full-load current from the nameplate and confirm it lies inside 1 to 1.6 A; set the dial to that value, not to the top
• Check that the supply voltage is within 690 V insulation rating and that fault level at the board is below the 100 kA breaking capacity
• Confirm class 10A tripping suits the load; high-inertia fans or long ramp-up loads may need a different protection concept
• Decide whether a Type E (SM1R) breaker is required for UL-style combination starter duty
• Check that wire size and type fit the two-wire 1 to 10 mm² terminals
• Plan for DIN rail spacing; vertical mounting is normal, any plane is permitted

Installation, commissioning and maintenance of the SM1P0160

Mount on a 35 mm rail or with screws, vertical position preferred. Terminals are tightened between 2.5 and 3 Nm with a PH2 screwdriver and the cable should be stripped by 10 mm. Set the current dial to the measured full-load current, then test the trip with the motor unloaded by checking the contactor drops out when the breaker is switched off. Because the device is compensated for ambient temperature between -20 and +50 °C, panel heat inside a hot switchroom shifts the trip point little, but a unit standing in direct sun inside a kiosk can exceed the +60 °C operating limit and must be derated or relocated.

Annually inspect terminals for discolouration, operate the handle a few times to keep contacts clean and compare actual motor current with the setting. After a short-circuit trip, replace the breaker if the housing is deformed or the handle does not reset normally.

Typical SM1P0160 applications in Oman and the GCC

In the Gulf the 1.6 A rating is common on chemical dosing pumps at water treatment plants, small cooling fans on instrument shelters, sampling system pumps, lube-oil mist fans and the many small auxiliary drives on packaged skids. Dust and heat are the real hazards: panels in Sohar, Duqm or inland desert sites run hot, so verify the compensation limit and keep filters in the cabinet clean.

SM1P0160 within the SM1P range

Information to send with an RFQ for the SM1P0160

• Part number SM1P0160 and quantity
• Motor nameplate current, voltage and duty type
• Prospective short-circuit current at the panel
• Contactor type used downstream, if the breaker will be combined with one
• Ambient temperature inside the enclosure
• Required marking or approval for the project

Documents and quotation

Send the part number SM1P0160 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.