Schneider Electric GV3P18 TeSys GV3 12-18 A Motor Breaker

GV3P18: rotary handle, thermal-magnetic motor circuit breaker

The GV3P18 belongs to the TeSys Deca GV3 range and is built for motor feeders from 12 A upwards, adjustable up to 18 A. Thermal-magnetic protection, a rotary handle and the datasheet-listed 252 A magnetic trip make it a complete starter-protection device.

Reading the reference against the datasheet: the device short name is GV3P, which the datasheet pairs with a rotary handle and thermal-magnetic trip technology; the digits after the family letters follow the current band, here 12–18 A.

The datasheet gives the range as TeSys Deca and the product name as TeSys GV3, with the application stated as motor protection. Rated operational voltage is 690 V AC 50/60 Hz, rated insulation voltage 690 V AC 50/60 Hz and the rated impulse withstand 6 kV.

GV3P18 technical specifications

GV3P18 compared with neighbouring TeSys GV3 ratings

The table lists the closest GV3 references by current. Moving one step up or down changes the thermal range, the magnetic trip and the motor power it is intended for, while the frame stays the same. Neighbouring references are GV3P25, GV3L40, GV3P40 and GV3L50.

Among the GV3 references covered here, the rotary thermal-magnetic GV3P units run from 12 A to 65 A and the magnetic-only GV3L units from 40 A to 80 A; the L versions need a separate overload relay.

Using the GV3P18 in Oman and the GCC

Motor starters are everywhere in Gulf plants, and this breaker suits chemical dosing and circulation pumps, cooling-tower fans, small compressors and machine-tool drives. The datasheet lists motor powers up to 15 kW across its voltages, which is what the GV3 frame is built for. Typical sites are desalination and water treatment, power auxiliaries, oil and gas utilities, petrochemical units and commercial HVAC.

Heat and dust drive the real life of a breaker. With an operating limit of -20 to 60 °C and protection of IP20, the device belongs inside a ventilated or air-conditioned enclosure rather than on an open wall in summer sun. For a retrofit, send the nameplate and the old breaker marking and we will match it.

Breaking capacity of the GV3P18 by voltage

Short-circuit breaking capacity falls as system voltage rises, which is the reason to read the whole table instead of a single headline value. The service breaking capacity Ics is shown as a percentage of Icu.

At 400/415 V AC the rating is 100 kA, which is the figure that matters on most Gulf 400 V distribution boards; compare it with the prospective fault level at the point of installation and with any upstream protection before relying on it.

Motor ratings listed for the GV3P18

The datasheet ties this breaker to specific motor sizes at each supply voltage. These figures are the rated motor powers for the AC-3 category and are what a motor schedule should be matched against, not only the current.

Rated duty is uninterrupted, and the durability figures are given in the table of specifications.

Dimensions, terminals and mounting of the GV3P18

The GV3P18 is a larger frame: 55 mm wide, 132 mm high and 136 mm deep, weighing 0.96 kg. It clips to a 35 mm DIN rail or is screwed to a plate with three M4 screws, and it is mounted horizontally or vertically. Terminals are EverLink type with a tightening torque of 5 N.m – on screw clamp terminal.

Environmental limits from the datasheet are -20 to 60 °C in operation and -40 to 80 °C in storage, an altitude limit of 3000 m, and protection IP20. Power dissipation is 8 W per pole, so the heat released inside the enclosure at full load is about 24 W for the three poles; add this to the enclosure thermal budget in a Gulf plant room.

Selection checklist and RFQ details for the GV3P18

• Motor nameplate current and voltage, checked against the 12–18 A range and the motor kW table
• Required control style: rotary handle
• Confirm the dial can be set to the motor full-load current with margin for the start-up duty
• Prospective short-circuit current at the board against the 100 kA rating at 400/415 V
• Terminals: EverLink terminals; check the cable size and ferrule practice
• Space for a 55 mm wide device, 136 mm deep, and ambient heat inside the enclosure
• Accessories such as auxiliary contacts, trip indicators or busbar links if the design uses them

When requesting a quotation, include the following with the part number:

• Part number GV3P18 and quantity
• Motor power, voltage and full-load current
• Replacement or new build, and the existing breaker marking
• Delivery location and required date

How the GV3P18 protects the motor feeder

The thermal element is adjustable from 12–18 A, and the user sets the dial to the motor nameplate current rather than to the top of the range. The magnetic element is fixed at 252 A, which is about 14.0 times the 18 A upper setting; below that level the thermal element handles overloads, above it the breaker opens instantly.

The datasheet confirms phase failure sensitivity, so a motor losing one phase is tripped by the unbalance rather than being left to overheat. A dial set too high defeats the protection and one set too low causes nuisance trips at start, so allow for the starting duty of the load and finish the adjustment at commissioning with a clamp meter.

Documents and quotation

The Schneider Electric manufacturer datasheet for the GV3P18 is attached on this page as a PDF. It is the reference for every rating quoted above, and it is worth checking the revision against your project documents before an order is placed. The utilisation categories, breaking capacity table and environmental limits are all in it.

Seven Star LLC is an independent supplier in Muscat that serves buyers in Oman and the GCC. Send the part number GV3P18, the quantity and the delivery site, and we will reply with a quotation and the availability we can confirm.