The Schneider Electric C160N42AFM is a ComPacT NS new generation 4-pole moulded-case circuit breaker rated 1600 A at 50 °C, fitted with a MicroLogic 2.0 A electronic trip unit providing L (long-time overload) and I (instantaneous short-circuit) protection. It is a manually operated distribution breaker built to EN/IEC 60947-2, Category B — meaning it is intended for use in distribution panels where selectivity with downstream breakers is required, not just motor-circuit isolation.
Breaking capacity — what the N code means for your system
The N breaking capacity code (50 kA at 415 V AC) tells you this breaker can interrupt 50,000 A of prospective fault current at 380–415 V, 50/60 Hz. At 220–240 V it handles 85 kA Icu; at 690 V it still clears 30 kA. The full Icu curve across voltages means you can apply this breaker upstream without worrying about cascading failure at the lower fault levels common on long cable runs.
Fixed-mount design on a backplate, front-connected both top and bottom. The 280 mm width, 327 mm height, and 147 mm depth fit standard switchboard cubicle compartments — plan for a 70 mm connection pitch between phases. The LCD display on the MicroLogic 2.0 A trip unit gives local ammeter readout and fault indication via four red LEDs plus a yellow overload LED — useful for a quick visual check during commissioning or after a trip event.
Electrical durability and thermal memory
Rated for 1000 electrical cycles at full rated current and 690 V, and 10,000 mechanical cycles — that is a standard durability envelope for a fixed-mount distribution breaker of this size. The 20-minute thermal memory in the MicroLogic 2.0 A trip unit means the breaker remembers the thermal history of the last overload event for 20 minutes after the current drops below the pickup threshold, which prevents nuisance re-closing on a still-hot conductor.