1. Circuit breaker: a mechanical switching device that can connect, carry and disconnect the current under normal circuit conditions and also connect, carry and disconnect the current for a certain time under specified abnormal circuit (such as short circuit).

2、塑殼式斷路器：具有一個(gè)用模壓絕緣材料制成的外殼作為斷路器整體部件的斷路器。

2. Molded case circuit breaker: a circuit breaker with a shell made of molded insulating material as an integral part of the circuit breaker.

3、空氣斷路器：觸頭在大氣壓力的空氣中斷開和閉合的斷路器。

3. Air circuit breaker: a circuit breaker whose contact is interrupted and closed by air at atmospheric pressure.

4、真空斷路器：觸頭在高真空管中斷開和閉合的斷路器。

4. Vacuum circuit breaker: a circuit breaker whose contact interrupts opening and closing in high vacuum tube.

因?yàn)?ldquo;塑殼式斷路器”一般使用空氣作為滅弧介質(zhì)，因此有空氣開關(guān)的俗稱，但空氣開關(guān)的說法其實(shí)并不嚴(yán)謹(jǐn)，開關(guān)與斷路器是不同的兩個(gè)概念。

Because the "molded case circuit breaker" generally uses air as the arc extinguishing medium, it is commonly known as air switch, but the statement of air switch is not rigorous. Switch and circuit breaker are two different concepts.

空開與塑殼的主要區(qū)別：

Main differences between air switch and plastic shell:

1、塑殼斷路器也是“空氣斷路器”。常用的空氣斷路器有框架式斷路器和塑殼斷路器兩種。前者的容量大，額定開斷電流也大，體積也大，所以沒有塑料外殼，斷路器的各部分零件裝在一個(gè)鋼框架上。后者的容量相對較小，額定開斷電流也小一些，所以體積也小，整個(gè)斷路器采用塑料外殼保護(hù)。一般框架式斷路器用于電流較大的電源回路上，而塑殼斷路器用于負(fù)荷回路上。

1. Molded case circuit breakers are also "air circuit breakers". There are two kinds of commonly used air circuit breakers: frame circuit breaker and molded case circuit breaker. The former has large capacity, large rated breaking current and large volume, so there is no plastic shell, and all parts of the circuit breaker are installed on a steel frame. The capacity of the latter is relatively small, and the rated breaking current is also small, so the volume is also small. The whole circuit breaker is protected by plastic shell. Generally, frame circuit breaker is used for power circuit with large current, while molded case circuit breaker is used for load circuit.

2、空氣開關(guān)一般在小電流電路中主要起“隔離”和“保護(hù)裝置”的作用，也叫自動(dòng)開關(guān)，也叫空氣斷路器；

2. Air switch generally plays the role of "isolation" and "protection device" in small current circuit, also known as automatic switch and air circuit breaker;

3、斷路器有很好的滅弧能力，在電路短路大電流情況下，自動(dòng)跳閘；在高電壓、大電流電路中，常用作停電、送電，接通、斷開負(fù)荷的操作電器；

3. The circuit breaker has good arc extinguishing ability and can trip automatically under the condition of short circuit and large current; In high voltage and high current circuits, it is often used as an operating appliance for power failure, power transmission, connecting and disconnecting load;

4、電流等級(jí)：塑殼斷路器一般為630A以下，空氣斷路器一般為630A以上，微型斷路器一般為63A以下；

4. Current level: molded case circuit breaker is generally below 630A, air circuit breaker is generally above 630A, and miniature circuit breaker is generally below 63A;

5、電壓等級(jí)的區(qū)別：一般空氣開關(guān)合用的電壓等級(jí)為500V以下,而斷路器通常可以合用于220V以上的各電壓等級(jí)；

5. Difference of voltage level: generally, the voltage level shared by air switch is less than 500V, while circuit breaker can usually be used for each voltage level above 220V;

6、遮斷電流的能力不同：一般斷路器能承受的負(fù)荷及短路電流更大些；

6. The ability of interrupting current is different: the general circuit breaker can bear more load and short-circuit current;

7、滅弧介質(zhì)和方式的區(qū)別：斷路器的滅弧介質(zhì)和方式不但有空氣斷路器,還有真空斷路器,多油斷路器,少油斷路器,六氟化硫斷路器等；

7. Difference between arc extinguishing medium and mode: the arc extinguishing medium and mode of circuit breaker include not only air circuit breaker, but also vacuum circuit breaker, multi oil circuit breaker, low oil circuit breaker, sulfur hexafluoride circuit breaker, etc;

8、配套設(shè)備的區(qū)別：一般相對于空開來講斷路器的丈量,邏輯及執(zhí)行部門的機(jī)構(gòu)所配套的設(shè)備更復(fù)雜一些。

8. Difference of supporting equipment: Generally speaking, the measurement of circuit breaker and the supporting equipment of logic and executive department are more complex than that of air.