Bringing

power to life.

GUIDE TO CIRCUIT-BREAKER
SELECTION FOR LED LIGHTING

March 2021
ABOUT BEAMA
BEAMA is the long established and respected trade association for the electrotechnical
sector. The association has a strong track record in the development and implementation of
standards to promote safety and product performance for the benefit of manufacturers and
their customers.

This Guide provides specifiers, installers and end users, guidance on the selection of
circuit-breakers (MCBs, RCBOs) for supplying LED lighting circuits.

This Guide has been produced by BEAMA’s Building Electrical Systems Sector operating
under the guidance and authority of BEAMA, supported by specialist central services for
guidance on UK Internal Market, European Single Market, Quality Assurance, Legal and
Health & Safety matters. BEAMA’s Building Electrical Systems Sector comprises of major
UK manufacturing companies.

Details of other BEAMA Guides can be found on the BEAMA website www.beama.org.uk

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
BEAMA would like to thank BSI and IEC for allowing references to their standards. BEAMA
would also like to thank the Lighting Industry Association (LIA) for their valued contribution
in the production of this document.

The Institution of Lighting Professionals (ILP) endorses this publication.

www.theilp.org.uk

DISCLAIMER
This publication is subject to the copyright of BEAMA Ltd. While the information herein
has been compiled in good faith, no warranty is given or should be implied for its use
and BEAMA hereby disclaims any liability that may arise from its use to the fullest extent
permitted under applicable law.

© BEAMA Ltd 2021

Copyright and all other intellectual property rights in this document are the property
of BEAMA Ltd. Any party wishing to copy, reproduce or transmit this document or the
information contained within it in any form, whether paper, electronic or otherwise
should contact BEAMA Ltd to seek permission to do so.
COMPANIES INVOLVED IN THE
PREPARATION OF THIS
COMPANIES INVOLVED GUIDE
IN THE PREPARATION OF THIS GUIDE

ABB Ltd Schneider Electric Ltd

Tower Court; Courtaulds Way Sta ord Park 5, Telford, Shropshire TF3 3BL
Foleshill Enterprise Park Tel: +44 (0) 1952 290029
Coventry, West Midland,s CV6 5NX Fax: +44 (0) 1952 292238
Tel: +44 (0) 2476 368 500 www.schneider-electric.co.uk
https://new.abb.com/uk

Eaton Electric Limited Electrium Sales Ltd (a Siemens Company)

252 Bath Road, Slough, Walkmill Lane, Bridgetown
Berkshire SL1 4DX Cannock, WS11 0XE
Tel: +44 (0) 8700 545 333 Tel: +44 (0) 1543 455000
Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
www.eaton.com/uk www.electrium.co.uk

GreenBrook Electrical
62 West Road, Harlow, Timeguard Ltd
Esssex CM20 2BG Victory Park, 400 Edgware Road
Tel + 44 (0) 1279 772772 London NW2 6ND
www.greenbrook.co.uk Tel: +44 (0) 20 8450 0515
Fax: +44 (0) 20 8450 0635
Email: [email protected]
www.timeguard.com
Hager Ltd
Hortonwood 50, Telford,
Shropshire TF1 7FT
Tel: +44 (0)1952 675 689
Email: [email protected]
www.hager.co.uk
Western Automation R&D
2 Atreus Place, Poolboy, Ballinalsoe,
Co. Galway, Ireland H53 TD 78
Tel: +353 (0) 90 9643359
Legrand Electric Ltd Fax: +353 (0) 90 9643094
Great King Street North, Email: [email protected]
Birmingham B19 2LF www.westernautomation.com
Tel: +44 (0) 370 608 9020
Email: [email protected]
www.legrand.co.uk
CONTENTS

1. Scope of this guidance 05

2. LED lighting terminology in relation to this guide 05

3. LED lighting inrush current 06

4. Selection of MCBs & RCBOs for LED lighting circuits 07

4.1. Selection using a chart based on the rated power of the LED
load(s) and the instantaneous non-tripping current of the MCB/RCBO 07

4.2 Selection using the LED lamp(s) peak inrush current (Ipeak)
and peak inrush current time duration (tH) 08

4.3 Selection using a ‘factor’ based on pulse duration 09

4.4 Selection based on MCB/RCBO peak current / time data 10

5. Alternative solutions 10
5.1 Inrush limiter solutions 10

5.2 Timed switching of LED lighting 11

5.3. Integral programable or random time delay 11

6. Other considerations for design of LED lighting circuits 11

6.1 LED lighting earth leakage current 11

6.2 Guidance for domestic installations from Building Regulations 11

6.3 Control device current ratings 12

6.4 Electrical installation design current for LED lighting 12

 1. Scope of this guidance
Primarily, circuit-breakers are selected for overcurrent protection of the wiring system
and fault / electric shock protection. In certain cases, to avoid unintentional operation,
the peak current values of the loads have to be taken into consideration. This guide
relates to selection of circuit-breakers when supplying LED lighting so as to avoid
unintentional operation by inrush currents.

The circuit-breakers considered in this guide are those conforming with:

• BS EN 60898 series which are referred to as MCBs, and
• BS EN 61009 series which are referred to as RCBOs

2. LED lighting terminology in relation to this guide

• LED lighting: LED lighting system e.g. luminaire with LEDs and internal or
external LED drivers and associated components.
• Light Emitting Diode (LED): A semiconductor which emits light when a current
passes through it. LED semiconductor materials convert electrical energy into
visible electromagnetic radiation (i.e., into light).
• LED Driver: An electronic device which converts the network alternating
electricity supply (AC) to direct voltage and current appropriate for the LED
luminaire. The driver may be external or internal to the luminaire and can power
one or more luminaires.
• Inrush current: Transient current when energizing LED lighting.
• Inrush current pulse duration: The time duration over which the value of the
inrush current is larger than 50 % of the peak inrush current as per BS EN 63129.
• Peak inrush current: Maximum value of inrush current which is typically reached
when switch-on occurs when the mains voltage is at its peak.

The electrical circuit interfacing between the AC mains supply and the LED lamp
module, termed an LED driver can cause high inrush currents to flow. The LED driver
circuit can be integrated in the lamp, in a separate case built into a luminaire or external
to the luminaire. The LED driver circuit characteristics affect the inrush current peak
and duration, as opposed to where it is located. The term LED lighting is used in this
guide regardless of where the AC supplied LED driver is located (internal or external).
References to multiple LED drivers is to be interpreted as multiple lamps, luminaires,
drivers or a combination of them as appropriate.

05
 3. LED lighting inrush current
When the AC supply is switched on, LED lighting can cause an initial peak transient
current several hundred times higher than their load current during normal operation;
this is compounded by simultaneous switching of multiple LED lighting. This inrush
current typically lasts less than 1 ms. The inrush current is caused by the charging
of capacitors in the power supplies of the LED lighting or because of the initial
low magnetic flux in the transformer in the power supply. The peak inrush current
magnitude and inrush current pulse duration are key parameters in characterising the
inrush current profile, which are important when selecting circuit-breakers so as to
avoid unintentional operation.

Current 200

Ipeak Inrush current

150

100

I/In
0.5Ipeak
50

Nominal current
0

Time
-50
-1 0
Duration of inrush

FIGURE 1 – Typical LED lighting inrush current profile

The method for determining peak inrush current characteristics for lighting products is 1
set out in BS EN IEC 63129 (Determination of inrush current characteristics of lighting
MCB
products). This standard establishes 10 A products peak inrush current (I ), and peak
lighting
50 B curve peak
inrush current time period (tH50) at 0.5Ipeak.
45
Maximum number of driver

C curve
Ipeak and tH5040are used for the selection of MCBs/RCBOs for LED lighting.
D curve
Proof factor (K) = I surge/I hold

35
LED lighting
30 manufacturers provide peak inrush current and time duration data however
it should be
25verified that the data is Ipeak and tH50 as stipulated in BS EN IEC 63129.
20
15
10
5
0
10 30 50 75 150
LED Driver rated power (W)

06
MCB 16 A
70 B curve
 4. Selection of MCBs & RCBOs for LED lighting circuits
LED lighting inrush current characteristics can vary significantly between manufacturers
therefore, when selecting an MCB or RCBO:

It is critical that the MCB/RCBO manufacturer’s and LED lighting

manufacturer’s guidance is applied. It cannot be assumed that
guidance from one MCB/RCBO manufacturer can be applied to
Currentmanufacturer’s MCBs/RCBOs.
another 200

Ipeak Inrush current

Many LED lighting manufacturers provide a table detailing the number of LED drivers 150
that can be supplied from a rating/type of MCB/RCBO but this is only to be considered
as general guidance, it cannot accurately be applied to all MCB/RCBO manufacturers’
products. 100

I/In
As a general principle to avoid unwanted tripping of an MCB/RCBO, the number of
0.5I
LEDpeak
drivers supplied by an MCB/RCBO can be increased if they are not switched on
simultaneously. 50

MCB/RCBO manufacturers use varying methods for the selection of MCBs/RCBOs for
Nominal current
supplying LED lighting, as detailed in 4.1 to 4.4 below.
0

4.1. Selection using a chart based on the rated power of the LED driver(s)
and the instantaneous non-tripping current of the MCB/RCBOTime
-50
This method involves consideration of the power rating of the LED driver and -1 0 1
Duration of inrush
the instantaneous tripping curves of the MCB/RCBO.
The following charts are an example of the type of information provided by an
MCB/RCBO manufacturer on how many LED drivers can be supplied by the
MCB/RCBO based on the MCB/RCBO Type ( B, C or D).

100
90
MCB 10 A 80
70
50 B curve 60
50
45
Maximum number of driver

C curve 40
40 D curve Proof factor (K) = I surge/I hold 30
35
20
30
25
20 10
9
15 8
7
10 6
5
5
4
0
3
10 30 50 75 150
LED Driver rated power (W) 2

MCB 16 A 1

70 B curve 10µ

C curve
umber of driver

60
D curve
07 50
10
40
 LED Driver rated power (W) 2
100

I/In
MCB 16 A 1
50 1
70 B curve
C curve
Maximum number of driver
ent 60
0 D curve
50
10
Time 40
-50
-1 0 1 2 3 4 5
30 Time (s) -3
x 10
Curve B
20
1
10
t(ms)
0 100
10 30 90
50 75 150 Example
80
70
B curve LED Driver
60 rated power (W) 520 µs 0,1
50 k=5
C curve 40
FIGURE 2 – Example charts on number of LED drivers
D curve
Proof factor (K) = I surge/I hold

30

Note: In this manufacturer’s example,

20 for LED driver ratings lower than 10W, with respect to inrush

currents causing unwanted tripping, there is no limitation on the number of drivers that can be 0,01
supplied by this manufacturer’s MCB/RCBO. 1
10
9
8
4.2. Selection using the LED driver(s) peak inrush current (Ipeak) and peak 7
6
inrush current time duration
5 (tH)
4
For this method, the peak3 inrush current (Ipeak) of the driver is divided by the
MCB/RCBO (In) rating, the result is correlated to the peak inrush current time (tH) to
select the instantaneous type
2 of MCB/RCBO to be applied.

The example below shows 1

a graph of the average non-tripping curve for the
B curve time range of 50 µs to 10 ms.
10µs 100µs 1000µs 10000µs
Pulse duration (T50)
C curve
D curve

10

Curve D
Curve B
1

t(ms)

0,1

Curve C

0,01
1 10 100 1000
Ipeak/In

FIGURE 3 – Example graph of average non-tripping curve for time range 50 µs to 10 ms

08
 150

100 Example
For a 10 A ((In) MCB/RCBO and a load of 100 A LED driver peak inrush current
I/In

(Ipeak) with a duration of 200 µs (tH50):

50 using the chart above, Ipeak /In = 100/10 = 10 which correlates to 1 ms
non-tripping time which is greater than the 200 µs peak inrush current
time duration, therefore a Type B circuit breaker can be selected.
0
If tH50 > 1 ms, a Type C or Type D MCB/RCBO would need to be selected.

4.3. Selection using a ‘factor’ based on pulse duration

-50
-1 0 1 2 3 4 5
This method uses a ‘factor’
Time (s) based on the time duration
-3 of the peak inrush current.
x 10
This factor is then used to calculate the MCB/RCBO maximum non-tripping peak
current for the specified time. An example is given below:

100
90 Example
80
70
60 520 µs
50 k=5
40
Proof factor (K) = I surge/I hold

30

20

10
9
8
7
6
5

1
10µs 100µs 1000µs 10000µs
Pulse duration (T50)

FIGURE 4 – Example graph of ‘factor’ based selection

10

Curve
No-trip peak current = factor x lower D of instantaneous current* x current rating
value
Curve B
1 For example : 520 µs peak current time duration (factor 5) with B16 circuit breaker
No-trip peak current = 5 x 3 x 16 = 240 A
t(ms)
Therefore, for a LED driver with an inrush peak of 40A, the calculation would be:
240 / 40 = 6 drivers
0,1

Curve C

0,01
09 1* MCB/RCBO minimum instantaneous
10 tripping current – 3 for Type B, 5 for Type C, 10 for Type D
100 1000
Ipeak/In
 4.4. Selection based on MCB/RCBO peak current / time data
The MCB/RCBO manufacturer may publish non-tripping information that would
enable selection of an MCB/RCBO for LED lighting e.g. “a peak current 420 A and
pulse time less than 250 μs will not trip the MCB/RCBO”.

Example
LED drivers have a peak inrush of 22 A for 200 μs. How many drivers can a 10 A
Type B MCB/RCBO supply, if they are switched on simultaneously?
An MCB/RCBO manufacturer states that their 10 A Type B MCB/RCBO will not
trip with 420 A peak current with a duration of less than 250 μs.

Calculation: 420 A / 22 A = 19 LED drivers

Therefore, as the pulse time of 200 μs is less than the 250 μs tripping time of the
MCB/RCBO, 19 LED drivers can be supplied by the MCB/RCBO.

5. Alternative solutions
5.1. Inrush limiter solutions
An inrush peak current limiter is a device that prevents inrush currents that
would otherwise trip the MCB/RCBO or cause potential damage to the switching
devices. Using this solution negates the need to apply selection criteria detailed
in 4.1 to 4.4 above.

200
0°
90°

150

100
I/In

50

ent
0

Time
-50
-1 0 1 2 3 4 5
Time (s) -3
x 10

FIGURE 5 – Illustration of a peak current limiter which ensures switching on at zero crossing
of the voltage wave angle and not 90°

100
90 Example
80
70
curve 60 520 µs
50 k=5
C curve 40

D curve
(K) = I surge/I hold

30

20

10

10
9
 5.2. Timed switching of LED lighting
Some manufacturers offer auxiliary devices such as time-delay modules
that can be coupled to MCBs or used as stand-alone devices that can be
incorporated into lighting circuits. These provide timed switching of LED
lighting thus spreading the inrush currents in time, allowing more drivers to
be installed on a single MCB/RCBO. Time-delay devices can also be used in
conjunction with programmable logic counters (PLCs) to manage large inrush
currents by co-ordinating the switching of multiple circuits in a pre-determined
sequence.

5.3. Integral programable or random time delay

Some LED lighting manufacturers include an integral programable or random
time delay between power on and the peak inrush current. For a group of
luminaires on the same circuit, this spreads the inrush currents in time, allowing
more drivers to be installed on a single MCB/RCBO. This information is made
available in the lighting manufacturer’s literature.

6. Other considerations for design of LED lighting

circuits
6.1. LED lighting earth leakage current
RCCBs conforming to BS EN 61008 and RCBOs conforming to BS EN 61009 are
residual current operated circuit-breakers. In addition to consideration of the
circuit breaker element and LED driver inrush current, consideration needs to
be given to LED lighting earth leakage / protective conductor current and
avoiding unwanted operation.
The product standard for luminaires, BS EN 60598-1, prescribes a maximum
earth leakage / protective conductor current for ratings ≤ 7 A as 3.5 mA r.m.s.
per luminaire. In practice, LED lighting will produce earth leakage / protective
conductor currents significantly lower than 3.5 mA. Therefore, manufacturer’s
data should always be consulted.

6.2. Guidance for domestic installations from Building Regulations

The domestic building services compliance guide (for use in England amended
2018) recommends that for fixed internal lighting, a single switch should normally
operate no more than six light fittings with a maximum total load of 100 circuit-
watts. This means that a single switch should not control more than a total of
100 circuit-watts LED lighting. This may help reduce unwanted operation of an
MCB/RCBO by limiting the total number LED lights switched simultaneously.
Circuit-watt means the power consumed in lighting circuits by lamps and, where
applicable, their associated control gear (including transformers and drivers) and
power factor correction equipment.

11
 6.3. Control device current ratings
Another consideration associated with LED driver inrush currents is the switch
current rating, which could influence the number of LED drivers controlled
together. The BEAMA guide “Load ratings for manually operated functional
switches” provides guidance. Also, any automatic lighting controller, contactor
etc should be selected based on the manufacturer’s current ratings for LED
lighting, this could restrict the number of LED drivers switched simultaneously
and the related peak current for circuit-breaker selection.

6.4. Electrical installation design current for LED lighting

LED driver circuits range from very simple and crude circuits consisting of a few
diodes, capacitors and resistors, to advanced multi-stage converters. Between
these extremes lie a number of different converter circuit designs with varying
degrees of efficiency and more importantly Power Factor Correction.
When establishing the electrical installation design current for LED lighting, the
power factor needs to be accounted for. For example, a 100W LED luminaire
with a Power Factor (Pf) of 0.85 and ignoring any inherent inefficiency of the
luminaire, at full power would be using 100÷0.85=118 VA. Assuming 230 V, the
design current would be: 118 VA / 230 which would be greater than using the
100 W rating of the LED luminaire.
Depending upon the type of LED lighting technology, the power factor can vary
from 0.5 to 0.99, so LED lighting manufacturer’s data should be used to ensure
the correct VA value is used to establish the design current.

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