Low-voltage retrofit circuit breakers

Siemens' WL circuit breaker utilized for the core operator, main contacts, and accessories
Siemens' WL circuit breaker utilized for the core operator, main contacts, and accessories

Featuring Siemens' innovative direct-rack design

240-600 V

  • Low-voltage retrofit circuit breakers provide a cost-effective way to upgrade to current technology while increasing equipment reliability and minimizing downtime. Our low-voltage retrofit solutions utilize the proven Siemens' WL circuit breaker for the core operator, main contacts, and accessories, and are designed so that the primaries connect directly to the original bus.

For more information, including service or parts, please contact our 24/7 Customer Support Center by calling phone +1 (800) 333-7421, or use the button below.

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Our innovative direct-rack design eliminates the need for intermediate connections between the original bus and the new circuit breaker. This design eliminates additional heat generation and loss of efficiencies due to increased resistance that can be caused by intermediate connections, thus removing potential points of failure and maintenance. 

Why upgrade to replacement circuit breakers?

  • Preserved investment in existing cubicles
  • Reduced downtime and minimal changeover time during upgrade
  • Increased reliability and performance
  • Improved employee safety

Why Siemens' solution? 

  • Direct-rack technology
    Circuit breaker racks directly to the original bus

  • Standardized design
    Siemens' WL circuit breaker used for the core operator, main contacts, and accessories

  • Communication features
    Modbus RTU/TCP, PROFINET

  • Modular accessories
    Including electric operation, power metering, and zone selective interlocking

  • Enhanced protection functions
    Dynamic Arc Flash Sentry (DAS), Sm@rtGear™, remote operation, and remote racking options available
  • 24/7 support line
  • Designs for most major brands and models

Safety related features:

  • Visible, ready-to-close indicator
  • Customizable interlocking and mechanical trip indication
  • Secondary contacts are mounted on the front for safe, easy access
  • Available Siemens Dynamic Arc Sentry (DAS) provides an arc flash mitigation mode to lower the possible arc flash energy
  • Remote racking options available
Manufacturer
Original model
Replacement model
Amperage (A)
Siemens/Allis-Chalmers
SBA
SBW, SBWF
1,200, 2,000, 3,200, 5,000
Siemens/Allis-Chalmers
SBS
SBW, SBWF
1,200, 2,000, 3,200, 5,000
Siemens/Allis-Chalmers
SBH
SBW, SBWF
1,200, 2,000, 3,200, 5,000
Siemens/Allis-Chalmers
RL
RLW
800, 1,600, 2,000, 3,200, 4,000, 5,000
Siemens/Allis-Chalmers
RLE
RLW
800, 1,600, 2,000, 3,200, 4,000
Siemens/Allis-Chalmers
RLF
RLFW
800, 1,600, 2,000
Siemens/Allis-Chalmers
LA
LAW
600, 800, 1,600, 3,000, 4,000
Siemens/Allis-Chalmers
LAF
LAFW
600, 800, 1,600
General Electric
AK-15/25
AKW
800
General Electric
AKR-30/H
AKW
800
General Electric
AK/AKR-50/H
AKW
1,600
General Electric
AKRT-50/H
AKW
2,000
General Electric
AK-75
AKW
3,200
General Electric
AK-100
AKW
4,000
General Electric
AKU-25
AKFW
800
General Electric
AKRU-30
AKFW
800
General Electric
AKRU-50
AKFW
1,600
ITE/ABB
K Line
KLW
800, 1,600, 2,000, 3,000, 4,000
ITE/ABB
K Don
KLFW
800,  1,600
Westinghouse
DB-15
DBW
225
Westinghouse
DB-25
DBW
600
Westinghouse
DB-50
DBW
1,600
Westinghouse
DB-75
DBW
3,000
Westinghouse
DB-100
DBW
4,000
Westinghouse
DS-206
DSW
800
Westinghouse
DS-206S
DSW
800
Westinghouse
DS-416
DSW
1,600
Westinghouse
DS-416S
DSW
1,600
Westinghouse
DS-420
DSW
2,000
Westinghouse
DS-632
DSW
3,200
Westinghouse
DS-840
DSW
4,000
Westinghouse
DSL-206
DSFW
800
Westinghouse
DSL-416
DSFW
1,600
Pringle/Eaton
QA
QAW
1,200, 3,000, 4,000
Pringle/Eaton
CBC
CBCW
1,200, 3,000, 4,000
Features and characteristics
Analog Trip Unit
ETU745
ETU748
ETU776
Long-time overcurrent protection (L)
X
X
X
X
Short-time delayed overcurrent protection (S)
X
X
X
X
Instantaneous overcurrent protection (I)
X
X
 
X
Neutral conductor protection (N)
 
X
X
X
Ground-fault protection
O
 
X
O
Selectable neutral protection
 
X
X
X
Defeatable short-time protection
X
X
 
X
Defeatable instantaneous protection
X
X
 
X
Selectable thermal memory
 
X
X
X
Zone selective interlocking
 
X
X
X
Selectable I2t or fixed short-time delay
 
X
X
X
Adjustable instantaneous pick-up
X
X
X
X
Selectable I2t or I4t long-time delay
 
X
X
X
Dual protective setting capability
 
 
 
X
Dynamic Arc-Flash Sentry (DAS) or Arc Flash Mode
X
 
 
X
Extended Instantaneous Protection (EIP)
 
X
X
X
Parameterization by rotary switches
X
X
X
 
Parameterization by communication (absolute values)
 
 
 
X
Parameterization by menu/keypad (absolute values)
 
 
 
X
Remote parameterization of the alarm functions
 
 
 
X
Remote parameterization of the relay functions
 
 
 
X
Alphanumeric display
 
O
O
X
Graphical display
 
 
 
X
Power metering function
 
O
O
O
Communication via PROFIBUS-DP
 
O
O
O
Communication via MODBUS
 
O
O
O
Communication via Ethernet (BDA)
 
O
O
O
Communication via dry contacts
O
 
 
 
Rated for harsh environment applications
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3D low-voltage replacement circuit breaker racking video
Low voltage retrofit circuit breaker
Video interview with applications engineer, Brian Wahl, on low-voltage replacement circuit breakers
3D low-voltage replacement circuit breaker racking video
Low voltage retrofit circuit breaker
Video interview with applications engineer, Brian Wahl, on low-voltage replacement circuit breakers

At Siemens, "legacy" doesn't mean we stop supporting you or your product. The RL circuit breaker is still alive, well, and fully supported.

In addition to our state-of-the-art retrofit solutions, Siemens continues to manufacture the Siemens type RL circuit breaker, supporting the demand for replacement circuit breakers for existing low voltage type R switchgear lineups. Our commitment to quality, performance, and reliability of RL circuit breakers has remained a priority since 1981. The RL family of low voltage power circuit breakers is designed for up to 600 V service and are UL certified.

Contact

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Contact us

  • Siemens USA "Contact us" request

    For more information, including service or parts, please contact our 24/7 Customer Support Center by calling phone: +1 (800) 333-7421 or completing the "Contact us" form in the link above.

Mailing address

Siemens Industry, Inc.

7000 Siemens Road

Wendell, North Carolina 27591

United States

Infrastructure matters: improving energy infrastructure has big impact on efficiency, savings.

  • Learn how upgrading with Siemens medium-voltage products helped Chicago by clicking here. 

Learn how Siemens helped Digital Realty reduce their typical deployment time.

  • By partnering with JDC Power Systems to develop a modular data center solution, which includes medium-voltage switchgear, Siemens helped reduce their typical deployment time from 179 to around 80 days. Read the story by clicking here.

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