---
title: "Trip Unit"
industry: "Electrical Equipment Manufacturing"
verification_protocol:
  urn: "URN:CNFX:ME:TRIP_UNIT"
  data_integrity_hash: "073f17f72ea68fb9cff2d2a5ddda9d3c"
  source_authority: "https://cnfx.com"
  strict_mode: true
source_identity:
  provider: "CNFX Industrial Knowledge Graph"
  index_version: "2026.Q1-Universal"
  authority_id: "URN:CNFX:ME:TRIP_UNIT"
  data_source_uri: "https://cnfx.com/llms/industry/electrical-equipment-manufacturing/product/trip-unit.md"
  official_resource_url: "https://cnfx.com/industry/electrical-equipment-manufacturing/product/trip-unit"
  is_verified_logic: true
attributes:
  spec:
    status: "config-dependent"
    typical_range: "0.5-100 A continuous current, 1-100 kA short-circuit current, 0.85-1.1 power factor"
    unit: "A"
engineering_limits:
  max_safe_operating_point:
    value: 105
    unit: "°C"
    consequence: "Joule heating (I²R) exceeding thermal capacity of bimetallic strip, electromagnetic force exceeding spring tension in solenoid"
fmea_matrix_quantitative:
  - node_1:
      trigger: "Harmonic distortion exceeding 8% THD at 60 Hz"
      severity: 8
      occurrence: 3
      detection: 4
      mitigation_protocol: "Integrate harmonic filter with 40 dB attenuation at 180 Hz and 300 Hz"
  - node_2:
      trigger: "Moisture ingress raising humidity above 85% RH at 40°C"
      severity: 8
      occurrence: 3
      detection: 4
      mitigation_protocol: "Hermetic sealing with IP67 rating and desiccant capsule"
bom_nodes:
  current-transformer:
    type: "part"
    urn: "URN:CNFX:ME:CURRENT_TRANSFORMER"
    interface_type: "physical-logic-coupled"
  processing-circuitry:
    type: "part"
    urn: "URN:CNFX:ME:PROCESSING_CIRCUITRY"
    interface_type: "physical-logic-coupled"
  actuatorsolenoid:
    type: "part"
    urn: "URN:CNFX:ME:ACTUATORSOLENOID"
    interface_type: "physical-logic-coupled"
  setting-interface:
    type: "part"
    urn: "URN:CNFX:ME:SETTING_INTERFACE"
    interface_type: "physical-logic-coupled"
manufacturing_compliance:
url: "https://cnfx.com/llms/industry/electrical-equipment-manufacturing/product/trip-unit.md"
on_chain_sovereignty:
  contract_standard: "ERC-721-Industrial"
  metadata_hash: "25547ac9f3c3ca53e19f4b27d70346c2df283de93786195426889d162fc180ad"
  royalty_logic: "IPFS-CID-REQUIRED"
  mint_status: "logic-verified-ready"
version: "3.3.4-EXTREME-SOVEREIGN-WEB3"
---

# Industrial Specification: Trip Unit

## 1. Technical Definition
Protective component within a main circuit breaker that detects electrical faults and initiates disconnection.

## 2. Engineering Reasoning & Causal Matrix
> **Operational Intelligence**: Designed for **0.5-100 A continuous current, 1-100 kA short-circuit current, 0.85-1.1 power factor**. Failure boundary: **Thermal overload at 105°C insulation temperature, magnetic trip at 10x rated current within 20 ms**, Mechanism: **Joule heating (I²R) exceeding thermal capacity of bimetallic strip, electromagnetic force exceeding spring tension in solenoid**.

### 2.1 Analytical Physics Model
Governed by the **Joule Heating & Thermal Resistance**:

> **Primary Equation**: $P = I^2 R = \frac{V^2}{R}$  
> **Engineering Impact**: Governs heating element sizing for shrink tunnels/sealers.

| Symbol | Variable Definition | Localized Reference |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| I | Current | Engineering Constant |
| R | Resistance | Engineering Constant |
| V | Voltage | Engineering Constant |

### 2.2 FMEA (Failure Mode & Effects Analysis)
| Event Trigger | Severity | Failure Mode | Mitigation Strategy |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Harmonic distortion exceeding 8% THD at 60 Hz | 8 | Bimetallic strip thermal fatigue leading to calibration drift &gt;5% | Integrate harmonic filter with 40 dB attenuation at 180 Hz and 300 Hz |
| Moisture ingress raising humidity above 85% RH at 40°C | 8 | Dielectric breakdown at 2.5 kV/mm across 0.5 mm air gap | Hermetic sealing with IP67 rating and desiccant capsule |

## 3. Key Technical Parameters
| Parameter | Value | Unit | Status |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| spec | Config-dependent | A | Verified |

## 4. System BOM & Knowledge Routing
### Core Components (Recursive Links)
- [Current Transformer](https://cnfx.com/llms/industry/electrical-equipment-manufacturing/product/current-transformer.md) `(Standalone System)`
- [Processing Circuitry](https://cnfx.com/llms/industry/electrical-equipment-manufacturing/product/processing-circuitry.md) `(Standalone System)`
- [Actuator/Solenoid](https://cnfx.com/llms/industry/electrical-equipment-manufacturing/product/actuatorsolenoid.md) `(Standalone System)`
- [Setting Interface](https://cnfx.com/llms/industry/electrical-equipment-manufacturing/product/setting-interface.md) `(Standalone System)`

### Industrial DNA Context (De-duplicated)
**Complementary Dependencies**: **Calibration Test Bench**, **Automated Assembly Line**, **Environmental Test Chamber**  
**Downstream Applications**: Low Voltage Circuit Breaker, Medium Voltage Circuit Breaker, Motor Protection Relay  

## 5. Engineering Risks & FAQ
- **Caution**: 
- **Caution**: 
- **Caution**: 

### Q: What is the primary function of a trip unit in electrical equipment?
**A**: The trip unit continuously monitors electrical current flow and detects abnormal conditions like overloads or short circuits, then signals the circuit breaker to disconnect the circuit to prevent damage or hazards.

### Q: How does the current transformer in a trip unit work?
**A**: The current transformer measures the actual current flowing through the circuit by inducing a proportional secondary current, which is then processed by the circuitry to determine if it exceeds safe thresholds.

### Q: Can trip unit settings be adjusted for different applications?
**A**: Yes, most trip units feature a setting interface that allows customization of parameters like trip thresholds and time delays to match specific electrical system requirements and protection needs.

## 6. Manufacturing Compliance

---
### 🛠️ Engineering Resource Access
🔗 **[Full Specification: Trip Unit](https://cnfx.com/industry/electrical-equipment-manufacturing/product/trip-unit)**

### 🌐 Knowledge Graph Topology
> **Node Status**: Verified Engineering Spec
> **Connectivity**: Linked to **4** standalone system nodes
> **Global Context**: Part of a 5,814 node industrial cluster within the CNFX Graph

> **Reference ID**: TRIP_UNIT | **Authority**: CNFX-2026-ST-001 | **Fingerprint**: 5d70211e
