Loading a small circuit breaker???

[Dickieboy]

If I have a 3 phase 480v, lighting contactor controlling flood lights ,,,,does the 80% max branch circuit loading apply? If so then the OCP device would have to carry a rating that equalled at least the 80% load plus the 20% diferrential,,,,is that right.Hope I have worded that correctly.

 

[iwire]

A standard breaker is rated 100% non-continuous and 80% continuous.

"Continuous" is defined in Article 100 as a load the draws it's maximum current for at least three hours.

Typically 480 volt lighting is used in a continuous manner.