Square D Breaker Suffix designations

[mull982]

I was hoping that someone familiar with the family of Square D low voltage breakers could help me identify what the suffix's for each breaker type indicate and wheather or not the indicate a difference in actual breker operation or just the mechanical characteristics of the breakers.

The suffix's that I am looking at are P,B,L,C,&D at the end of each breaker type. For example are there any differences in breaker characteristics for the following breakes:

FC vs FCP breaker?
QO vs QOB breaker?
KCP vs KCL breaker?
FHP vs FHL breaker?
ED vs EDB breaker?
SE vs SED breaker?
ME vs MEL breaker?
MHP vs MHL breaker?

I'm not sure if the "P" at the end of the FCP breaker indicates a different breaker characteristic, or simply indicates a breaker mechanical characteristics, such as lugs or the type of panel it fits into.

I'd appreciate if any who is familiar with these breakers can explain or provide link to documentation.

Thanks for the help!

 

[zog]

Little more complex than you think it is, I think this is by design to protect application guys jobs.

In general, the 1st letter is the frame, 2nd letter is AIC rating, 3rd is connection or termination options. But what each letter means varies.

 

[mull982]

In general, the 1st letter is the frame, 2nd letter is AIC rating, 3rd is connection or termination options. But what each letter means varies.

This is kind of what I figured. Its really only the differences with the 3rd letter that I am concerned about since the first 2 are the same for each of my cases.

That being said, is it then true that an FC and an FCP breaker have the same breaker characteristics but may have a different termination optioni? I'm only concerned with the breakers interrupting rating and trip curve characteristics and do not necessarily care about the termination option for what i'm doing.

 

[jim dungar]

As Zog said, the third letter designates the connection method.
You can find information in the Digest and especially the Supplemental Digest.

Most of the breakers in your list are part of the original Square D industrial breaker line (often times, generically called I-Line breakers).
So:
P means there are no lugs on the 'load side' or bottom of the breaker. These breakers are typically used for connections to bus bars.
L means there are lugs on both the top and bottom of the breaker.
B means there are bolted connections on the 'line side' of the breaker, typically used in panelboards.
D means draw-out construction
No third letter means plug-on connections to the 'line side' of the breaker.