Is it OK to mount breakers horizontal ?

[sunbunny]

I am putting 70 amp MNEDC circuit breakers on each of my battery pairs (6 pairs)
My installation would be neater and easier if I could mount the breakers horizontal. Is that OK ?

I read in another thread here, that it was Ok to use the breakers as switches so I could go right from the breaker to my + buss and not need to use a 300 amp battery switch to connect selected pairs of batteries in and out of the system ?

Thanks

[Vic]

Hi sunbunny,

This may be the post that you were referring to regarding using the MN DC breakers as switches:
http://midniteforum.com/index.php?topic=351.msg2615#msg2615

Am still looking for the place where I saw the reference to vertical mounting,  with ON up,  but have not found it yet.  More later,   Vic

[Halfcrazy]

Horizontal is fine. The only direction that gets funny is with the handle pointing straight up. If that is the case they have to be derated.

Ryan

[sunbunny]

Thanks very much, Ryan and Vic !

[Vic]

OK,  thanks Ryan,  horizontal mounting will help in one recent situation.  Thanks.

EDIT:  I had given sunbunny some bad advice on the Wind-Sun Forum,  stating that I believed that horizontal orientation was ill-advised.  So I stand corrected,  and sorry for creating this noise.   Vic

[cpm]

Horizontal is fine. The only direction that gets funny is with the handle pointing straight up. If that is the case they have to be derated.

Ryan

I don't understand

[zoneblue]

My reading is that horizontal switch facing you is fine, but switch facing the sky is not so good.

[Halfcrazy]

Yes as long as the handle is facing horizontally in a direction not up or down you are good

[Robin]

When the handle is facing up or down, the trip time is increased a little. CBI says 5%. I do not know how much for the Carling, but I suspect it is about the same. In fact I remember now that the engineering manager from Carling was here last week and he acknowledged about 5% also. So, no big deal in any case. I do not think they publish this as it gets too complicated to put a UL label on the product that fits all positions. In reality, it doesn't make much difference.