ABB / General Electric THLC236225WL Molded Case Circuit Breaker

This unit-mount, feed-thru breaker is engineered for heavy commercial and industrial applications. It is designed for installation in GE switchboards, motor control centers, and individual enclosures, rather than standard residential or light commercial load centers.

As a current-limiting breaker, it clears high-level short circuits rapidly to reduce peak let-through current and energy. This minimizes thermal and mechanical stress on downstream equipment, which is how it achieves its high 200kA interrupting rating at 480VAC.

The WL suffix designates that the breaker is supplied from the factory with standard line and load lugs installed. These lugs accommodate 4 AWG to 300 kcmil copper or aluminum wire, ensuring it is ready for immediate termination upon installation.

When a fault occurs, the breaker handle moves to a center tripped position midway between ON and OFF. To restore power, you must first push the handle to the extreme OFF position to reset the internal trip mechanism, then move it to the ON position. Always investigate and clear the fault before resetting.

It can be used on 600VAC systems, but panel builders must verify the available fault current. While it offers a massive 200kA interrupting rating at 240VAC and 480VAC, the capacity drops to 50kA when applied at 600VAC.

This breaker utilizes a thermal-magnetic trip unit with LI (Long-Time and Instantaneous) functions. The thermal element provides fixed overload protection at 225A, while the magnetic element is adjustable, allowing electricians to fine-tune the instantaneous short-circuit pickup for proper system coordination.

Yes, it shares the standard physical dimensions and unit-mount configuration of the GE THLC frame family. This makes it a direct drop-in replacement for older or failed 225A THLC breakers in existing switchboards and motor control centers.