General Electric AK U-2-50-2 1600 Amp Air Circuit Breaker GE 600V 3-Pole

The GE General Electric 3P 600V 1600A Circuit Air Breaker AK U-2-50-2 is a robust electrical protective device designed to prevent overload and short-circuit conditions within electrical systems. This circuit breaker is part of General Electric's AK series, which has been a trusted choice in various industrial and commercial applications for decades. The AK series circuit breakers are known for their reliability and capacity to handle large amounts of electrical current, making them suitable for heavy-duty operations. Typically used in manufacturing plants, data centers, and commercial buildings, this circuit breaker ensures that electrical systems operate safely by automatically interrupting the current flow when unsafe conditions are detected. Its unique features include a three-pole design, allowing it to manage three-phase electricity, and a 600V rated voltage that makes it versatile across different applications. The 1600A current rating indicates its capacity to support significant electrical loads, ensuring efficient operation of equipment within industrial environments. Additionally, the circuit breaker is designed with advanced mechanisms to enhance performance, such as a thermal magnetic trip unit that provides precise protection while maintaining ease of use for maintenance personnel.

Manufacturer: General Electric Company - nameplate marked PHILADELPHIA, PA. and MADE IN U.S.A. Product Line: AK series low-voltage power circuit breaker (air-frame, drawout switchgear class) Type (as stamped): AK-U-2-50-2 Nameplate Number: NO. 179A5066-563 AD Nameplate Plate Number: NP 0148A1043 NAMEPLATE RATINGS TRANSCRIBED FROM THIS UNIT Description: LOW VOLTAGE POWER CIRCUIT BREAKER Frame Size: 1600 AMP FRAME SIZE Rated Voltage: 600 VOLTS Poles: 3 POLES Frequency: 60 CYCLES Interrupting Rating (Symmetrical): the nameplate carries this line with figures at 600 VAC, 480 VAC, 240 VAC and 250 VDC, but the figures are obscured by corrosion on this unit and cannot be read with confidence. They are therefore NOT reproduced here rather than guessed. FRAME SIZE IS NOT THE TRIP RATING - IMPORTANT 1600 A is the FRAME SIZE, that is, the maximum continuous current the breaker structure is built to carry. It is not the trip setting. The continuous current rating and the time-current trip characteristic are established by the overcurrent trip device fitted to the breaker, and that device is not identified on this nameplate. Any application must be based on the trip device actually installed in the unit. FACTORY DOCUMENTATION CITED ON THE NAMEPLATE Instruction Book: GEK-7302 Renewal Parts Bulletin: GEF- (the balance of the number is truncated on the plate) UNPUBLISHED / NOT VERIFIABLE FOR THIS UNIT: the interrupting-rating figures specific to this breaker (nameplate corroded); the type and ampere rating of the installed overcurrent trip device; and the close and trip control voltage. The GE AK line is long out of production and is carried by ABB, successor to GE's electrical distribution business, as a legacy product; no GE-published rating table covering the AK-U variant could be obtained at the time of writing. Published figures circulated by resellers for the nearby AK-2-50 type are inconsistent with one another and have deliberately not been applied to this unit. The breaker's own nameplate governs. Spec Basis: Nameplate transcription from this unit's own photographs (General Electric, LOW VOLTAGE POWER CIRCUIT BREAKER, type AK-U-2-50-2, NO. 179A5066-563 AD, NP 0148A1043, 1600 AMP FRAME SIZE, 600 VOLTS, 3 POLES, 60 CYCLES, PHILADELPHIA PA, MADE IN U.S.A.). Factory document numbers GEK-7302 and the GEF- series renewal parts bulletin as printed on that nameplate. Legacy status per ABB's GE AK / AKR legacy-products listing. No manufacturer rating table for the AK-U variant could be obtained and no third-party interrupting figures have been substituted.