Circuit breaker product attributes

A circuit breaker record looks simple until two SKUs share the same amperage, pole count and voltage and still cannot be swapped. The difference usually sits in the interrupting rating, which suppliers print as a table of kA values against voltage, or in a mounting style that only fits one family of load centers or panelboards. Flattening that table into a single kAIC number, or leaving mounting as free text, is how the wrong breaker ends up on a job.

Supplier files also blur concepts that need separate fields. Frame size and trip rating get merged into one catalog string. An 80% rated breaker and a 100% rated one carry the same ampere value. A UL 1077 supplementary protector is listed beside UL 489 branch-circuit breakers because both snap onto DIN rail. Each of these becomes a selection error when the record cannot tell them apart.

The attributes below separate identity, ratings, fit and listing evidence so a counter rep or an online buyer can confirm the breaker matches the equipment, the available fault current and the application before it ships. Each value should trace back to the manufacturer's datasheet or label, not to a reseller's description.

The circuit breakers attribute template

18 candidate fields in 5 groups, ordered the way a record gets built: identify the item, capture its specifications, then record fit and the evidence behind any claim. 9 are marked Core: without them the item cannot be identified or filtered. Example values show the expected format only; they do not describe a real SKU.

Identity

Which exact item, variant and pack this record describes.

Check before use: Preserve leading zeros and punctuation, validate against the manufacturer record, and check the GTIN check digit and packaging level before linking.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Manufacturer Part Number manufacturer_part_number	Identifier	Core	CB3-150-65
Brand brand	Controlled list	Core	Example Brand
GTIN / UPC gtin_upc	Identifier	Channel / evidence	00812345001501

Technical specifications

Measured or rated values that must travel with their unit and test conditions.

Check before use: Store the number and unit separately. Convert only when the source unit and test conditions are known.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Amperage (Trip) Rating amperage_trip_rating	Number · A	Core	150
Voltage Rating (AC) voltage_rating_ac	Controlled list · V AC	Core	600 V AC
Interrupting Rating (AIC) by Voltage interrupting_rating_aic_by_voltage	Text · kA rms sym	Core	65 kA @ 240 V; 35 kA @ 480 V; 18 kA @ 600 V
Frame Designation / Frame Amperes frame_designation_frame_amperes	Controlled list · A	Core	150 A frame
Continuous Current Rating Basis continuous_current_rating_basis	Controlled list	Buyer decision	80% rated

Selection attributes

The type, material and option choices buyers filter and compare on.

Check before use: Map supplier wording to a governed vocabulary only after checking the source text and which variant it applies to.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Breaker Family / Construction Type breaker_family_construction_type	Controlled list	Core	Molded case circuit breaker (MCCB)
Number of Poles number_of_poles	Controlled list	Core	3
Trip Unit Type trip_unit_type	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Thermal-magnetic, fixed
Trip Curve / Instantaneous Pickup trip_curve_instantaneous_pickup	Text	Buyer decision	Adjustable magnetic trip, 5-10 x In
Protection Function protection_function	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Overcurrent only (no ground-fault or arc-fault function)

Fit & compatibility

What the item mounts to, mates with, replaces or works alongside.

Check before use: Keep model and series qualifiers. A similar-looking part is not a verified fit until a source says so.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Mounting / Connection Method mounting_connection_method	Controlled list	Core	Bolt-on
Terminal Wire Range terminal_wire_range	Text · AWG / kcmil	Buyer decision	(1) #4 AWG to 4/0 AWG Cu/Al

Evidence & compliance

Listings, standards, classifications and origin claims that need a document behind them.

Check before use: Link the manufacturer document or label with its edition or date. Never copy a certification from a neighboring SKU.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Safety Standard / Listing safety_standard_listing	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	UL 489 listed; CSA C22.2 No. 5
Application Markings (HACR / SWD / HID) application_markings_hacr_swd_hid	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	HACR
Country of Origin country_of_origin	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	Mexico

Normalize supplier values

The same value arrives in many spellings. Map each raw string to one governed value, and keep the raw text beside it so a reviewer can see what the supplier actually wrote.

Often missing from supplier files

These fields are commonly absent from price lists and basic feeds, even though the information usually exists in a datasheet, label or installation manual. Treat an empty value as a request for evidence, not as permission to fill it from a similar model.

• Interrupting Rating (AIC) by Voltage
• Continuous Current Rating Basis (80% / 100% rated)
• Listing Standard (UL 489 vs UL 1077)
• Load Center / Panelboard Compatibility
• Terminal Wire Range and Torque

Questions the record must answer

Buyers and counter-sales reps choosing circuit breakers ask questions like these. Each one needs a specific field, sourced for the exact variant.

• Will this breaker mount in the panelboard or load center that is already installed?
• Is the interrupting rating high enough for the available fault current at 480 V?
• Is this a full branch-circuit breaker or a supplementary protector?
• What wire sizes will the line and load terminals accept?

From supplier file to record

1. Resolve identity first. Link the supplier SKU, manufacturer part number and packaging identifiers without merging distinct variants or pack sizes.
2. Extract with the source attached. Pull values from rows, tables and datasheets, keeping the raw text, unit and page or row reference.
3. Map to your classification. Assign the ETIM, ECLASS, UNSPSC or internal class your company licenses, and keep the supplier's original terms.
4. Review, sync and watch. Hold conflicts and safety-related values for a category expert, write approved values to ERP or PIM, and recheck when the supplier sends a new file.

For the full method, see how to build a category attribute template and the category catalog gap audit.

FAQ