Siemens 5SJ43208HG41 — 3-Pole Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB)
Overview
In a DIN-rail-mounted branch protection assembly, this 5SJ4 MCB occupies three poles and is listed at 20 A nominal. The D‑trip (D‑characteristic) indicated in the title denotes a magnetic pickup range suited for circuits with moderate inrush, such as transformer or motor loads with lower start currents. The 14K breaking capacity figure in the title is present in catalog metadata but is not reproduced as an explicit spec key; the official Siemens datasheet must confirm the interrupting rating in kA before coordination studies or fault-level calculations proceed.
Key catalog fields for the seed part are summarized below; several electrical parameters that govern short-circuit coordination and voltage compatibility are absent from the supplied data.
Key Parameters
| Parameter | Value (from JSON) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MPN | 5SJ43208HG41 | Primary part under review |
| Brand | Siemens | — |
| Series / Family | 5SJ4 | Siemens 5SJ4 is the standard MCB product line; "4" in the MPN positions may encode pole count or frame size—confirm against datasheet ordering logic |
| Current Rating | 20 A | — |
| Number of Poles | 3 | — |
| Actuator Type | Lever | — |
| Mounting Type | DIN Rail | — |
| Illumination | None | — |
| Encapsulation / Package | Box | — |
| Approval Agency | CCC, CE, EAC, UL489 | Missing from seed: CSA, VDE (present on some alternates); verify for the intended region |
| RoHS Compliance | RoHS non-compliant | Explicitly flagged in catalog data |
| Product Status | Active | — |
| Voltage Rating | Not present as a spec key | The title states "240V"; alternates show "480/277"; datasheet must confirm both AC and DC ratings |
| Breaking Capacity (kA) | Not present as a spec key | Title contains "14K"; datasheet is required to confirm interrupting rating and whether it applies at 240 V or another voltage |
| Trip Characteristic | Not present as a spec key | Title states "D-TRIP"; datasheet is required to confirm magnetic pickup band (D‑type ≈ 10–20 × In) |
Verification required before selection
- Breaking capacity / interrupting rating (kA) — not listed in specs; the "14K" in the title is catalog metadata only.
- AC voltage rating — absent from spec keys; title shows 240 V; alternates reference 480/277 V; confirm the voltage system (IT/TN/TT) and maximum operating voltage.
- DC voltage rating (if the breaker is used on a DC circuit) — not provided.
- Trip characteristic numeric band — D‑type is inferred from title; verify pickup range against Siemens datasheet.
- RoHS status — catalog explicitly lists "RoHS non-compliant"; confirm if this precludes use in the target jurisdiction.
Integration / Installation Notes
The JSON specifies DIN Rail mounting and a lever actuator. The following are not specified in the supplied fields and must be taken from the datasheet:
- Tightening torque for busbar/line terminals
- Minimum conductor cross-section and strip length
- IP rating of the device (if enclosed)
- Ambient derating above 40 °C
- UL file number or CSA certificate reference for coordination documentation
Physical integration into a panel follows standard MCB practice: clip onto 35 mm DIN rail, connect busbars or conductors, and verify that downstream coordination (with upstream OCPD or with downstream loads) is consistent with the fault level at the point of installation.
Selection and Substitution Notes
The 5SJ4 series is Siemens' standard DIN-rail MCB family. Substitution of the seed part with an alternate requires verification of:
- Matching voltage rating — the seed is listed at 240 V (per title); some alternates are rated 480/277 V and are not directly interchangeable in all systems.
- Matching trip characteristic — seed is D‑type; C‑type alternates have a lower magnetic pickup band (5–10 × In) and are not substitutes for circuits requiring D‑type coordination.
- Matching or exceeding breaking capacity — confirm kA rating matches or exceeds available fault current at the installation point.
- Matching approval agencies for the target market — seed lists CCC, CE, EAC, UL489; some alternates add CSA or VDE.
Similarity scores reflect catalog attribute overlap and should not be interpreted as a quality ranking or interchangeability guarantee.
Similar Catalog Parts
The table below compares the seed MPN against the highest-similarity alternates using shared spec keys only.
| MPN | Poles | Current (A) | Trip | Voltage Title | Encapsulation | Breaking Capacity (title) | Approval Agencies | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5SJ43208HG41 (seed) | 3 | 20 | D | 240V | Box | 14K | CCC, CE, EAC, UL489 | — |
| 5SJ4320-8HG42 | 3 | 20 | D | 480/277 | Bulk | 10K | CCC, CE, CSA, EAC, UL, VDE | 1.0 |
| 5SJ43207HG41 | 3 | 20 | C | 240V | Box | 14K | CCC, CE, EAC, UL489 | 0.88 |
| 5SJ4320-7HG42 | 3 | 20 | C | 480/277 | Bulk | 10K | CCC, CE, CSA, EAC, UL, VDE | 0.88 |
| 5SJ43258HG41 | 3 | 25 | D | 240V | Box | 10K | CCC, CE, EAC, UL489 | 0.84 |
Why these are similar:
- 5SJ4320-8HG42 shares the same brand, 20 A rating, and D‑trip characteristic; it differs in voltage title (480/277 V vs 240 V) and adds CSA and VDE approvals. The breaking capacity title is 10K versus 14K.
- 5SJ43207HG41 matches the seed's 240 V title and 20 A rating but uses C‑trip (lower magnetic pickup band), making it unsuitable as a direct substitute for circuits requiring D‑type coordination.
- 5SJ4320-7HG42 combines the 480/277 V rating with C‑trip and bulk packaging; not interchangeable where D‑type or 240 V operation is required.
- 5SJ43258HG41 shares the same series, 3-pole, D-trip, and 240 V title but carries a 25 A rating (different overload setting) and lists 10K breaking capacity in the title.
Remaining alternates (0.84 similarity) step the current to 25 A or add VDE; they are not substitutes for the 20 A D‑type seed without recalculating branch protection coordination.
FAQ
What does the D‑trip (D‑characteristic) mean for 5SJ43208HG41? The datasheet must confirm the magnetic pickup range for D‑type; D‑curve breakers in IEC/EN 60898 typically trip magnetically between 10–20 × the rated current (In), making them suitable for circuits with moderate inrush such as transformers or low-horsepower motors. This is not listed as a spec key in the supplied data.
Can 5SJ43208HG41 be replaced by 5SJ43207HG41 without design changes? No. The alternate 5SJ43207HG41 uses a C‑characteristic (magnetic pickup typically 5–10 × In). The two trip curves are not interchangeable in protection coordination; the circuit's inrush profile and coordination settings must be verified before substitution.
What voltage system is 5SJ43208HG41 rated for? The title indicates 240 V; the spec key for voltage rating is absent from the supplied data. The 5SJ4320‑8HG42 alternate is titled for 480/277 V, indicating a family voltage split. The official Siemens datasheet must confirm the maximum rated voltage, voltage system type (single-phase, three-phase line-to-line or line-to-neutral), and any DC rating before installation.