EN 4838-004:2018

Aerospace series - Arc fault circuit breakers, single-pole, temperature compensated, rated current 3 A to 25 A - 115 V a.c. 400 Hz constant frequency - Part 004: With signal contact - Product standard

This European Standard specifies the required characteristics for single-pole, arc fault circuit breakers rated currents from 3 A to 25 A, switching capacity 65 In, for use in aircraft electrical systems. Their operating temperatures are between  40 °C to 85 °C at a maximum altitude of Z = 15 000 m. The thermal protection is temperature compensated and operates between  55 °C and 125 °C.
These arc fault circuit breakers are operated by a push-pull type single pushbutton (actuator), with delayed action "trip-free" tripping.
They will continue to function up to the short-circuit current.

Luft- und Raumfahrt - Störlichtbogen-Schutzschalter, einpolig, temperaturkompensiert, Nennströme von 3 A bis 25 A - 115 V Wechselstrom, 400 Hz Konstantfrequenz - Teil 004: Mit Signalkontak - Produktnorm

Série aérospatiale - Disjoncteurs unipolaires à détection d’arc compensés en température, intensités nominales 3 A à 25 A - 115 V c.a. 400 Hz fréquence fixe - Partie 004 : Avec contact de signalisation - Norme de produit

La présente Norme européenne spécifie les caractéristiques requises pour les disjoncteurs unipolaires à détection d’arc d’intensités nominales 3 A à 25 A, capacité de coupure 65 In, destinés à être utilisés dans les systèmes électriques des aéronefs. Leurs températures de fonctionnement sont comprises entre  40 °C et 85 °C à une altitude maximale de Z = 15 000 m. La protection thermique est compensée en température et fonctionne entre  55 °C et 125 °C.
Ces disjoncteurs à détection d’arc sont activés par un bouton poussoir unique (bouton de commande), à déclenchement libre temporisé.
Leur fonctionnement est assuré jusqu’au courant de court-circuit.

Aeronavtika - Obločni dušilni odklopniki, enopolni, temperaturno kompenzirani, za naznačene toke od 3 A do 25 A , 115 V izmenična napetost 400 Hz konstantna frekvenca - 004. del: S signalnim kontaktom - Standard za proizvod

Ta evropski standard določa potrebne lastnosti obločnih dušilnih odklopnikov, enopolnih, temperaturno kompenziranih, za naznačene toke od 3 A do 25 A, s preklopno zmogljivostjo 65 In, za uporabo v letalskih električnih sistemih. Njihove obratovalne temperature so od 40 °C do 85 °C pri maksimalni višini Z = 15 000 m. Toplotna zaščita je temperaturno kompenzirana in obratuje pri temperaturah od  55 °C do 125 °C.
Ti obločni dušilni odklopniki se upravljajo z enim gumbom (sprožilom) vrste potisni-povleci, z zakasnjenim proženjem brez sprožila.
Delovali bodo do kratkega stika.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 17-Jul-2018
• Withdrawal Date: 30-Jan-2019
• ICS: 49.060 - Aerospace electric equipment and systems
• Technical Committee: ASD-STAN - Aerospace
• Drafting Committee: ASD-STAN/D 2/S 5 - Protection Devices
• Current Stage: 6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
• Start Date: 18-Jul-2018
• Completion Date: 18-Jul-2018
• Ref Project: SIST EN 4838-004:2018 - Aerospace series - Arc fault circuit breakers, single-pole, temperature compensated, rated current 3 A to 25 A - 115 V a.c. 400 Hz constant frequency - Part 004: With signal contact - Product standard

Overview

EN 4838-004:2018 is a CEN product standard in the Aerospace series that defines requirements for single-pole arc fault circuit breakers (AFCBs) with signal contact, specifically for 115 V a.c., 400 Hz aircraft electrical systems. It covers devices rated 3 A to 25 A, with a switching capacity of 65 In (or 1 000 A r.m.s. where applicable), temperature-compensated thermal protection and operation up to 15 000 m altitude. These AFCBs use a push‑pull single pushbutton actuator with delayed-action “trip‑free” tripping and are required to continue functioning under short‑circuit conditions.

Keywords: EN 4838-004:2018, arc fault circuit breaker, aerospace, 115 V a.c. 400 Hz, single‑pole, temperature compensated, signal contact, aircraft electrical systems.

Key Topics and Requirements

• Rated currents and ratings: Covered ratings 3 A, 5 A, 7.5 A, 10 A, 15 A, 20 A, 25 A with designated marking codes.
• Electrical characteristics: Nominal operational voltage 115 V a.c., 400 Hz, specified voltage drops at rated and low currents, insulation and dielectric requirements, and signal contact ratings.
• Thermal protection: Temperature‑compensated trip thresholds covering ambient and extreme temperatures from −55 °C to 125 °C, with specified minimum and maximum trip percentages of In.
• Environmental & mechanical: Operating temperature −40 °C to 85 °C, altitude ≤ 15 000 m, vibration and shock resistance, corrosion and contaminating liquid resistance per referenced tests.
• Arc fault performance: AFCB arc‑fault testing per EN 4838-001 (technical specification) to ensure reliable interruption of arcing faults.
• Mechanical interfaces: Dimensional, panel cut‑out (TR 6083C202), mass limit (max 35 g), attachment and connection hardware, recommended torques and insertion/removal tools.
• Operation & signalling: Pushbutton operation where the main contact and signal contact are mechanically linked (pushbutton released = CB open, signal contact closed).
• Marking & designation: Packaging and device marking requirements including part number, manufacturing date, electrical diagram and version codes.

Applications and Users

Who uses EN 4838-004:2018:

• Aircraft electrical/system designers and avionics engineers specifying protective devices for 115 V AC 400 Hz systems.
• Aerospace component manufacturers producing AFCBs with signal contacts for certification and procurement.
• Procurement and quality assurance teams in aerospace OEMs and MROs ensuring compliance with European aerospace product standards.
• Test laboratories and certification bodies performing environmental, electrical and arc‑fault tests.

Typical applications:

• Overcurrent and arc-fault protection in aircraft power distribution panels.
• Circuits requiring status signalling (signal contact) to remote monitoring systems or cockpit indications.
• Retrofit and new-build installations where compliance with CEN aerospace product standards is required.

Related Standards

• EN 4838-001 (Technical specification for the same AFCB family)
• EN 3841-100 (Circuit breaker test methods)
• EN 3155-016 (Electrical contacts standard)
• EN 6113 (Circuit breaker attachment and connection hardware)
• TR 6083 (Panel cut-outs)
• MIL-I-81969 series and FED‑STD‑595B (referenced tools and colour standards)

Compliance with EN 4838-004:2018 ensures interoperable, tested AFCBs suitable for modern aircraft electrical distribution and arc‑fault protection needs.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-oktober-2018
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QD]QDþHQHWRNHRG$GR$9L]PHQLþQDQDSHWRVW+]NRQVWDQWQD
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Aerospace series - Arc fault circuit breakers, single-pole, temperature compensated,
rated current 3 A to 25 A - 115 V a.c. 400 Hz constant frequency - Part 004: With signal
contact - Product standard
Luft- und Raumfahrt - Arc Fault Schutzschalter, einpolig, Temperaturkompensiert,
Nennströme von 3 A bis 25 A - 115 V a.c. 400 Hz Konstantfrequenz - Teil 004: Mit
Signalkontakt - Produktnorm
Série aérospatiale - Disjoncteurs unipolaires à détection d’arc compensés en
température, intensités nominales 3 A à 25 A - 115 V c.a. 400 Hz fréquence fixe - Partie
004 : Avec contact de signalisation - Norme de produit
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 4838-004:2018
ICS:
49.060 /HWDOVNDLQYHVROMVND Aerospace electric
HOHNWULþQDRSUHPDLQVLVWHPL equipment and systems
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN 4838-004
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
July 2018
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 49.060
English Version
Aerospace series - Arc fault circuit breakers, single-pole,
temperature compensated, rated current 3 A to 25 A - 115
V a.c. 400 Hz constant frequency - Part 004: With signal
contact - Product standard
Série aérospatiale - Disjoncteurs unipolaires à Luft- und Raumfahrt - Störlichtbogen-Schutzschalter,
détection d'arc compensés en température, intensités einpolig, temperaturkompensiert, Nennströme von 3 A
nominales 3 A à 25 A - 115 V c.a. 400 Hz fréquence fixe bis 25 A - 115 V Wechselstrom, 400 Hz
- Partie 004 : Avec contact de signalisation - Norme de Konstantfrequenz - Teil 004: Mit Signalkontak -
produit Produktnorm
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 6 November 2017.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2018 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 4838-004:2018 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3
1 Scope . 4
2 Normative references . 4
3 Terms and definitions . 4
4 Dimension and mass . 4
5 Characteristics . 7
6 Designation. 11
7 Rated current code . 11
8 Delivery hardware codes . 11
9 Marking . 12
10 Technical specification . 12

European foreword
This document (EN 4838-004:2018) has been prepared by the Aerospace and Defence Industries
Association of Europe - Standardization (ASD-STAN).
After enquiries and votes carried out in accordance with the rules of this Association, this Standard has
received the approval of the National Associations and the Official Services of the member countries of
ASD, prior to its presentation to CEN.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by January 2019, and conflicting national standards shall be
withdrawn at the latest by January 2019.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the following
countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany,
Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United
Kingdom.
1 Scope
This European Standard specifies the required characteristics for single-pole, arc fault circuit breakers
rated currents from 3 A to 25 A, switching capacity 65 I , for use in aircraft electrical systems. Their
n
operating temperatures are between − 40 °C to 85 °C at a maximum altitude of Z = 15 000 m. The thermal
protection is temperature compensated and operates between − 55 °C and 125 °C.
These arc fault circuit breakers are operated by a push-pull type single pushbutton (actuator), with
delayed action “trip-free” tripping.
They will continue to function up to the short-circuit current.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 3155-016, Aerospace series — Electrical contacts used in elements of connection — Part 016: Contacts,
electrical, male, type A, crimp, class S — Product standard
EN 3841-100, Aerospace series — Circuit breakers — Test methods — Part 100: General
EN 4838-001, Aerospace series — Arc Fault Circuit breakers, single-pole, temperature compensated, rated
1)
current 3 A to 25 A — 115 V a.c. 400 Hz Constant Frequency — Part 001: Technical specification
EN 6113, Aerospace series — Circuit breaker, connecting and attachment hardware
MIL-I-81969/1-02, Installing and removal tools, connector electrical contact, Type III, Class 2,
2)
composition C
MIL-I-81969/14-11, Installing and removal tools, connector electrical contact, Type III, Class 2,
2)
composition B
FED-STD-595B, Colours used in Government Procurement
3)
TR 60
...