ABB TAS Series Current Circuit Breakers

Technical Dossier

Product Details And Specifications

ABB TAS Series: Comprehensive Module Range and Technical Overview

The ABB TAS Series of current circuit breakers occupies a critical position in global heavy industry infrastructure. Deployed extensively across chemical processing plants, nuclear power facilities, petroleum refineries, and large-scale manufacturing installations, TAS Series devices provide overcurrent and short-circuit protection within low-voltage distribution and motor control systems. Their compact modular form factor and DIN-rail compatibility made them a standard specification in European and Asian industrial panel builds from the 1990s through the 2010s. ABB's TAS range is engineered to IEC 60947-2 standards, ensuring interoperability within ABB's broader SACE and S-series protection ecosystem.

The Evolution of TAS Series Architecture

The TAS Series was introduced as part of ABB's modular low-voltage protection portfolio, designed to replace earlier fixed-frame breakers with a thermomagnetic trip mechanism that could be factory-calibrated to precise current ratings. Early TAS variants (TAS01, TAS02) were single-pole devices rated for low-amperage branch circuit protection, typically 0.5A–16A, with a breaking capacity of 6kA at 230V AC. These units used bimetallic strip technology for thermal overload detection and a magnetic solenoid for instantaneous short-circuit trip.

As industrial automation architectures evolved through the 2000s, ABB expanded the TAS range to include multi-pole configurations (TAS03, TAS04) and higher breaking capacity variants to address 400V three-phase distribution requirements. Compatibility with ABB's S200 and S280 series auxiliary contacts and shunt trip accessories allowed TAS modules to be integrated into remotely monitored protection schemes. By the mid-2010s, the TAS Series entered a mature lifecycle phase, with ABB transitioning new designs toward the S200M and S800 series for higher-performance applications. TAS modules remain in active spare parts supply but are no longer in primary production, making verified aftermarket sourcing essential for ongoing plant maintenance.

TAS Series Full Catalog & Functionalities (SKU List)

The following SKUs represent the documented TAS Series range. Each entry reflects a distinct current rating, pole configuration, or trip characteristic variant:

TAS01: 1-pole thermomagnetic MCB, 0.5A–2A, 6kA breaking capacity, B-curve trip characteristic.
TAS02: 1-pole thermomagnetic MCB, 2A–6A, 6kA breaking capacity, B/C-curve, DIN-rail mount, IEC 60947-2 compliant.
TAS03: 1-pole thermomagnetic MCB, 6A–10A, 6kA, C-curve, suitable for resistive and inductive loads.
TAS04: 1-pole thermomagnetic MCB, 10A–16A, 6kA, C-curve, standard branch circuit protection.
TAS05: 2-pole thermomagnetic MCB, 2A–6A, 6kA, B-curve, for single-phase 230V circuits.
TAS06: 2-pole thermomagnetic MCB, 6A–16A, 6kA, C-curve, motor branch protection.
TAS07: 3-pole thermomagnetic MCB, 2A–6A, 6kA, B-curve, three-phase low-current distribution.
TAS08: 3-pole thermomagnetic MCB, 6A–16A, 6kA, C-curve, three-phase motor feeder protection.
TAS09: 3-pole thermomagnetic MCB, 16A–25A, 6kA, C-curve, higher-load three-phase branch circuits.
TAS10: 3-pole thermomagnetic MCB, 25A–32A, 10kA, D-curve, high inrush motor starting applications.
TAS11: 1-pole MCB with auxiliary contact (1NO+1NC), 6A, C-curve, for monitored distribution boards.
TAS12: 2-pole MCB with shunt trip coil, 10A, C-curve, remote trip integration for BMS/SCADA systems.
TAS13: 3-pole MCB with undervoltage release, 16A, C-curve, automatic disconnection on voltage loss.
TAS14: 3-pole MCB, 32A–40A, 10kA, D-curve, heavy motor branch and transformer secondary protection.
TAS15: 4-pole thermomagnetic MCB, 16A, 6kA, C-curve, neutral-switched three-phase+N distribution.
TAS16: 4-pole thermomagnetic MCB, 25A–32A, 10kA, C/D-curve, main incomer protection for sub-distribution boards.

Sourcing Hard-to-Find & Obsolete TAS Series Parts

The TAS Series has entered a mature-to-end-of-life phase within ABB's product lifecycle management framework. ABB no longer manufactures the majority of TAS variants as primary catalog items; procurement now depends on certified aftermarket distributors and specialist industrial spare parts suppliers. DriveKNMS maintains a dedicated inventory buffer for TAS Series modules, sourced from verified OEM-surplus channels and decommissioned panel stock. All units are subject to pre-shipment inspection to confirm mechanical integrity, trip mechanism calibration, and terminal condition. For plant operators running legacy switchgear panels with TAS-specified breakers, DriveKNMS provides long-term maintenance supply agreements, ensuring continuity of protection without requiring full panel redesign or re-certification. Cross-reference support is available for identifying equivalent ABB S200 or S280 series replacements where direct TAS substitution is not feasible.

Quality Control for the TAS Series Range

TAS Series circuit breakers present specific verification challenges due to the age profile of available stock and the precision requirements of thermomagnetic trip mechanisms. DriveKNMS applies a structured multi-stage inspection protocol to all TAS units prior to dispatch. Visual inspection covers housing integrity, terminal plating condition, and handle mechanism operation. Functional testing uses calibrated current injection equipment to verify thermal trip response at 1.13× and 1.45× rated current per IEC 60947-2 Annex B test sequences. Magnetic (instantaneous) trip threshold is confirmed using impulse current testing at the rated short-circuit multiple for the declared trip curve (B, C, or D). Units exhibiting trip drift exceeding ±15% of rated threshold are quarantined and not supplied. Traceability documentation, including test date, technician ID, and measured trip values, is provided with each shipment on request.