ABB MS116, MS132 and MS165 Manual Motor Starter Review
How do the ABB MS116, MS132 and MS165 manual motor starters differ? All three combine an adjustable bimetal overload set to the motor's full-load current with a fixed magnetic trip near 13x In, per IEC 60947-4-1, but they split the current range and terminal options across three frames. MS116 is the compact, screw-terminal frame to 32 A built for panel density; MS132 is the standard frame to 32 A with a screw or spring-terminal choice and the widest accessory set; MS165 extends the same platform to 65 A. This review covers current range and setting dial per frame, terminal and mounting options, the MO132/MO165 magnetic-only variants, phase-loss behavior, and how to pick between the three for a given motor and panel.
Overview of the ABB MS Manual Motor Starter Family
ABB markets its manual motor starters under the "MS" prefix, and the range runs from MS116 at the small end through MS132, MS165, up to MS450/MS490/MS496 for motors near 100 A. Each unit is a single DIN-rail device: bimetal overload dialed to nameplate FLC, magnetic short-circuit trip fixed high enough to survive direct-on-line inrush, and a manual handle that doubles as the branch isolator. Pair any MS unit with an AF-series contactor and it becomes a full motor starter — the MS handles protection and manual switching, the AF handles remote on/off.
The three models in this review — MS116, MS132, MS165 — cover roughly 0.1 A to 65 A of setting range between them, which is where most single motors from fractional horsepower up to mid-size pumps and fans land. Above that, MS450 and up take over.
MS116: Compact Frame, Economy Option to 32 A
MS116 is ABB's narrower, lower-cost frame, rated to 32 A with screw terminals only. It trades some of MS132's accessory depth — fewer auxiliary contact block options, no spring-terminal variant — for a smaller footprint. In a panel where DIN-rail space is the binding constraint, that width difference across a row of starters adds up. What we see in the field: MS116 shows up most often on OEM machine builds where the panel is fixed-size and cost per motor circuit matters more than field-serviceability extras.
MS116 still carries the same Class 10 thermal response and phase-loss sensitivity as its larger siblings — the compactness is mechanical, not a protection downgrade.
MS132: Standard Frame with Screw or Spring Terminals to 32 A
MS132 covers the same 32 A ceiling as MS116 but in ABB's standard frame, with a choice of screw or spring (cage-clamp) terminals at time of order. This is the frame with the deepest accessory catalog: auxiliary contact blocks, alarm contacts, shunt-trip and undervoltage releases, rotary handle extensions for door-mounting, and the widest published Type 2 coordination tables with AF contactors. If a project needs door-interlocked operation or remote trip signaling, MS132 is the frame that has the accessory built for it.
Spring terminals cut wiring time on high-volume panel builds; screw terminals remain the default where site electricians expect a torque spec on the terminal, not a clamp lever.
MS165: Extended Range to 65 A
MS165 shares MS132's frame width and terminal options but extends the setting range to 65 A, covering motors that MS132 cannot protect at full load. It uses the same AF-contactor pairing logic and the same coordination-table structure, so a panel builder standardizing on MS132 for smaller motors can drop in MS165 for the larger ones without redesigning the mounting or the door cutout. The magnetic trip point scales with the frame — still roughly 12-13x the dial setting — so a 65 A MS165 rides through inrush the same way a 10 A MS132 does, just at a higher absolute current.
Magnetic-Only Variants: MO132 and MO165
ABB also sells MO132 and MO165 — magnetic-only versions of the same frames, with the bimetal overload element removed. These pair with a separate electronic overload relay when a project wants finer overload curves, motor thermal modeling, or a relay that reports current and trip cause back to a PLC. The magnetic-only unit still handles the short-circuit trip and manual isolation; the overload relay takes over the thermal protection that the standard MS unit would otherwise provide on its own.
This split matters most on motors with unusual duty cycles — frequent starts, long ramps — where a standard bimetal's fixed time-current curve does not track the motor's real thermal behavior as closely as an electronic relay can.
Phase-Loss Protection and Trip Class Across the Range
MS116, MS132 and MS165 all include differential phase-loss sensing that reacts faster than the bimetal alone would to a single-phasing fault, where the current on the remaining two phases rises roughly 1.7x. All three ship as Class 10 by default — tripping within 10 seconds at 7.2x the dial setting from a cold start, per IEC 60947-4-1.
Formula: Magnetic Trip Point vs Dial Setting — Source: IEC 60947-4-1, Annex I
Im ≈ 12–13 × Iset
| Symbol | Description | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Im | Instantaneous magnetic trip current | A |
| Iset | Thermal dial setting (should equal motor nameplate FLC) | A |
That ratio is constant across MS116, MS132 and MS165 — dial the unit to the motor's nameplate current, and the magnetic trip sits high enough above a typical 6-8x DOL inrush without extra calculation. An MCB C-curve, by contrast, trips in the 5-10x band and often nuisance-trips on the same inrush (see MPCB trip classes 10, 20 and 30 for how Class 20/30 change the thermal side for high-inertia loads).
Choosing Between MS116, MS132 and MS165
For a motor at or under 32 A with no need for door-mounted accessories, MS116 is the narrower, lower-cost pick. For the same current range with a requirement for auxiliary contacts, alarm signaling, or spring terminals, step up to MS132. For anything from roughly 32 A to 65 A, MS165 is the only frame in this trio that reaches. Where the project wants an electronic overload relay instead of the bimetal — common on high-inertia loads or where PLC feedback matters — MO132 or MO165 replace the standard unit and a separate relay does the thermal job (see how to select and set an MPCB for a motor).
| Criteria | MS116 | MS132 | MS165 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setting range | to 32 A | to 32 A | to 65 A |
| Terminal options | Screw only | Screw or spring | Screw or spring |
| Frame width | Narrowest | Standard | Standard |
| Accessory depth | Limited | Widest in range | Same as MS132 |
| Magnetic-only variant | Not offered | MO132 | MO165 |
| Trip class | Class 10 | Class 10 | Class 10 |
All three coordinate with ABB's AF-series contactors under published Type 2 tables. Type 2 means the starter survives a fault current within the rated coordination current with, at most, light contact welding that a service technician can separate by hand — no parts replaced, no downtime beyond the reset (see MPCB Type 1 vs Type 2 coordination).
This range sits inside ABB's broader manual motor starter lineup, and the selection logic scales the same way at the pillar level (see the MPCB engineering guide) and against contactors and thermal overload relays when building the full starter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current range of the ABB MS116?
MS116 covers a setting range up to 32 A, in the same current ceiling as MS132 but in a narrower, screw-terminal-only frame.
Can MS132 and MS165 use spring terminals?
Yes. Both are offered with a spring (cage-clamp) terminal option in addition to screw terminals, chosen at order time based on the terminal type the panel build standardizes on.
What is the difference between MS132 and MO132?
MS132 has a built-in adjustable bimetal overload plus the magnetic short-circuit trip. MO132 is the magnetic-only version — no bimetal — meant to pair with a separate electronic overload relay for the thermal function.
Do MS116, MS132 and MS165 all trip Class 10?
Yes, all three ship Class 10 by default, tripping within 10 seconds at 7.2x the dial setting from a cold start per IEC 60947-4-1. Class 20/30 electronic relays are used instead when a load needs a longer start allowance.
Which ABB contactor pairs with the MS range?
ABB publishes Type 2 coordination tables pairing MS116/MS132/MS165 with its AF-series contactors, matched by current rating and short-circuit rating for the declared coordination type.
Conclusion
MS116, MS132 and MS165 share the same protection principle — adjustable bimetal plus fixed magnetic trip, Class 10, phase-loss sensitive — and differ mainly in current ceiling, terminal choice, and accessory depth. MS116 fits tight, low-accessory panels to 32 A. MS132 fits the same current range with more accessory and terminal options. MS165 is the frame to reach for once a motor exceeds 32 A up to 65 A. Confirm nameplate FLC before ordering, and check the published AF coordination table against the available short-circuit current at the panel before finalizing a frame.
