Best MPCB and Manual Motor Starter Brands Ranked
Which MPCB brand is best? Schneider Electric (TeSys GV2/GV3/GV4), ABB (MS116/MS132/MS165), and Siemens (SIRIUS 3RV2) all combine an adjustable thermal overload and a fixed magnetic short-circuit trip in one DIN-rail device per IEC 60947-4-1, so the datasheet numbers rarely settle the question by themselves. The real difference shows up in coordination-table depth, terminal options, magnetic-only availability, and how easily a panel builder can pull matching contactors and link modules off the same shelf. This article ranks the three by current-range breadth, phase-loss sensitivity, coordination depth, and accessory ecosystem, then walks through how to pick between them for a specific application.
What "Best" Actually Means for an MPCB
Two devices with near-identical trip curves can still differ in ways that matter more on the panel than the curve itself. Terminal style (screw vs spring) affects wiring time on a busy board. Whether a magnetic-only variant exists determines if the design can pair a separate electronic overload relay for finer protection. And the number of validated combinations in the manufacturer's coordination table determines how much freedom the panel builder actually has, or whether they're locked into one "safe" pairing regardless of cost. None of the three brands here is weak on the core thermal-magnetic function; the ranking below is about depth and fit, not pass or fail.
Brand-by-Brand Ranking
1. Schneider Electric TeSys GV2/GV3/GV4 — widest range breadth
TeSys GV2ME (rotary knob) and GV2P (toggle) cover thermal-magnetic protection to roughly 32 A with setting ranges starting near 0.1 A, useful on small motors where a coarser dial would sit at the bottom of its scale and lose precision. GV3P extends to about 65 A, GV4 to about 115 A, and GV5/GV7 add electronic sensing for higher current or finer setting resolution. GV2L is the magnetic-only variant for pairing with a separate LR overload relay. One family spans small to mid-size three-phase motors, all Class 10, all built to snap onto LC1 contactors with matching link modules. Full breakdown in the TeSys GV2, GV3 and GV4 range review. What tips the ranking toward Schneider first: the setting-range granularity at the low end and the number of frame sizes between 0.1 A and 115 A, which cuts down on oversizing for small motors.
2. ABB MS116, MS132, MS165 — best terminal flexibility and phase-loss sensitivity
MS116 covers to 32 A in a compact housing. MS132 and MS165 extend to 32 A and 65 A on the same frame with a choice of screw or spring terminals, and MS450/MS490/MS496 push to roughly 100 A. MO132 and MO165 are the magnetic-only equivalents. ABB positions differential phase-loss tripping as a standard feature across this line rather than an option, which matters on single-phasing faults where a plain bimetal reacts slower to the roughly 1.7x current rise on the remaining phases. Full detail in the ABB MS116, MS132 and MS165 range review; pair with contactors from the AF line for the complete starter. What we see in the field: panel builders who standardize on spring terminals across a whole board pick ABB for that reason alone, independent of the trip curve.
3. Siemens SIRIUS 3RV2 — deepest coordination tables and accessory ecosystem
The SIRIUS 3RV2 family spans frame sizes S00, S0, S2, and S3 up to roughly 100 A, with 3RV2011/3RV2021/3RV2031 thermal-magnetic variants plus magnetic-only options within the same frame line. It links to 3RT2 contactors through purpose-built link modules and coordinates with 3RU2 or 3RB3 overload relays into what Siemens calls a SIRIUS load feeder. The coordination tables Siemens publishes for these combinations are, in our review, the most exhaustive of the three — more frame, contactor, and fuse permutations validated per current range than either competitor publishes. See the Siemens SIRIUS 3RV2 range review for the full breakdown.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Criteria | Schneider TeSys GV2/GV3/GV4 | ABB MS116/MS132/MS165 | Siemens SIRIUS 3RV2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current range covered | ~0.1 A to ~115 A across GV2-GV4 frames | To 32 A (MS116/MS132), to 65 A (MS165), to ~100 A (MS450/490/496) | To ~100 A across S00-S3 frames |
| Terminal options | Screw, rotary knob or toggle | Screw or spring, same frame | Screw, spring on select frames |
| Magnetic-only variant | GV2L | MO132 / MO165 | Magnetic-only options within 3RV2 line |
| Phase-loss tripping | Available on select variants | Standard across the line | Available on select variants |
| Trip class | Class 10 (electronic GV5/GV7 for finer control) | Class 10 | Class 10 |
| Contactor pairing | LC1 (TeSys) | AF contactors | 3RT2 via link module |
| Coordination-table depth | Broad, covers full GV2-GV4 range | Broad, covers MS plus AF combinations | Most exhaustive of the three per frame size |
Trip Class and Setting-Range Depth
All three brands default to Class 10 (trips within 10 s at 7.2x setting from cold). None of the three markets Class 20 or Class 30 as a standard option on the base MPCB line the way some soft-start or electronic-relay products do; high-inertia loads that need a longer start window are usually handled by pairing an electronic overload relay downstream rather than by picking a different trip class on the MPCB itself. See MPCB trip classes 10, 20 and 30 explained for the full comparison.
Formula: Trip Class Time Rating — Source: IEC 60947-4-1, trip class definitions
ttrip (at 7.2 × In, from cold) ≤ 10 s for Class 10, ≤ 20 s for Class 20, ≤ 30 s for Class 30
| Symbol | Description | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| ttrip | Time to trip from cold at the test multiple | seconds |
| In | MPCB dial setting, set to motor FLC | amperes |
| 7.2 × In | Standard test-current multiple for trip-class verification | amperes |
Magnetic-Only Variants Across Brands
All three publish a magnetic-only line: Schneider GV2L, ABB MO132/MO165, and a magnetic-only option within the Siemens 3RV2 family. These skip the bimetal entirely and carry only the fixed short-circuit trip, so a separate electronic overload relay does the thermal protection. That split makes sense where the overload relay needs to report current, ground-fault, or thermal-model data to a PLC, something a bimetal-only MPCB can't do. See magnetic-only MPCB with a separate overload relay and pair with thermal overload relays. This depends on the overload relay chosen; a basic bimetal relay from a different brand family will not share a coordination table with the magnetic-only MPCB, so mixing brands here removes the validated pairing.
Choosing the Right Brand for Your Application
Small motor, tight cabinet, need the finest setting-range granularity at low current: Schneider's GV2 line has the most frame options under 32 A. Mixed terminal preferences across a large board, or single-phasing risk on a remote or poorly monitored feeder: ABB's standard phase-loss tripping and screw/spring choice on one frame simplify the bill of materials. Large panel build with many MPCB-contactor combinations to validate against a single fault-current rating: Siemens' coordination tables cover more permutations per frame, which reduces the redesign risk if the contactor size changes late in the project. See MPCB plus contactor: building a motor starter and the underlying IEC 60947-4-1 contactors and motor starters standards guide. For the difference between an MPCB and a cable-protection MCB in the same panel, see MCB for motor circuits vs MPCB. Start from the full MPCB engineering guide if you're specifying from scratch, and browse current stock across motor protection circuit breakers and manual motor starters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which MPCB brand covers the widest current range in one family?
Schneider's TeSys GV line runs from about 0.1 A (GV2) to roughly 115 A (GV4) in thermal-magnetic variants, with GV5/GV7 electronic options extending further. ABB and Siemens cover similar territory but split it across more distinct model families.
Is ABB, Schneider, or Siemens better for phase-loss protection?
ABB markets differential phase-loss tripping as standard across its MS116/MS132/MS165 range. Schneider and Siemens offer phase-loss sensitive variants within their lines but do not position it as a line-wide default the same way.
Do all three brands publish Type 2 coordination tables?
Yes. Schneider, ABB, and Siemens each publish Type 2 coordination tables pairing their MPCBs with their own contactors and overload relays. Siemens' tables, in our review, cover the most frame, contactor, and fuse combinations per current range.
Which brand is easiest to source spare accessories and link modules for?
All three sell dedicated link modules that snap the MPCB to its matching contactor: LC1 for Schneider, AF for ABB, 3RT2 for Siemens. Availability depends more on regional stock than on brand design, so check current stock before specifying a combination.
Can a magnetic-only MPCB from one brand pair with another brand's overload relay?
Not on the mounting or link-module side. The magnetic-only variant, GV2L, MO132/MO165, or the 3RV2 magnetic-only option, is designed to snap onto its own brand's contactor and overload relay. Mixing brands means giving up the pre-validated coordination table and sourcing a separate mounting solution.
Conclusion
Schneider TeSys GV2/GV3/GV4 ranks first on range breadth and low-current setting granularity. ABB MS116/MS132/MS165 ranks first on terminal flexibility and standard phase-loss sensitivity. Siemens SIRIUS 3RV2 ranks first on coordination-table depth and accessory ecosystem size. None of the three is the wrong pick in isolation; the wrong pick is choosing before identifying which of those three factors actually constrains your panel.
