Schneider Acti9 iC60 MCB: Full Range Review
What is the Schneider Electric Acti9 iC60 range? It is Schneider's core miniature circuit breaker platform, built to IEC 60898-1 with an IEC 60947-2 rating layered on the same 17.5 mm-per-pole housing, spanning 0.5-63 A across three breaking-capacity tiers — iC60N, iC60H, iC60L. That tiering keeps one footprint on the DIN rail while stepping breaking capacity from 6 kA toward 25 kA on selected references, without changing pole count or curve. This review compares the three tiers, lists which curves (B, C, D, plus K and Z on selected references) apply to each, covers 1P through 4P and 1P+N, explains the Vigi iC60 add-on, and places iC60 against Easy9 below and iC65 above.
iC60N, iC60H, iC60L: Three Breaking-Capacity Tiers
Schneider builds the iC60 physical platform once and varies the internal contact and arc-chute design to hit three breaking-capacity classes. Rated current range, curve options, and mounting stay shared across all three; what changes is how much fault current the breaker interrupts without damage.
iC60N — the base tier
iC60N carries 6 kA breaking capacity (Icn) per IEC 60898-1, with select references quoted up to 10 kA under IEC 60947-2 Icu. This is the tier most distribution boards use — final circuits, lighting, socket outlets, small equipment feeders — where prospective fault current at the board rarely exceeds a few kA. Curves B, C, and D are all available on iC60N.
iC60H — the higher breaking-capacity tier
iC60H holds the same 17.5 mm module and curve set but interrupts roughly 10-15 kA. Panel builders reach for it on boards fed directly from a large transformer, on sub-distribution close to the main incomer, or wherever a fault-current study shows iC60N's 6 kA margin is too thin. Some references extend to the K curve for tighter industrial motor protection.
iC60L — the current-limiting tier
iC60L adds a current-limiting contact design, pushing rated breaking capacity to roughly 25 kA on some references and 15 kA on others depending on curve and pole count. Current limiting means the breaker cuts the fault current's rise before it reaches its full prospective peak, reducing let-through energy on everything downstream — busbars, cable, and any breaker sitting below it in the distribution chain.
| Criteria | iC60N | iC60H | iC60L |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breaking capacity (Icn) | 6 kA (up to 10 kA on select refs) | ~10-15 kA | ~15-25 kA (current-limiting) |
| Design principle | Standard | Standard, reinforced arc-chute | Current-limiting |
| Curves available | B, C, D | B, C, D (K on select refs) | B, C, D (K/Z on select refs) |
| Rated current | 0.5-63 A | 0.5-63 A | 0.5-63 A (fewer high-A refs) |
| Poles | 1P, 2P, 3P, 4P, 1P+N | 1P, 2P, 3P, 4P, 1P+N | 1P, 2P, 3P, 4P, 1P+N |
| Typical use | Final circuits, standard distribution | Sub-distribution near transformer/incomer | Boards with high prospective fault current |
Tripping Curves Across the iC60 Range
All three tiers share the same curve family. B curve trips magnetically at 3-5x rated current (In) — long cable runs, lighting, resistive loads with low inrush. C curve trips at 5-10x In and covers most mixed commercial and light-industrial loads; it is the default curve on the majority of iC60 orders we see. D curve trips at 10-20x In for transformers, large motors, and welding sets where inrush routinely hits eight or ten times running current.
K and Z curves sit outside the household-market norm and appear only on selected iC60H and iC60L references. K trips at 8-12x In under IEC 60947-2, a tighter band than D, aimed at industrial motor and inductive loads. Z trips at 2-3x In for semiconductor and electronic-circuit protection, where even a modest surge can damage downstream components. Full trip-multiple detail and load-matching guidance is in the B, C, D, K and Z tripping curve guide.
Poles, Current Ratings, and Module Width
iC60 covers 0.5-63 A across the standard current steps, in 1P, 2P, 3P, 4P, and 1P+N configurations. Each pole occupies 17.5 mm of DIN-rail width — a 3P breaker runs roughly 52.5 mm wide, a number panel designers use to plan board depth before final circuit count is settled. 1P+N protects the phase conductor with a full-rated pole and switches the neutral without a dedicated overcurrent element on it — Schneider's way of meeting neutral-disconnection requirements on single-phase circuits without paying for a second protected pole.
Vigi iC60: Turning an MCB into an RCBO
Vigi iC60 is an add-on residual-current module that clips onto the base iC60 breaker (N, H, or L tier) and adds earth-leakage detection; the combination becomes an RCBO rather than a plain MCB. Sensitivity options typically cover 30 mA for personnel protection up through higher thresholds for fire and equipment protection on distribution circuits. Because it bolts onto an existing breaker rather than replacing it with a monoblock unit, a board designer can standardize on plain iC60 across most circuits and add Vigi only where regulations or a risk assessment call for RCD protection — bathrooms, outdoor sockets, specific final circuits.
What we see in the field: panel builders on tight DIN-rail budgets sometimes default to Vigi on every circuit "to be safe," which adds width and cost without a corresponding requirement on distribution circuits that already sit behind an upstream RCD. Confirm the discrimination and coverage requirement before spec'ing Vigi on every pole. See the full breakdown in MCB vs RCBO vs RCD vs RCCB differences.
Where iC60 Fits: Easy9 Below, iC65 Above
Schneider's residential and light-commercial line, Easy9, sits below iC60 — fixed at the more common 4.5-6 kA breaking capacities, mainly B and C curve, and priced for volume residential boards where a fault-current study is rarely done. iC60 costs more but adds the H and L breaking-capacity tiers, the K/Z curve options, and IEC 60947-2 industrial recognition that Easy9 does not carry.
Above iC60, Schneider's newer iC65 platform exists as a technical successor. Stoklink stocks iC60 as the established, widely cross-referenced range for panel builders sourcing against existing bills of materials. When a spec calls out iC60 by name — common in tender documents and OEM panel drawings — substituting iC65 without a documented equivalence check is not a like-for-like swap.
Selecting the Right Tier: Matching Breaking Capacity to Fault Current
The single check that decides between iC60N, iC60H, and iC60L is a comparison between the breaker's rated breaking capacity and the prospective fault current at its installation point — not the load current. A correctly sized 32 A iC60N still fails if the board it sits in sees 8 kA of prospective fault current at that busbar.
Formula: Breaking-Capacity Adequacy Check — Source: IEC 60898-1 / IEC 60947-2
Icn ≥ Ipf
| Symbol | Description | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Icn | Rated breaking capacity of the selected MCB tier (iC60N, H, or L) | kA |
| Ipf | Prospective fault current calculated at the point where the breaker is installed | kA |
Ipf comes from a fault-level study — transformer impedance, cable length and section back to the source, and any upstream breaker's let-through characteristic all feed into it. Boards close to the transformer secondary see the highest Ipf and are where iC60H or iC60L earn their higher price. See the 3 kA, 6 kA and 10 kA breaking-capacity classes guide for how these thresholds translate to board position, and the IEC 60898-1 vs IEC 60947-2 comparison for how the two standards define Icn versus Icu/Ics differently.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between iC60N and iC60H?
Breaking capacity. iC60N is rated 6 kA (up to 10 kA on select references) per IEC 60898-1; iC60H holds roughly 10-15 kA on the same footprint, curve set, and pole options. Choose based on the prospective fault current at the installation point, not on load current.
How much breaking capacity does iC60L offer?
iC60L is Schneider's current-limiting tier within the iC60 range, rated up to roughly 25 kA on some references and around 15 kA on others depending on curve and pole count. It also reduces let-through energy compared with the N and H tiers, lowering stress on downstream cable and busbar during a fault.
Which tripping curves does the Acti9 iC60 range support?
B, C, and D curves are available across all three breaking-capacity tiers. K and Z curves appear only on selected iC60H and iC60L references, for industrial motor loads and sensitive electronic circuits respectively.
What does Vigi iC60 add to a standard MCB?
Vigi iC60 is an add-on residual-current module that clips onto an iC60 base breaker to add earth-leakage detection, converting it into an RCBO. It is sold separately so a board can mix plain MCBs with RCBO combinations circuit by circuit.
Is Acti9 iC60 rated to IEC 60898-1 or IEC 60947-2?
Both. iC60 carries a primary IEC 60898-1 rating (Icn, for household and similar installations) plus an additional IEC 60947-2 rating (Icu/Ics) on the same reference, which is what allows the K and Z curve options on selected parts — curves IEC 60898-1 alone does not define.
Should I use Easy9 or iC60 for a standard residential board?
Easy9 is priced for volume residential work at 4.5-6 kA, B/C curve only. iC60 costs more but adds the H/L breaking-capacity tiers, K/Z curves, and dual IEC 60898-1/60947-2 recognition — worth it once a fault-current study, a commercial classification, or a project spec calls for it.
Conclusion
iC60N, iC60H, and iC60L share one housing and one curve family; the decision between them comes down to a single number — prospective fault current at the installation point — checked against each tier's Icn. Add Vigi where earth-leakage protection is required, hold curve selection to B/C/D for the large majority of circuits, and reserve K/Z for the industrial and electronic-load exceptions on selected H/L references. For sizing methodology and a broader tripping-curve and breaking-capacity walkthrough, see the MCB engineering guide, the MCB selection checklist, or browse the full miniature circuit breakers range on Stoklink.
