1) Breaking Capacity: It is current (r.m.s) that a circuit breaker is capable of breaking at given recovery voltage under specified conditions (e.g. power factor, rate of rise of restriking voltage).
2) Making Capacity: The peak value of current (including d.c. component) during the first cycle of current wave after the closure of circuit breaker is known as making capacity.
3) Short Time Rating: It is the period for which the circuit breaker is able to carry fault current while remaining closed.
4) Normal Current Rating: It is the r.m.s. value of current which the circuit breaker is capable of carrying continuously at its rated frequency under specified conditions. The only limitation in this case is the temperature rise of current-carrying parts.