B D Finch (asker) Mar 26, 2014:

@Herbie Thanks. Post that as an answer if you'd like some points, and also for the sake of the KOG.

Herbie Mar 25, 2014:

Hello colleagues Don't sling too much mud on Moeller! I've worked for the company and know them since an eternity. The quality of their English documentation used to be far above that of the other electrical suppliers in Germany. This may have changed in the recent past after they were taken over several times.
Barbara: The "Additif ..." is an auxiliary contact, either for position or for trip indication, not some additional breaker. These PKZM animals used to be called Motor Starters in the past.

B D Finch (asker) Mar 25, 2014:

Moeller Good point Tony! We mustn't let those pesky bad translators take over the language!

Tony M Mar 25, 2014:

Moeller Do watch out, though — I think their site is translated, and from the bits I saw, not all that well; I think 'motor-protective' is a too-literal translation from the German; I strongly recommend googling it to see how many genuine EN hits you get, and comparing it with alternative options.

B D Finch (asker) Mar 25, 2014:

Part Nos etc. The first thing I tried was looking up the Part No. All part Nos in the list seem to have been changed from those of the original manufacturer. "Motor-protective circuit-breaker" is what these things are called on the Moeller website, so I think I'll retain that.

meirs Mar 25, 2014:

I agree Most likely an auxiliary (add-on) contact for the PK device of K-M (now Eaton)
and it is easy to check if you have the part number - the Internet will give the correct EN term

Tony M Mar 25, 2014:

Aha! It looks as if PK is a range within the c/bs made by Moeller, which makes me thing it is more than ever likely that this is an additional side contact for fitting to a PK-range c/b.

Tony M Mar 25, 2014:

Context Hard to be sure, as there's not really enough context to go on (but I don't expect you have more!)

I would say, from the word order and my familiarity with these things that it is probably a side contact FOR a Moeller motor circuit-breaker — no real need to add 'protection' in there, it's taken for granted

As for the 'additif' bit, it is possible it means that this side contact is an add-on to fit the PK c/b — but it's hard to see exactly without knowing a bit more about the whole thing.
These engineers who right in shorthand because THEY know what they mean ought to be strung up...