Circuit switcher 1

[pukar12345]

Hi all,

What is a special function of circuit switcher ?

It is different than circuit interrupter ?

 

[magoo2]

If you're dealing with transmission systems, a circuit interrupter is normally a circuit breaker. A circuit switcher has a lower current interrupting capability than a circuit breaker but is a good deal less expensive.

 

[davidbeach]

The lower interrupting capability was certainly true regarding older circuit switcher, but not so much with modern circuit switchers. What we are buying presently, the biggest difference is that circuit breakers have CTs and circuit switchers don't. There are also more mounting options for a circuit switcher than for a breaker, but the interrupting mechanism is essentially the same.

 

[cranky108]

There are a few more differences with a circuit switcher. Like you can't reclose with them. Or you can use them as a visual open. And they seem to lighter weight.

But in general if you can fit a breaker, you are probally better off with a breaker.

 

[davidbeach]

No reason why you can't reclose with a modern circuit switcher, we do.

 

[dpc]

The differences are becoming less clear. The circuit switcher is generally not built to the same ANSI C37 specs as a circuit breaker so you will want to make sure you know what you are getting. But for many applications, the circuit switcher is a good solution.

On the last couple of projects we've done, Areva has been quoting their live tank circuit breaker (115 kV) in lieu of a traditional US circuit switcher. They were quite cost competitive.



David Castor

http://www.cvoes.com

 

[Skogsgurra]

I would not expect a circuit switcher to operate reliably when trying to open a short circuit. Or has that changed also?

Gunnar Englund

http://www.gke.org

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100 % recycled posting: Electrons, ideas, finger-tips have been used over and over again...

 

[DTR2011]

I am on a project now where circuit switchers are utilized on the HV side of the 161kV transformers. The Utility drawings refer to them as Circuit Interrupters.

 

[cranky108]

There was a time when there was type of circuit switcher, called a circuit interrupter was made. It had no motor operator, just a hand crank to close it. But the bottles could be opened with the trip coils.

 

[dpc]

S&C makes something called a Transrupter intended for transformer protection. It has to be manually cranked closed IIRC. Cheaper than their circuit switcher.



David Castor

http://www.cvoes.com

 

[davidbeach]

Cheaper than their circuit switcher.

Never again. You get what you pay for. Too many of these types of things turn out to be penny wise and pound foolish when you're dealing with cheap predecessors of 30-40-50 years ago and their penny pinching still haunts the system.

 

[cranky108]

It's not just penny pinching that has caused many problems. Some of the nifty new things have also gotten us into problems.
Like a gas monitor on a circuit switcher, which requires a nine volt battery for each phase. The problem is you have to take an outage to replace them.