All You Need To Know About The Low Voltage Switchgear Components
The device used for switching, protecting, and controlling any electrical circuit is called switchgear. There are mainly 3 types of switchgear. They are high voltage switchgear, medium voltage switchgear and low voltage switchgear. Today, we will see how low voltage switchgear works and what are the electrical components used in low voltage switchgear. Some of the main switchgear products are:
• Air Circuit Breaker (ACB) • Moulded Case Circuit Breaker (MCCB) • Contactor • Relay • Single Phasing Preventer (SPP) • Capacitor • Starter • Isolator • Switch fuse unit • Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB) • Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB) • Motor Protection Circuit Breaker (MPCB) • High Rupturing Capacity (HRC) and HBC fuse • Fuse base and changeover switch
Air Circuit Breaker (ACB)
Air Circuit Breaker (ACB) is a primary protecting device of any switchgear. Power is distributed through ACB for any high-power consuming device like panel board. This device helps in cutting the main circuit during the adverse situations like earth fault, overcurrent, undervoltage, and short circuit. This protects the main circuit connected through it from getting failed or damaged. Air circuit breaker ranges from 6.30 amp to 10,000 amp and consist of 3-pole or 4-pole.
Moulded Case Circuit Breaker (MCCB)
Moulded Case Circuit Breaker helps in protecting high load current devices. MCCB protects high load current devices from fault and overloading. Tripping mechanism in MCCB is Thermal based, Microprocessor based or Electronic based. MCCB is characterized by 3-pole or 4-pole.
Contactor
Contactor is one of the most demanding components of the switchgear. This is an electrically operated switch. Inside contactor there is an electromechanical system connected to the coil. It works on the predefined supply being provided to the coil.
Relay
Relay is a switching device which is electromechanically and electronically controlled to open and close it. There are different types of relays available in the market including Thermal relay, CT operated relay, solid state relay, hybrid relay, electromechanical relay and electronic relay.
Single Phasing Preventer (SPP)
If there is failure of any of the phases in 3 phase motor, this may cause damage to motor wiring or circuit. Single Phasing Preventer (SPP) detects fault in 3 phase and blocks current in case of failure in any of the phases. This prevents motor from getting damaged.
Capacitor
Capacitor plays a significant role in maintaining the power factor. It is generally air cooled or water cooled that is of dry type, MPP (metalized polypropylene) type and APP (all polypropylene) type.
Starter
DOL starter means Direct-On-line motor starter. It consists of contactor and relay. Star delta starter generally comprises of 3 contractor, 1 relay and 1 timer. In any circuit if the current increases from a predefined limit, the relay in starter gets trip and blocks the flow of current through the contactor. This prevents the motor from damaging.
Isolator
Isolator is used to operate a circuit manually (ON/OFF). Isolator doesn’t contain any protection or tripping devices. Its operating system is manually independent, quick make and quick break.
Switch Fuse Unit (SFU)
Switch fuse unit is a complete unit for controlling MCC Panel and PCC panel. It is used for power distribution and protection of electrical device. It is generally of 3-pole, 3-pole plus neutral and 4-pole.
Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB)
MCB or Miniature Circuit Breaker is an electromechanical device which protects low electrical circuit from overcurrent. MCB has tripping mechanism which can be reset easily. MCB is of 1-pole, 2-pole, 3-pole and 4-pole.
Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker
Earth leakage circuit breaker is a safety device that protects circuit from fault and earthing. This protects you from electric shock. It detects faults in the circuit and gets tripped to block the flow of current. This protects circuit from getting damaged.
Motor Protection Circuit Breaker (MPCB)
Motor Protection Breaker or MPCB protects motor from short circuit current and overload current.
High Rupturing Capacity (HRC) Fuse
High rupturing capacity fuse is a safety device in any circuit fuse. This consist of a porcelain body. Inside the porcelain body, there is a fuse wire or element, which allow the flow of short circuit current or heavy overcurrent for some period of time. If fault or overcurrent become normal in a given time, then fuse remain as it is or gets melt. The circuit connected to it gets disconnected. Fuse is housed inside fuse base.
Changeover Switch
Changeover switch helps in the utilisation of electrical load one by one through two sources. If in case the power supply fails in any one of the two sources, the power supply from the other source one can be easily used. The whole system of this switch works efficiently in this way.
Final Thought
Electricity is the basic need in our daily life. Electric supply needs to be done securely to provide a complete peace of mind to the mankind. We need to employ some different types of safety devices to maintain the security level of electrical distribution. There are a wide of safety devices that not only helps in protecting the electrical devices but also caters to connectivity needs of various operations in industrial, commercial, and residential sectors.
Switchgear components make electric supply and safety easier because of its various features and functions. Wide range of switchgear products assist in carriage and distribution of power load while maintaining the safety of electrical connectors. It helps in identifying the faults in connections and preventing the damage.