Offline Air-Insulated Switchgear Testing

In the event of a malfunction, circuit breakers must disconnect the fault current as quickly and reliably as possible, thereby protecting all subsequent equipment. When open, they must insulate the contacts from one another and when closed, they must conduct the current as effectively as possible. In many regions of the world, such as the USA, or in regions of frequent earthquakes, the most popular high-voltage circuit breakers are "dead tank" units, whereas in other regions, such as in central Europe, "live tank" breakers are most common. In some parts of the world, both breaker types can be found.

Literature

Optimized Testing - Maximum Efficiency (1 MB)

On-site Non-intrusive Testing of AC Circuit Breakers (410 KB)

Interpreting the results of circuit breaker analysis (818 KB)

PotM-02-2021 Medium Voltage Breaker Testing ENU (400 KB)

Diagnostic Methods

Visual Inspections

Visual inspections are among the most used test methods worldwide. These inspection tasks usually…

Circuit Breaker Operation Time (In-Service)

In-service testing methods show degradation accumulated during long idle times better than their…

Circuit Breaker Operation Time (Off-Service)

Timing measurements according to IEC 62271-100 are the most common tests on circuit breakers. These…

Static Contact Resistance (AIS)

The static contact resistance or micro-ohm measurement belongs to the most important tests on…

Dynamic Contact Resistance Measurement (DRM)

During dynamic contact resistance measurements, the contact resistance traces are recorded while the…

Coil Current Measurement and Analysis

During coil current measurement, the current signature curve of the command coils is being recorded…

Motor Current Measurement and Analysis

This measurement can be applied with circuit breakers equipped with a spring energy storage system…

Motion Recording and Analysis

The motion or contact travel measurement verifies the operating mechanism and the mechanical linkage…

Under-voltage Release Test

Circuit Breakers are equipped with an Under-voltage release if the related protection system has no…

Overcurrent Release Test

The Overcurrent Release Test is used to determine the current which trips the breaker. Overcurrent…

Power Factor / Grading Capacitance Measurement

Measuring the power factor, or the dissipation factor, also known as the tangent delta, provides…

“The OMICRON proved to be the best because it is user-friendly. You connect it to the switchgear, switch it on, you press Start, Measurement, you have a result.”

Rainer Lübeck (GE), talking with Andreas Nenning (OMICRON), about CIBANO 500