Switchgear Components

A circuit breaker is an automatically operated electrical switch designed to protect an electrical circuit from damage caused by excess current from an overload or short circuit. Its basic function is to interrupt current flow after a fault is detected. In a vacuum circuit breaker, the current flow is interrupted through arc quenching in a vacuum chamber. Vacuum circuit breakers are generally applied for voltages up to about 40,500V which is approximately equivalent to the medium-voltage range of power systems. Vacuum circuit breakers have a longer life than other circuit breaker types and require minimal maintenance.