ABB Disconnects

More Information about ABB Disconnects

ABB disconnect safety switches are designed as a high performance, compact solution for commercial and industrial applications. They provide reliable performance and are virtually maintenance free. The high performance disconnects have a compact design with dead-front construction plus, terminal shrouds reduce the risk of touching live parts. The door interlock is where a handle and shaft provide door interlock so that the door cannot be opened with the switch is in the ON position. Handles can be padlocked in the OFF position with up to three padlocks.

FAQs

What is the lug temperature rating of non-fusible safety switch disconnectors?

The lug temperature rating of non-fusible safety switch disconnectors is typically 75°C or 90°C, depending on the specific model and manufacturer specifications.

What is the load state rated voltage of manual change over switches in outdoor distribution substations?

The load state rated voltage of manual changeover switches in outdoor distribution substations typically ranges between 12 kV and 36 kV, depending on the specific design and application requirements.

Disconnects vs Circuit Protection

Disconnects

Disconnects are intended to remove and restore power from any electrical equipment that is downstream of that disconnect. In most cases, this is a manual operation and is actuated only when power needs to be removed or restored to a particular circuit. Disconnects do not typically provide any type of state monitoring ability nor do they offer any type of circuit protection, they are simply used to remove and restore power. It is common to see electrical disconnects used in situations where larger amounts of voltage are present. External disconnects function by allowing the operation of switching power to be performed outside of an electrical enclosure. It is also common to see disconnects require power to be shut off before the enclosure can be opened. This type of disconnect is found on circuits with high voltage potentials and allows for much safer operation when the electrical equipment inside the enclosure needs to be accessed. 

Circuit Protection

Circuit protection devices, such as circuit breakers and fuses, function differently from disconnects in that they have the ability to disconnect power to any devices downstream from their location by monitoring current and power surge events. They are not designed to operate as a switch. When using fuses, if an overcurrent event or surge occurs, they will need to be replaced as they are only intended to be used once. Circuit breakers can be reset, but are not intended to switch power on and off as their main function. In many cases it is necessary to have both an electrical disconnect and a circuit protection device to ensure that any hardware on the circuit does not become damaged because of overcurrent or power surges.