Disconnects
The main purpose of using disconnect switches is to "disconnect" electrical circuits so that the flow of electricity is interrupted. They are used to make working electrical circuits safe. They make it possible to interrupt the flow of electricity without actually having to touch the energized parts of the circuit. They can also be locked into the "off" position, so that a person can't accidentally turn on the power that was just turned off for maintenance.
Known as safety interlock switches, heavy duty safety switches are designed for specialized applications and, often, environments. They differ from ordinary power switches in a key way: They have an added level of control that lets them function as part of an overall safety system, using either a mechanical apparatus or a sensor to ensure that access to dangerous machines is limited to users who are authorized, sufficiently trained, and safely attired. A safety switch is used in a variety of applications, such as industrial environments or commercial kitchens, and it serves analogous functions in those spaces.
ABB Disconnects
Eaton Disconnects
Lovato Disconnects
NAE Disconnects
Schneider Electric Disconnects
Siemens Disconnects
FAQs
Are motor disconnects and auxiliary contacts used in electrical distribution systems to break the connection between motors and their power supply?
Yes, motor disconnects and auxiliary contacts are used in electrical distribution systems to break the connection between motors and their power supply for safety and maintenance purposes.
Have AC disconnects completely de energized and disconnected motors in harsh environments in most any industry?
Yes, AC disconnects are designed to completely de-energize and disconnect motors in harsh environments across various industries, ensuring safety and maintenance.
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.