Vacuum Circuit Breakers

What is a vacuum circuit breaker?

Vacuum circuit breakers are mostly used in situations that require medium voltage circuit breakers. Some of the most common models being 6.6 kV, 11 kV, and 33 kV vacuum circuit breakers. Arc quenching in a vacuum circuit breaker uses a relatively new method of handling short circuits, overloads and ground faults. Vacuum circuit breakers also have the highest insulating strength of all circuit breaker types.

While vacuum circuit breakers may not be the most common circuit breakers on the market, they are some of the most reliable. Medium voltage vacuum circuit breakers are used across an impressive variety of commercial and industrial applications, including hotels and healthcare facilities to water treatment plants and educational facilities.

The advantages of vacuum circuit breakers.

A vacuum circuit breaker’s operating mechanism uses a vacuum chamber to quench dangerous electrical arcs - It’s this method that differentiates the vacuum circuit breaker from its counterparts. Due to this superior arc-quenching mechanism, not only are vacuum circuit breakers more reliable, but they also require far less maintenance than other types of circuit breakers, thus also increasing their overall lifespan.

While there are many advantages to vacuum circuit breakers, it’s important to note that they are the most cost-effective for medium voltage applications. Once you get into higher voltages, the cost of vacuum circuit breakers can get much higher.

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