Oil circuit breakers are circuit breakers that stop the flow of electricity by means of oil. When there is an excessive electrical overload or a voltage failure, a triggering mechanism in the oil circuit breaker pulls the electrical contacts apart and immerses the contacts in oil, thus preventing any more current from flowing. This process allows oil power circuit breakers to be fast-acting and easily reset.
Early on in electrical system development, most high voltage circuit breakers were oil circuit breakers. New technology has moved the residential market away from oil circuit breakers, but the industrial market continues to use them in many applications. Oil insulation circuit breakers offer industrial operations several advantages such as:
1. Oil circuit breakers have fewer operating mechanisms than other types of circuit breakers resulting in less maintenance and fewer repairs.
2. The electrical contacts in OCBs seal, protecting against dirt and the elements.
3. Oil's superior cooling properties make it an excellent medium to use in circuit breakers.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Purchase high voltage oil circuit breakers
Companies that operate power stations or high voltage machinery require oil power circuit breakers with voltage ratings higher than 600 volts. High voltage oil circuit breakers are available is several styles.
I recommend: ABB offers many types of high and medium voltage oil insulated circuit breakers including the advanced minimum oil circuit breaker.
Industrial Control Systems offers an industrial oil circuit breaker.
Consider a used oil circuit breaker to cut costs
When price is an issue, consider buying a used oil circuit breaker. Several companies specialize in used and rebuilt oil fuse circuit breakers and fully guarantee their products.
I recommend: Belyea has a large online listing of recycled oil circuit breakers.
Tucson Transformer and Apparatus offers reconditioned substation oil circuit breakers for use in electrical power distribution substations.
Maintain your existing oil circuit breaker
Routine testing to evaluate the condition of a circuit breaker, oil power circuit breaker or oil insulation circuit breaker is key. In addition, oil circuit breakers can lose performance from wear, poor contact surfaces, misalignment and improper timing of contact movement. Maintenance kits are available online that can help you keep your oil circuit breaker in good running condition.
I recommend: High Voltage Supply (HVS) is a leading manufacturer of replacement parts for oil circuit breaker components and offers maintenance kits for oil circuit breakers.
Midwest offers maintenance kits designed to update oil circuit breaker protection functions.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- The majority of accidents involving electrical personnel occur when any type of circuit breaker, including an oil circuit breaker, is inadvertently left closed or accidentally closes.
The official source of Oil Circuit Breakers is the Oil Circuit Breakers page at Business.com
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