Low Voltage Switchgear refers to switchgear which is rated for a voltage of 600V and below. Low voltage switchgear includes switches, fuse gear, enclosures, connection devices and cable distribution cabinets.
The function of any switchgear is Electrical protection, electric isolation and local and remote switching.
The switchgear typically consists of a section in the front consisting of the circuit breakers, meters, protective relays. Behind the front section, is the bus section consisting of the busbar and behind it is the cable entry section where the cables are routed. Low voltage switchgear can be broadly classified into two types, outdoor types and indoor types.
Outdoor type switchgear differs from indoor type switchgear due to the presence of a weather-proofing enclosure. Bus bars are usually made of copper or aluminum.
Modern low voltage switchgear products consist of integrated modules consisting of switchgear, metering and protective features. These integrated modules are driven by microprocessors.
This article is the first in a series of articles focusing on Low Voltage Switchgear