When it comes to the cohesive protection of man, machine and infrastructure from electrical mishaps, Circuit Breakers (CBs) play a linchpin role, especially in the high-voltage (HV) environment of Substations.
With rapid advancements in technology, while the quality of HV CBs has definitely improved over the last few years leading to a significant drop in CB failures, CBs in essence, are mechanical devices that are prone to breakdowns if timely performance-assessment tests are not conducted to ensure their smooth functioning.
While various Utilities and Test & Measurement (T&M) service providers have different approaches to testing HV CBs, here is a quick snapshot of the 9 fundamental must-do tests as prescribed by IEC 62271-100 standard to ensure the optimal performance of HV CBs.
- Main Circuit Dielectric Test
- Main Circuit Resistance Test
- Auxiliary and Control Circuit Tests
- Tightness Tests
- O-C Timing Test
- Coil Resistance Test
- DCRM Test
- Travel Tests
- Aesthetic Tests