Everything You Need To Know About Circuit Switcher

Image source Celeasco

A circuit switcher is an electrical device designed to protect electrical loads and circuits from short circuits. The switch is activated to interrupt the circuit when necessary, hence protecting the circuit itself and the connected devices from possible damage. The activation can be either manual or automatic.

A circuit rides on the fact that it ca open and close the circuit at a high speed hence offering the required protection just in time to save your devices.

Are you planning to buy a circuit switcher and integrate it into your wiring system? This is a perfect guide for you.

Also, if you are in the business of electronic components and you want to import circuit switchers in bulk, you will still find information in this guide valuable.

What are the functions of a circuit switcher?

The general function of a circuit switcher is to protect the circuit and the device. But let’s get into the details about these functions.

Protection

Well, this is the primary function of this electronic device. It protects the electrical devices that are connected to a particular circuit.

The circuit switcher is capable of detecting abnormal conditions or flaws in the distribution line such as overcurrent or short circuit and prevent the rest of the components from any damage.

While providing the necessary protection, the device will eliminate any possibilities of downtime and the cost of replacement. Sometimes it can also prevents possibility of physical injury to the users.

Control

This is another vital function of a circuit switcher. In some cases, it is used to determine the flow of electric current in a circuit.

Just like ordinary switches, a circuit switcher can determine when you should open and close the circuit hence allowing current to pass through or not.

The control function also means that you can use the switcher to determine the specific areas of an electric system where current should flow to.

This is a vital function as it improves the efficiency of a power distribution network.

Fault detection

This is a special function that you will find in most modern circuit switchers. They are embedded with sensors which can detect various faults in an electric circuit and react accordingly.

For example the sensor will detect an overcurrent in good time and isolate the devices connected in that circuit.

Such timely warning not only prevent catastrophic damages but also improve the overall efficiency of the electric systems.

Isolation

Circuit switchers are  also built to isolate electric components from various scenarios. For example, you can intentionally use the switcher to isolate a functional device from a faulty one.

Another scenario, what if one section of the circuit is experiencing current overload? The switcher will do the isolation to ensure that the res of the circuit is not affected by the same problem.

Also, isolation is applicable when you want some components to get power and not others.

In overall, circuit switchers guarantee excellent efficiency and safety of a circuit and its components. It is a must-have addition to your electric circuit.

Circuit switcher construction

The construction of a  circuit switcher is characterized by both the mechanical and electrical components.  This is because the switcher take scare of the two  factors of a circuit, both the physical and the electric. Also, the construction takes care of the fact that some switchers are manual while others are fully automatic.

Here is a breakdown  of the circuit switcher construction.

Electrical components

A circuit switcher comprises of various electric components which include sensors, control wiring, current transformers, contacts among others. Sensors serves as fault detectors. They detect any problem in the circuit and send the signals to the other components for necessary action to be taken.

A transformer in a circuit switcher measures the current flowing through the circuit, while the contacts are conductors that close and open the circuits. The wiring components take care of the flow of current and also connect the switcher to the circuit and load.

Mechanical components

Mechanical components of a circuit switcher are those parts that do a lot of physical movements. These components include  insulators, housing, and to some level the contactors.

The housing provides physical protection for the other sensitive electrical components. It is usually made of steel or any other strong and tough material. Insulators, on the other hand provide  the required insulation for the electrical components. They prevent shorting incidences.

A mechanical operating system controls the physical opening and closing of the contacts. This mechanism comprises of the spring and the motor.

Insulating medium

Circuit switchers have insulating medium whose role is to insulate various components of this electric device. There are two types of insulating medium used. These are the ai medium and gas medium.

While air insulating medium is widely available, gas such as sulfur hexafluoride is preferred for its efficiency and an array of other desirable insulating properties. On the downside, they are expensive and attract high maintenance cost.

Control system

The control system of a circuit switcher determines all the actions of the component. It monitors both the electrical and mechanical components of the switcher. In addition, it also  monitors the conditions on the circuit and how the switch interacts with other components  of the circuit.

A typical control system of a circuit switcher comprises of sensors, relays, and logic controllers. They are connected to each other to deliver a functional system.

Ensure that you verify all these components about the construction of a circuit  switcher before you buy one.

How does a circuit switcher work? Complete guide

Let’s look at the complete working principle of a circuit switcher so that you can understand how it is able to protect the circuit and devices from the consequences of overload, overcurrent and other unexpected incidences on the circuit.

First, it all starts at the point of installation. A circuit switcher is installed at the center of the power distribution system and connected to the load that is to be protected.  The load is the devices or appliances and the point of installation can be substation and in some cases a transformer.

Under the normal operation mode, or when the circuit is operating perfectly,  the circuit switcher will remain at the closed mode. This will allow the electric current to flow smoothly  through the circuit from the source to the load.

When there is a fault in the circuit, let’s say an overcurrent, overvoltage, ground fault or short circuit, the circuit switcher will be able to detect such anomalies thanks to the sensors and other components that we have just discussed.

The control component of the circuit switcher will send signals to the mechanical and electric component of the switcher which will open the contacts. An open circuit switcher means that the circuit is broken hence no transmission of electric current to the device.

Any load that is connected to that circuit will be isolated from the rest of the circuit hence will not be affected by the fault. The isolation also minimizes further damage from occurring on the rest of the circuit.

The next step entails clearing the fault so that normalcy can be restored on the circuit. Usually, a technician is brought in to assess the source of the fault, and the possible cause. Fault identification is usually done with the help of sensors  and other electric metering devices.

After the fault has been detected, measures are taken to isolate and  correct it. Some of the correction measures include repairing the wiring connections, replacement of electric components, among implementing various changes on the circuit as a whole.

Once the fault has been rectified, the control component of the circuit switcher will send signals for the switcher to close the contacts. Usually, this happens so fast to prevent any downtime  in the electric system.

From there, the circuit switcher will assume its function of monitoring, controlling and protecting the circuit.

Types of circuit switchers

There are different types of circuit switchers though all are used to achieve the same goals in power distribution systems. Let’s discuss these types and you will know which one is perfect for your application area.

Air-insulated Switchgear (AIS)

This type of circuit switchgear utilizes the insulating property of air  to serve as its main insulating medium. It is normally used in moderate to high voltage applications. The availability of air makes this switchgear to be the cheapest in the market. The only downside is it requires high maintenance.

Load-Break Switcher

This is probably the most common type of circuit switcher that you are likely to  find in the market. They are ideal for the low to medium voltage applications. Also, they come in both manual and automatic options.

Gas-insulated switchgear (GIS)

In this type of circuit switcher, sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) gas serves as the main insulating medium. The excellent insulating property of this gas makes the switchgear ideal for the high voltage applications.

GIS circuit switchers are known for their compact designs, require minimal maintenance and also have a longer lifespan than the air  circuit switchers.

Vacuum circuit switcher

As  the name suggests, this family of circuit switchers use vacuum technology to influence the behavior of the contacts. The vacuum will move the switch’s  arc to influence whether it will  break or open the circuit. Vacuum circuit switcher are ideal for the medium to high voltage applications.

Hybrid  circuit switcher

This type of circuit switcher combines the best features of both the air circuit switcher and gas circuit switcher to deliver a functional system. This means that it has some elements of the natural air and sulfur hexafluoride gas, both of which serve as the device’s insulating medium.

The good thing about this circuit switcher is can be used on all types of voltage applications, whether it is small, medium, or high voltage electric systems.

So, what type of circuit switcher should I buy? From the discussion above, you can easily discuss the merits of each type and choose one that will be perfect for your electric system. Consider the current capacity of the circuit switcher, voltage and even reliability. From there, you will be in a perfect position to choose the best solution.

Applications of circuit switcher

Image source S& C electric

Circuit switchers are  mostly found in electric distribution systems where they protect electrical equipment from damage due to the unprecedented behavior of the electric current. They are also used to control the flow of  the current.

Here are the specific application of circuit switchers in power distribution systems:

-Load switching: These switchers are used to turn on and off current that is flowing to the loads in distribution systems. These loads include transformers and electric motors.

-Fault protection: The switcher detects and protects devices in the power distribution system against any electrical fault such as current overload.

-Transfer switching: This type of switching happens when you need to transfer loads from one power source to another. The transfer should happen without interfering the circuit and this is where the importance of circuit switchers come in. This function makes the switcher applicable in sensitive areas such as data centers and hospitals.

-Busbar protection: Circuit switchers isolate busbars from electrical hazards such as short circuits and overload.

-In renewable energy sources:  If you are using renewable sources of energy such as wind or solar, you will need a circuit switcher for full protection and control.

In whichever application area, ensure that you use the right type of circuit switcher for the optimum safety and functionality.

Maintenance of circuit switchers

Like of electronic components, you still need to handle circuit switchers with utmost care while at the same time ensure that they are well maintained. There are numerous maintenance practices that you can implement on a circuit switcher.

Inspect the switchers regularly to ensure that they are in tiptop condition. Clean and tighten any loose component of the switchgear. In case of damages, ensure that you buy quality circuit switchers from reputable electronic components suppliers in China.

I hope that this guide has given you valuable insights about circuit switchers. In case you need some clarification, consider consulting experts in the industry.

If you want to find more Electronic Components Distributors, please check out the following articles:

Electronic Components Distributors In the USA

Electronic Components Distributors In UK

Electronic Components Distributors In China

Electronic Components Distributors In India

Electronic Components Distributors In Singapore

Electronic Components Distributors In Malaysia

Electronic Components Distributors In Vietnam

Electronic Components Distributors In South Korea

Electronic Components Distributors In Taiwan

Electronic Components Distributors In Hong Kong