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Home / Technical Articles / Differences between disconnectors, load switches, switch disconnectors and circuit breakers

Device Types

Various types of devices are available for carrying out the switching and protection tasks listed under a title that are specially designed to fulfill the respective requirements. The various parts of IEC 60947 (Low voltage switchgear and controlgear) specify the design, performance, and test features of the devices.

Differences between disconnectors, load switches, switch disconnectors and circuit breakers
Differences between disconnectors, load switches, switch disconnectors and circuit breakers (on photo: Low-voltage disconnect switch max. 1000A – SIEMENS via directindustry.com)

The most important features of the main device types are presented below:

  1. Disconnectors (isolating switches)
  2. Load switches
  3. Switch disconnectors
  4. Circuit breakers
Switch symbols: The horizontal line in the switch symbol of the contacts indicates that they fulfill the isolating function
Figure 1 – Switch symbols: The horizontal line in the switch symbol of the contacts indicates that they fulfill the isolating function

1. Disconnectors (isolating switches)

Legrand's Isolating switches
Legrand’s Isolating switches (photo credit: reliancegroupco.com)

The disconnector is a mechanical device that fulfills in the open position the requirements specified for the isolation function (IEC 60947-1).

The purpose of the isolating function is to cut off the supply from all or a discrete section of the installation by separating the installation or section from every source of electrical energy for reasons of safety.

The key factor here is the opening distance. Isolation must be guaranteed from pole to pole and from input to output, whether this is by means of a visible isolation gap or by suitable design features within the device (mechanical interlocking mechanism).

A device fulfills the isolating function stipulated under IEC 60947-1 when in the “Open” position the isolation at a defined withstand voltage is assured between the open contacts of the main circuit of the switchgear.

It must also be equipped with an indicator device in relation to the position of the movable contacts. This position indicator must be linked in a secure, reliable way to the actuator, whereby the position indicator can also serve as actuator, provided that it can only display the position “Open” in the “OFF” position, when all moving contacts are in the “Open” position. This is to be verified by testing.

According to IEC 60947-3, an isolator must only be able to make and break a circuit, if either a current of negligible size is switched on or off, or if during switching no noticeable voltage difference between the terminals of each pole occurs.

Under normal conditions it can conduct operational currents as well as under abnormal conditions larger currents (e.g. short-circuit currents) for a certain period.

The isolator function can be realized with a variety of devices such as for example in disconnectors, fuse-disconnectors, switch-disconnectors, fuse-switch disconnectors and circuit breakers with isolating function.

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2. Load switches

4 pole load break switch with visible breaking and a remote tripping function
4 pole load break switch with visible breaking and a remote tripping function (photo credit: directindustry.com)

Load switches (or only “switches”) are mechanical switching devices capable of making, carrying and breaking currents under normal circuit conditions which may include specified operating overload conditions and also carrying for a specified time currents under specified abnormal circuit conditions such as those of short-circuit.

A load switch may have a short-circuit making capacity, however it does not have a short-circuit breaking capacity (IEC 60947-1 and -3).

Short-circuit currents can be conducted (high short-circuit withstand capacity), but not be switched-off.

For load switches the range of designs is similarly wide as for isolator switches, for example “normal” (load) switches, fuse-switches, circuit breakers.

Fuse-switches are not legally permitted in all countries.

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3. Switch disconnectors

Switch disconnectors; Left - ABB's motorized switch disconnector 160-2500A; Right - Schneider Electric's low-voltage disconnect switch with free tripping 80-3200A (photo credit: directindustry.com)
Switch disconnectors; Left – ABB’s motorized switch disconnector 160-2500A; Right – Schneider Electric’s low-voltage disconnect switch with free tripping 80-3200A (photo credit: directindustry.com)

Switch disconnectors combine the properties of (load) switches and disconnectors. In this case, too, there are a variety of designs such as “normal” switch disconnectors, fuse- switch-disconnectors and circuit breakers.

Fuse-switch-disconnectors are not legally permitted in all countries.

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4. Circuit breakers

Schneider Electric's low voltage moulded case circuit breaker (MCCB) type Compact NSX
Schneider Electric’s low voltage moulded case circuit breaker (MCCB) type Compact NSX

Circuit breakers are mechanical switching devices, capable of making, carrying and breaking currents under normal circuit conditions and also making, carrying for a specified time and breaking currents under specified abnormal circuit conditions such as those of short-circuit (IEC 60947-2).

They thus also fulfill the requirements of (load) switches. Circuit breakers are often designed so that they can fulfill the requirements for disconnectors.

Reference: Low-Voltage Switchgear and Controlgear – Rockwell Automation

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Edvard Csanyi

Electrical engineer, programmer and founder of EEP. Highly specialized for design of LV/MV switchgears and LV high power busbar trunking (<6300A) in power substations, commercial buildings and industry facilities. Professional in AutoCAD programming.

24 Comments


  1. Hossam Daoud
    Feb 07, 2019

    I am not seeing any purpose of the Switch disconnectors. I mean when the load switch will open, it would isolate the main circuit of the switchgear automatically.
    Can you clear the the purpos of it more?
    Thank you


    • Ashleigh Turner
      Feb 13, 2019

      I should be able to provide a scenario for the purpose of switch disconnectors with regards to the UK railway. The railway’s devices may look a little bit different, but they are the same function as this article.

      From a railway perspective, each overhead line electrical section is supplied via circuit breakers. Because these electrical sections are typically in the 10’s of miles long, there are times when it may be necessary to reduce the electrical section (typically when maintenance is being completed or there is an incident). Because of this, the electrical sections are typically split into multiple sub-sections where these sub-sections are traditionally electrically separated via switch disconnectors. For instance, think of station areas where typically every platform will be it’s own sub-section.

      The switch disconnectors are used as they are cheap and simple, however they have the drawback that they are not load-breaking. Thus to use these disconnectors, the circuit breaker is to be opened first before the switch can be opened (to ensure the life of the disconnectors), with the circuit breaker re-closed after all relevant disconnectors are opened. Take note that new electrification schemes in the UK are now installing load-break switches instead of switch disconnectors such that the process I mentioned is not required.


  2. Perparim Rama
    May 10, 2018

    Hi there what is the switch is a load or no


  3. Vedran
    Nov 14, 2017

    Someone can explain to me which is the main function of SDF – Switch Disconnector Fuse?


  4. Neil Armstrong
    Jul 03, 2017

    Am so glad for providing this articles to help reposition someone like me in the field of Electrical

    More grease to your elbow


  5. Thiyagu
    Jul 18, 2016

    how to select size of isolator(Ampere rating) as per IEC . please tell me any one.


    • Khalilullah
      Oct 05, 2019

      Hi,
      Can you please let me know how can we select the rating of Disconnector switch in primary of Power transformer e.g for 630KVA pole mounted transformer, what will be the Disconnector or LBS rating will be?


  6. Fathy Samaha
    Apr 05, 2016

    for shortcut:

    – disconnect switch working (ON-OFF) in no load, if opened while circuit loaded, bad arc will be happened.
    – load break switch working (ON-OFF) with normal rated load, can not make or break the circuit, means that it can not work (withstand) in case of faults or short circuits.
    – circuit breaker work (ON-OFF) on normal load, and can make and break the circuit in case of faults.


  7. Sean
    Jan 27, 2016

    Thank you Edvard! I’ve been looking for this info, and you summed it up very nicely.


  8. Ahmed Ali
    Aug 12, 2015

    Many thanks


  9. Olev Salasoo
    Jul 21, 2015

    Thank you Mr Csanyi. I needed that clear and concise summary. Perfect!
    :-)

    Best regards.


  10. reza kiani
    Jun 16, 2015

    many thanks


  11. Sivakumar
    Jan 09, 2015

    Mr. Edvard Csanyi, May I know what are the requirements for “isolating function stipulated under IEC 60947-1 when in the “Open” position the isolation at a defined withstand voltage”. Unless this is defined, the subject is not fully understood. What you have done is simply quote from IEC and nothing more.


    • Olev Salasoo
      Jul 21, 2015

      Mr Sivakumar, The information you ask for is contained within IEC 60947, or if not, the source document is refered to in IEC 60947. (I actually forget which alternative is correct, I apologize.)
      It is useful to become accustomed to reading these standards. They are boring, precise and leave nothing to the imagination. They try to make things as black-and-white as possible.
      As an engineer, it is also useful to become accustomed to searching for answers, and most importantly, don’t stop at the first answer you find – there might well be a better one around the corner!
      Best regards.


  12. Besher Eng
    Oct 21, 2014

    many thanks sir


  13. Zeeshan Sohail
    Aug 11, 2014

    Very thanks it’s good update knowledge and Information


  14. yaser tanweer
    Jul 15, 2014

    Thanx for your valuable articles and info sir.suggest some new courses regarding switch gear and protection


  15. yaser tanweer
    Jul 15, 2014

    Thanx for the article sir…whould you like to share some
    benefitial courses after the BE electrical engg. Yaser tanweer BE MBA


  16. haytham151
    Jul 12, 2014

    Many thanks for the v.useful article valuable effort sir


  17. liladhar lohare
    Jul 07, 2014

    Sir,many thanks for such useful technical information –Lohare BE MBA


  18. Opsingh
    Jun 28, 2014

    It is good to update knowledge ang technogy


  19. MARUTHUPANDIAN
    Jun 27, 2014

    better study site for electrical as far as i know.
    got lot of articles among all the electrical equipments


  20. komichi
    Jun 23, 2014

    Many thanks;

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