The maintenance of circuit breakers deserves special consideration because of their importance for routine switching and for protection of other equipment.
Electric transmission system breakups and equipment destruction can occur if a circuit breaker fails to operate because of a lack of preventive maintenance.
The need for maintenance of circuit breakers is often not obvious as circuit breakers may remain idle, either open or closed, for long periods of time.
Breakers that remain idle for 6 months or more should be made to open and close several times in succession to verify proper operation and remove any accumulation of dust or foreign material on moving parts and contacts.
Frequency Of Maintenance
Molded case circuit breakers are designed to require little or no routine maintenance throughout their normal life time. Therefore, the need for preventive maintenance will vary depending on operating conditions. As an accumulation of dust on the latch surfaces may affect the operation of the breaker, molded case circuit breakers should be exercised at least once per year.
Tests
Routine Maintenance Tests
Routine maintenance tests enable personnel to determine if breakers are able to perform their basic circuit protective functions. The following tests may be performed during routine maintenance and are aimed at assuring that the breakers are functionally operable.
The following tests are to be made only on breakers and equipment that are deenergized.
Insulation Resistance Test
A megohmmeter may be used to make tests between phases of opposite polarity and from current-carrying parts of the circuit breaker to ground. A test should also be made between the line and load terminals with the breaker in the open position. Load and line conductors should be dis connected from the breaker under insulation resistance tests to prevent test mesurements from also showing resistance of the attached circuit.
Resistance values below 1 megohm are considered unsafe and the breaker should be inspected for pos sible contamination on its surfaces.
Milivolt Drop Test
A millivolt drop test can disclose several abnor mal conditions inside a breaker such as eroded contacts, contaminated contacts, or loose internal connec tions. The millivolt drop test should be made at a nominal direct-current volt age at 50 amperes or 100 amperes for large breakers, and at or below rating for smaller breakers.
The millivolt drop is compared against manufacturer’s data for the breaker being tested.
Connections Test
The connections to the circuit breaker should be inspected to determine that a good joint is present and that overheating is not occurring. If overheating is indi cated by discoloration or signs of arcing, the connections should be re moved and the connecting surfaces cleaned.
Overload tripping test
The proper action of the overload tripping components of the circuit breaker can be verified by applying 300 percent of the breaker rated continuous current to each pole. The significant part of this test is the automatic opening of the circuit breaker and not tripping times as these can be greatly affected by ambient conditions and test condi tions.
Mechanical operation
The mechanical operation of the breaker should be checked by turning the breaker on and off several times.
Related electrical guides & articles
Apart from the Manufacturer recommendation for the preventative Maintenance,often the MCCB,VCB,ACB or any Switch gears requires in smooth operations the following points to be adopted.
Points to be viewed.
1.Sufficient load selection at least 40to 50% of extra capacity to be choose for your load circuit.
2.Proper Capacity of cable/Bus bar size to be select.
3.Proper termination of lugs to be crimped to perfect size & the bolts nuts,spring washers & flat washers,there must be any air gap between Bus bar & lugs,as it will create heat,even though your termination is perfect.
4.Equal share of the load to be distributed in all the phases in respect to the Neutral.
5.To be mounted well ventilated area.
6.Switch gear enclosure to compact,insects/dust free.
7.Additional load etc,the settings to be resetted to the required level timely.
8.At least once in a year service to be taken care,along with Milivolt drop,thermography test.
9.Wether the breaker is continuously ON/OFF monthly once at least 4 to 5 Operation to be taken care(ON/OFF/Tripping).Regards.S.Ramesh – JLL,Bangalore,Contact 8197680616.
Is there any tests to be carried out after clearing short circuits?
I agree Jomaber! It also depends on environment of switchboard, if it is mostly clean during year, than 5 years as you said is quite enough, but if it is aggresive environment like paper industry and similar, than it should be more often.
What is your expirience regarding maintenance of MCCBs on dirty environments?
well, i agree with the mccb maintenance as stated in your article. but it will be every 5 yrs. it is as per my experiences.