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Load break switch

A load break switch is a disconnect switch that has been designed to provide making or breaking of specified currents.

This is accomplished by addition of equipment that increases the operating speed of the disconnect switch blade and the addition of some type of equipment to alter the arcing phenomena and allow the safe interruption of the arc resulting when switching load currents.

SF6 Insulated Load Break Switch for the use in medium voltage switchboards for secondary distribution networks.
SF6 Insulated Load Break Switch for the use in medium voltage switchboards for secondary distribution networks.

Disconnect switches can be supplied with equipment to provide a limited load switching capability. Arcing horns, whips, and spring actuators are typical at lower voltages.

These switches are used to de-energize or energize a circuit that possesses some limited amount of magnetic or capacitive current, such as transformer exciting current or line charging currents.

An air switch can be modified to include a series interrupter (typically vacuum or SF6) for higher voltage and current interrupting levels.

These interrupters increase the load break capability of the disconnect switch and can be applied for switching load or fault currents of the associated equipment.

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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.

8 Comments


  1. Bhavan Desai
    Nov 10, 2022

    What is fundamental difference between Air Break Switch and Load Break Switch in Power System


  2. rakesh shah
    Sep 09, 2022

    we are manufacturing of 11.kv vcb panel lbs panel ht metering cubical
    we are requirement 30.nos per month lbs switch so please give best price of sf-6 11.kv lbs switch


  3. Paranthaman S
    Jan 10, 2020

    What is the basic difference between a conventional Breaker and a Load break switch?


  4. Mike
    Jun 20, 2019

    Two-positi oil-insulated load break switch installed on the source side of a distribution transformer


  5. Chinmay bhogaonkar
    Apr 13, 2018

    Sir do we have to connect LA(lightning arrestor), if we use load break switch(LBS)?
    Please reply.


  6. Jean Belanger
    Jun 01, 2017

    In our system we have some old pad mounted S&C live front switch gear the manufacturer say that a load buster tool must be used to break load,in the past we always broke load if it was under 15amps and that could be at different high voltages ex:4kv ,8kv, 13kv and these are normally single phase transformer.Our dilemma now is that workers are refusing to break load with this solid blade and the load buster tool suggested by the manufacturer is not available.

    Do you have a theory that would allow us to break load with this device we are trying to develop a written work method that would allow us to break parallel or break a maximum of 15amps with this solid blade,,,,,,,,,,,,Thanks,,,J.Belanger.


    • obaid
      Sep 14, 2018

      Hi, just wondering why the load buster tool isnt available,i may be able to help. Where are u based ?


  7. Zulqarnain
    Apr 24, 2017

    Dear author !
    Give your suggestion.I have solar powered inverter .it works all the day on solar panels as long as the sun shines but in the evening when the sun is about to set, the inverter keeps on moving solar and grid.Solar power gets low it try to come on grid but again solar power rises,it comes on solar and then grid…..

    This continues for at least 20 minuest until the sun fully sets.And i want a switch that should cut off solar when its amps drop below 6 (because above this inverter runs on solar).please help me .

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