1/22/2020 Circuit breaker safety interlock systems explained

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interlock systems explained

By testguy January 25, 2017 0 Comments

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Drawout circuit breakers
Always check the arc
are equipped with safety flash rating sticker
interlock devices that are Not a test question -
required by various Transformer ester oil
question
Industry Standards and
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Certifying Authorities. clips
Interlock systems are an Best meter to keep on
integral part of keeping qualified personnel safe and hand?

protecting equipment from catastrophic damage.

When servicing circuit breakers during routine Keep Yo

Protecte
maintenance, all interlocks should be operated to confirm
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that they function as required. Caution must be taken to
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ensure that any interlock lever is not bent and caused not Trends
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1/22/2020 Circuit breaker safety interlock systems explained

The standard interlock devices described below are used Tests fo

only on drawout breakers, as stationary or fixed breakers testguy.net

have no required interlocks. Interlock devices for special Keysigh

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circuit breaker applications are also available as options.
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Electric
Diagram

Contents testguy.net

Circuit B
Control
1. Drawout Cradle Rejection Hardware
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Circuit b
2. Racking Mechanism Interlock position
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3. Disconnect Position Interlock Charact

Circuit B

4. Closing Spring Interlock testguy.net

Circuit B
Terms a
5. Positive Interlock
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3 Critica
6. Padlocks
Points f
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7. Key and Door Interlock
Applying
Removi
8. Mechanical Interlock testguy.net

Ohm's L
9. Blown Fuse Interlock Law Che

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10. Bell Alarm with Lockout 6 electr

Current
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1. Drawout Cradle Rejection

Hardware
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1/22/2020 Circuit breaker safety interlock systems explained

Generally speaking, drawout circuit breakers of the same Sharpen your skills
with our collection of
type and rating are interchangeable in their equipment
quizzes on electrical
compartments but circuit breakers of different frame sizes safety, maintenance &
are not interchangeable. testing of electrical
equipment and
industry standards.
To prevent inserting the wrong type of circuit breaker into a
drawout compartment, suitable "rejection hardware" is
Tech Quiz
affixed to each breaker and its compartment. When the
wrong type of breaker is inserted into a compartment, the Study Guide
hardware prevents the breaker from seating itself into the
drawout rails or cubicle.

Electrical Testing References

Power Triangle Calculator

Test Equipment 101: The Basics of

Electrical Testing

Circuit Breaker Control Schematic

Explained

Rejection hardware works to prevent the insertion of circuit breakers with an Protective Relay Protection Element
Tests
inadequate interrupting capability, physically incompatible primary disconnects or
an incompatible phase sequence, rejection interlock key plates are provided on Capacitive Reactance - How to
both the circuit breaker and cassette Photo: Square D Solve Series and Parallel Capacitors

Circuit Breaker Accessories

The rejection interlocks are steel pins affixed on the circuit Explained

breaker frame. As the breaker is pushed into the structure, Switchboard Ratings

the mating pins on the circuit breaker move past a set of Transformer Insulation Classes
corresponding pins in the compartment, if the circuit Three-Phase Transformer Winding
Connections
breaker and compartment are compatible. If the circuit
Peak vs. Average vs. RMS Voltage
breaker and the cassette are mismatched, the rejection
pins will block the insertion of the circuit breaker into the Circuit Breaker Contact
Arrangements: Straight-through vs.
cassette before the racking mechanism is engaged. Blow-apart

SF6 Circuit Breakers

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Within any one physical frame size drawout circuit More...

breakers come in a variety of continuous current and
interruption ratings, some of which are incompatible with
others. Doublewide circuit breakers may also come with
several phase sequence options, which are also
incompatible.

2. Racking Mechanism Interlock

The function of the racking mechanism interlock is to
prevent the breaker from moving from the connection
position before the breaker is in the open position. This
THE AIRBUS
interlock is usually a simple cover that must be moved
DESIGNED HE
aside to gain access to the drive shaft.
MADE HERE.

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Racking interlocks prevent a circuit breaker from being connected to energized

bus in the closed position. Photo: EATON Magnum DS.

The racking interlock cover can be linked to the trip button

to ensure the circuit breaker is open before attempting to
rack. When the racking screw cover is open, it holds the
trip button in.

With the trip button held in, the breaker will be kept in a
trip-free state so a mechanism closing cycle will not cause
contact movement especially when the breaker is being
racked in or out. Always use the correct racking
mechanism wrench for racking a circuit breaker in or out,
otherwise the trip-free interlock feature may not function.

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3. Disconnect Position Interlock

The function of the Disconnect Position Interlock is to
block the racking screw cover open when the racking
mechanism is in the disconnected position.

When the cover is held open, the TRIP button is

depressed. The mechanism is held trip-free and there is
no contact arm movement when the closing spring is
charged by the Closing Spring Interlock.

4. Closing Spring Interlock

The function of the closing spring interlock is to discharge
the closing spring as the breaker is being racked out of its
housing. This eliminates the hazard of a completely
charged breaker being discharged after the breaker is
removed from its compartment.

The racking mechanism arms and the crank are connected

to a common shaft. As the breaker is racked out, a pin
attached to the crank moves through a slot in the
mechanism linkage. The linkage is connected to a lever
that engages with a pin on the closing solenoid armature
linkage.

When the racking mechanism approaches the

disconnected position, the crank pin reaches the end of
the slot in the linkage. Continued motion of the racking
mechanism causes the linkage to rotate the lever that

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moves the closing solenoid armature forward. The

armature linkage then releases the prop, discharging the
closing spring.

Note: Unnecessary force on the racking handle at

the fully racked out position may cause the lever to
bind up the overall interlock. Under these conditions,
continued application of this force will deform the
linkage assembly.

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5. Positive Interlock
The positive interlock is located on the circuit breaker
frame. The function of the positive interlock is to keep the
breaker trip-free while it is being racked in or out between
the connected and test positions.

As the breaker moves between the connected and test

positions, the positive interlock engaged with a ramp cam
located in the breaker cubicle. This cam raises the
interlock lever assembly causing the trip shaft to rotate and
prevent the trip latch from engaging with the secondary

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latch assembly roller. The breaker is held trip-free and

cannot be closed during this interval.

6. Padlocks
Provisions are made on all circuit breakers to use padlocks
to prevent the breaker from being closed. Padlock
shackles are usually found through the trip button or
racking screw cover. In either case, the shackle holds the
trip button keeping the mechanism trip-free.

Padlock shackles are usually found through the trip button or racking screw
cover. Photo: Youtube.

7. Key and Door Interlock

Optional interlocks include key interlocks and door
interlocks. The function of the key interlock is to prevent an

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open breaker from being closed when the lock bolt is

extended and its key is removed.

Photo: Key interlocks prevent an open breaker from being closed. Square D.

Door interlocks prevents the breaker compartment door

from being opened. On drawout breakers, these devices
are mounted in the equipment and are part of the circuit
breaker enclosure.

8. Mechanical Interlock
Families of mechanical interlocks are available to interlock
the closing of two or three circuit breakers. The
mechanical interlock holds one or more circuit breakers
tripped (prevents closure) when the others are closed.

A lever assembly is mounted on each breaker that

interfaces with the pole shaft and the tripper bar. The lever
assemblies are interconnected with either cables or rods,
depending upon the relative orientation of the breakers.

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Rods can be used only when the circuit breakers to be

interlocked are vertically stacked. Cables can be used for
any orientation of the breakers. Mechanical interlocks are
available for both fixed and drawout circuit breakers and in
both 2-way and 3-way versions.

9. Blown Fuse Interlock

Some circuit breakers have integrally mounted current
limiters on the drawout breaker element. On overloads and
faults within the circuit breaker interrupting rating, the
circuit breaker protects the limiters. On higher fault
currents exceeding the circuit breaker rating, the limiters
protect the circuit breaker.

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Example of a circuit breaker blown fuse indicator. Photo: General Electric

Interlock arrangements trip the circuit breaker whenever

any limiter blows (open circuits). The circuit breaker cannot
be reclosed on a live source unless there are only unblown
limiters on the circuit.

The blown fuse indicator, located on the front of the circuit

breaker, provides a visual indication when a current limiter
in any phase has interrupted a short circuit. In addition, a
blown limiter sensing circuit insures that a circuit breaker

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will be tripped when any current limiter has blown,

preventing single phasing.

10. Bell Alarm with Lockout

The Bell Alarm with Lockout module prevents reclosing of
a circuit breaker after a trip until the Bell Alarm with
Lockout is reset. It can only be reset by pressing the reset
button on the module itself.

This module also provides a switch to remotely indicate

that the circuit breaker has tripped. In addition to activation
by protection trips, the Bell Alarm with Lockout accessory
can be set up to interact with other accessories, such as a
Shunt Trip or Undervoltage Release coils.

Photo: GE Powerbreak.

In addition, the Bell Alarm with Lockout can provide

normally open (NO) and normally closed (NC) alarm
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outputs available at the secondary terminal block located

on the circuit breaker frame. These outputs are returned to
their normal state when the Bell Alarm with Lockout reset
button is pressed.

References

GEK-64459D Low Voltage Power Circuit Breakers

Types AKR-30/50 and AKRT-50

Instructions for Installation, Operation and

Maintenance of Magnum SB Insulated Case Low Voltage
Power Circuit Breakers

Masterpact NW and NT Circuit Breakers

GE Power Break II Bell Alarm with Lockout

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