Saturday, May 30, 2009 14:53:59

SWITCHING

There are four types of switching namely;

(a)Switching for Isolation
· Isolation is cutting off the supply to a circuit or equipment it makes dead all parts active during normal service.
· Isolations should be close to the supply point of equipment or circuit to isolate the whole equipment or circuit eg. for a
cooker the isolater should be within 2m from the cooker.
· Isolation is done to ensure the safety of people working on the circuit or equipment.
· For electric motors , the isolaters should isolate both the power and control circuits.
· Devices that can be used for isolation include ;
(i) Isolater switches (ii) Fuse links
(iii) Circuit breakers (iv) Plugs and socket outlets

(b)Switching for Mechanical Maintenance

· Similar to isolation except that the switching should be capable of switching the full load current.
· Switches should;
(i) Not have exposed live parts when open
(ii) Be connected in the main electrical circuit
(iii) Have a reliable ON/OFF indicator or a visible contact gap.
· Devices used for switching include ;
(i) Switches (ii) Circuit breakers
(iii) Plugs and sockets

(c) Emergency Switching

· This involves the rapid switching off or disconection of supply to equipment by a tripple action to prevent damages
· Emergency switching devices should be accessible and easily identifiable.
· devices should be capable of switching off full load currents.
· Push button for emergency stop should be coloured red and should latch in OFF position .
· If a contactor is used it must open when de-energised (should be Fail Safe)
· Devices used are;
(i)Switches (ii) Circuit breakers
(iii) Contactors in conjuction with push butons

(d)Functional Switching
· Involves switching off equipment for normal operation / service.
· Devices should be able to interupt the total steady current of the equipment / circuit.
· in the case where the switcth operates a discharge lighting circuit, the current rating of the switch should be at least twice
the steady current eg.
(i) Electronic dimmrer switch
(ii)Heat control switches
(iii) Speed control switches
NB: One device can be used for many switching functions provided the device meets
the requirements of each
switching function.

OVERCURRENT PROTECTION
· It is both a statutory and IEE regulation to provide overcurrent protection.
· Where necessary to prevent danger, every installation and circuit should be protected against overcurrents by devices which
;
(i) Will operate automatically at values of current which are suitable
related to safe current ratings of the circuit.
(ii)Are of adequate breaking capacity and where appropriate, making
capacity.
· An overcurrent occurs when a circuit carries a current which is above the rated amount (which it was designed to carry).
· When an overcurrent occurs , the cables are unable to effectively dissipate the heat generated in the cables.
· Cable temperatures may rise untill the insulation is damaged.

3 GROUPS OF OVERCURRENT
(a) Transient overcurrents
· These occur for a short space of time and are usually due to a rush of currents which occur on switching on/off of devices
like capacitors, transformers, fluorescent lamps and other other discharge lamps.
(ii) Overload currents
· These are currents which exceed the rated value in otherwise healthy circuit.
· They are also known as sustained overcurrents and are mainly due to;
(i) Abuse of a circuit i.e using a circuit for a purpose it was not designed for e.g
connecting a stove in a lighing circuit
(ii) Indiscrimnate additions to existing circuits
(iii) Poor design.

(b) Short Circuit Currents

· Overcurrent from a fault of negligible resistance/impedence between conductors.Short circuits can be caused by;
(i) Incorrect connection during installation or modification
(ii) excessive arcing
(iii) Disconnection of cables (leading to phase to phase or phase to
neutral short circuit).Short circuit currents might be hundreds of
times of the rated current.

Characterristics Of Overcurrent Protective Devices

· Over current protective devices should be able to interupt the fault current quickly and isolate the circuit before the fault
current causes temperature rises and hence damage to the insulation and terminals of conductors.
· A device to be used for overcurrent protection should;
(a) Have a rating which exceeds the the full load rating of the
circuit.
(b) Have a rating which is less than the cable current rating.
(c) Be able to break the overcurrent within a space of time short
enough to prevent damage to the equipment.