Circuit Breaker Components and How They’re

Operated

Presenter:

Dean Bartlett

Senior Instructor at AVO

 Moderator

Jamie Smith
AVO Marketing Manager
Jamie.Smith@avotraining.com

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 Instructor’s Background:
Electrical experience is mainly from a utility
background

On Substation Crew – (7-years)
§  Substation crews were responsible for: commissioning,
maintaining, testing, etc. on various types of electrical equipment
rated from 15kV to 345kV
§  Newly hired workers had 4-years of formal training and OJT
§  The training was progressive.
§  Included both self-study and OJT
§  After 4-years I reached the level of a “Senior Substation Technician”
 Instructor’s Background:
Electrical experience is mainly from a utility
background

When I finally reached the “Senior Substation Technician”
level, the one thing that I knew for sure was ……………..

“I had a lot more to learn”
 Instructor’s Background:
Electrical experience is mainly from a utility
background

Chief Electrician – (3-years)
§  Performed more advanced testing on transformers and
circuit breakers, etc.
§  %PF Testing
§  Circuit Breaker Time/Travel Analysis
§  CT and PT Testing
 Instructor’s Background:
Electrical experience comes from a utility
background

Relay Technician – (5-years)
§  Commissioned and tested protective relays associated with
distribution, transmission, and generation
 Instructor’s Background:
Electrical experience comes is mainly from
a utility background

I joined AVO Training Institute back when we were known
as “Multi-Amp Training Institute”


My discussion today will mainly focus on
medium voltage circuit breakers that are
electrically operated and can be
racked-in and racked-out of a switchgear
cell.

These type circuit breakers are typically more
complex than fixed circuit breakers

Why are they more complex?

•  They can be moved in and out of a cell
•  This can put personnel in harms way if something goes wrong
•  Manufacturer’s provide safety measures, such as interlocks that
protect personnel

•  You should always review the method required to rack a circuit
breaker in and out of the cell
 Circuit Breaker
Operating Mechanisms
Things to Keep in Mind When Working with a
Circuit Breaker Operating Mechanism
There are basically two separate
functions performed by the
operating mechanism
1.  They provide the energy needed
to operate the contacts
§  The most common method is to
charge heavy springs with a motor
and ratchet mechanism
2.  They open and close the contacts
•  Opening time is approximately 2 to 3
cycles
•  Closing time is approximately 3 to 5
cycles
 Things to Keep in Mind When Working with a
Circuit Breaker Operating Mechanism
There are two springs used to operate a circuit breaker
1.  Closing Spring – It is stretched or compressed using a motor and
ratchet mechanism
2.  Opening Spring – The opening springs are charged each time
the circuit breaker closes its contacts
Once the closing spring is charged, it is electrically
disconnected. The mechanical movement is stopped with the
close latch
When the spring is charged manually you can hear the close
latch and roller engaging. A snapping sound.
 Things to Keep in Mind When Working on a
Circuit Breaker Operating Mechanism
•  The mechanism does not rotate in two different directions
•  The mechanism continues to rotate in one direction
•  Each time the mechanism rotates, it moves 180 degrees
•  Each time the mechanism rotates, it is either “charging the
spring” or it’s “closing the contacts”
•  The spring is normally charged every time it is discharged
(when the contacts “close”)
NOTE: Breakers are sometimes made to charge the spring only
when the contacts “open”
 Things to Keep in Mind When Working on a
Circuit Breaker Operating Mechanism
•  To close the circuit breaker, the close latch (held by a
roller) can be released manually (pushbutton) or
electrically (close coil)
•  A large cam forces a roller out onto its outer edge to move
the middle phase to the closed position
•  When the contacts go closed, they are held closed with the
trip latch and a separate roller
•  The contacts will remain closed until the trip latch is
operated manually or electrically.
Animated Circuit Breaker
Operating Mechanism
 Breaker is OPEN
Spring is CHARGED

•  The main shaft only turns in the

CCW direction
•  The motor advances the ratchet
wheel one tooth at a time
•  Holding pawls keep the wheel
from turning backwards
•  When spring is CHARGED, a limit
switch electrically opens up the
motor circuit
•  The close latch and roller stops
the shaft mechanically

We will focus on the boxed area to see how

to close the breaker
OPEN / SPRING CHARGED

CLOSED / SPRING DISCHARGED

CLOSED / SPRING DISCHARGED
OPEN / SPRING CHARGED
OPEN / SPRING DISCHARGED
Electrical Diagram for the
Westinghouse VCP-W
Mechanism
 Cutler-Hammer
VCP-W Mechanism Pictures
CLOSING CAM

DETENT THAT MOVES

THE ROLLER TO ITS
OUSIDE CIRCUMFERNECE
SPRING POSITION
INDICATOR

RATCHET WHEEL
THIS IS LS1 and LS2:
A better name would be
“MCO” (motor cutoff).
They are using 3 different
LS contacts.
1.  LS1/bb stops the motor
2.  LS2/aa closes to enables the
“Close” circuit. (permissive)
3.  LS2/bb instantly closes
when the spring discharges.
It job is to pick up the anti-
pump relay (52Y).
When 52Y picks up, one of
its contacts closes to seal it
in.
The other 52Y contact
opens to prevent another
close signal from energizing
the close coil. EATON calls it
(SR), “spring release” coil.
THIS IS LS1 and LS2:
A better name would be
“MCO” (motor cutoff).
They are using 3 different
LS contacts.
1.  LS1/bb stops the motor
2.  LS2/aa closes to enables the
“Close” circuit. (permissive)
3.  LS2/bb instantly closes
when the spring discharges.
It job is to pick up the anti-
pump relay (52Y).
When 52Y picks up, one of
its contacts closes to seal it
in.
The other 52Y contact
opens to prevent another
close signal from energizing
the close coil. EATON calls it
(SR), “spring release” coil.

NOTE: the limit switch
actuator follows the outside
surface of the a roller right
next to the “CHARGE” /
“DISCHARGE”
MOTOR CUTOUT CONTACTS The limit switches LS/aa and LS/bb are
LS/aa and LS/bb called designed as “Form-C” contacts.
LS/aa N/O You can see the letter “C” in their
design.

COM NOTE: On the manufacturers’ line
N/C diagram you see that they are using (3)
separate contacts.

LS/bb
That’s why you see (2) limit switches in
the picture. If you only had 1 limit
switch, then you would only have (2)
contacts.

You should start to observe the location of components on circuit breakers you work
on. You will notice that many times a motor cutoff switch is operated by the
“CHARGE” / “DISCHARGE” mechanical movement.
SPRING CHARGING
MOTOR
This is PS1 and PS2.
They operate from a
roller on the bottom
of the circuit breaker.
If the circuit breaker is
between the TEST and
CONNECTED position
the roller on the
breaker is raised up by
a “ramp” in the floor
of the cell.

PS1 will energize the

52Y coil which opens
up the CLOSE circuit.
This prevents the
breaker from closing a
close signal is given.

PS2 opens up a N/C
contact in the spring
motor circuit.
CLOSING OPENING
SPRING SPRING
CLOSE TRIP
COIL COIL
INTERLOCKS ON BOTTOM
OF BREAKER
INTERFERENCE INTERLOCK PREVENTS BREAKER
FROM RACKING INTO THE WRONG CELL
PLUG CONNECTOR BRINGS POWER INTOR THE
BREAKER TO OPERATE ELECTRICAL DEVICES
THANK YOU