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What is low voltage switchgear

In general electrical switchgear refers to a centralized collection of protection devices such as circuit breakers, fuses and switches which are used to protect, control and isolate electrical equipment

The mentioned protection devices are fixed and mounted in metallic structures and known as Switchgear

What is man functions of Switchgear

One of the basic functions of switchgear is protection, which is interruption of short-circuit and overload fault currents

Also switchgear provides isolation of circuits from power supplies

Switchgear Classification By voltage class

Switchgear are classified according to the applied voltage as follows

• Low voltage switchgear (less than 1 kV AC)
• Medium voltage switchgear (1 kV AC through to approximately 75 kV AC)
• High voltage switchgear (75 kV to about 230 kV AC)
• Extra high voltage, ultra high voltage (more than 230 kV)

low voltage switchgear Switchgear preventive maintenance

To make sure good performance of switchgear it should be periodically inspected and a scheduled preventive maintenance plan should be applied

Its often to inspect medium and low voltage switchgear using thermal imaging to prevent any failure before it occur

Partial discharge test using either fixed or portable testers is another way of testing medium and low voltage switchgear

low voltage switchgear Switchgear cooling down

Electrical devices produce heat and cause temperature rise in switchgear rooms, this rise effects the protection devices and may cause failure 

So central air conditioning units are necessary to cool down the surrounding air

The number of the units and it cooling capacity must be suitable for the room  and switchgear size

Switchgear fire protection

Any switchgear room must be protected against fire, This fire protection should be designed to deal with any possible fire accidents