POWERCON CORPORATION

MODERN LOAD-BREAK INTERRUPTER

SWITCHES, TYPE PIF

BROCHURE #PC-016

ELECTRONIC VERSION CREATED: 7/21/96

Powercon Corporation
P.O. Box 477
1551 Florida Avenue
Severn, Maryland 21144
Baltimore: 410-551-6500
Washington: 301-621-7400
Fax: 410-551-8451
http://www.powerconcorp.com
email: info@powerconcorp.com
 APPLICATION

Powercon Load Break Interrupter Switches are applied in the control and switching of Power distribution Systems
having nominal a.c. voltage ratings from 2.4kV to 34.5kV. They are capable of switching 600 & 1200 amperes.
Table 1 lists the applicable limits and conditions of switching. These switches are available with either electrical or
mechanical operators. When used in conjunction with fuses they will afford overload, short circuit and disconnect
services. These switches are used:

On the primary of transformers for their protection and isolation

For the protection and isolation of single circuit systems.
For the protection and isolation of multi-circuit systems
For automatic transfer schemes where their ratings are not exceeded.

APPLICABLE INDUSTRY STANDARDS:

• NEMA SG-5 - Power Switchgear Assemblies

• NEMA SG-6 - Power Switching Equipment
• NEMA C37.20 - Switchgear Assemblies
• NEMA C37.30 - Requirements for High Voltage Air Switches
• NEMA C37.31 - Indoor Apparatus Insulators for High Voltage Switches
• NEMA C37.33 - Preferred Ratings and Mfg. Specs for High Voltage Switches
• ANSI C37.33 - Rated Control Voltages and Ranges for High Voltage Switches
• ANSI C37.34 - Test Code for High Voltage Air Switches

Table 1.
INDOOR AIR INTERRUPTER SWITCH RATINGS
(These ratings apply to switches and equipment with stored energy operated switches)
(Special ratings available - consult factory)

Voltage Ratings Current Ratings

1 Min. Fault
Power 1.2 X 50 Continu Contact Moment 3 Sec. Close
Nominal Max. Freq. Impulse ous Interrup ary AMP AMP
KV RMS Design KV Withstand Withstand AMP ting AMP RMS RMS
RMS KV RMS KV BIL RMS Rating RMS ASYM.
AMP ASYM.
RMS
4.16 4.76 19 60 600 600 40000 25000 40000
1200 1200 61000 38000 61000
7.2 8.25 26 75 600 600 4000 25000 40000
1200 1200 61000 38000 61000
13.8 17.0 36 95 600 600 40000 25000 40000
1200 1200 61000 38000 61000
14.4 17.0 50 110 600 600 40000 25000 40000
1200 1200 61000 38000 61000
23.0 25.8 60 125 600 600 40000 25000 40000
1200 600 40000 25000 40000
34.5 38.0 80 150 600 600 40000 25000 40000
1200 600 40000 25000 40000
34.5 38.0 95 200 600 600 40000 25000 40000
1200 600 40000 25000 40000
NOTE: 60,000 Ampere Momentary Ratings are available on request for 600 Ampere Switches
 PIF FRAME MOUNTED HEAVY DUTY RUGGED INDUSTRIAL LOAD BREAK SWITCHES WITH
SUPERIOR FEATURES PROVIDE:

• Unequaled Dependability
• Minimum Maintenance
• Long Interrupting Life
• Greater Safety
• Simple to Install and Operate

ARCING CHAMBERS

Tungsten material stationary arcing contacts are located inside the arc chutes. They remain at the same potential as the
main stationary contact. As the quick break blade is withdrawn from the arc chute it parts with the stationary arcing
contacts inside the chute. The chute is made from a specially prepared compound that evolves a gas to quickly
extinguish the arc. Clean consistent interruptions result. No appreciable amounts of gas are evolved.

MAIN MOVEABLE BLADES

These blades are made of 99% conductivity hard drawn ETP copper bars and they are heavily silver-plated at the
contact points for long dependable operation.

QUICK BREAK BLADE

The quick break arcing blade is made of a special high strength, hi conductivity material tipped with a tungsten arcing
material. A quick break spring charging mechanism is mounted on the blade that with an assist from the arcing
chamber stationary contacts prevents the opening until after the main contacts part at the proper clearance spacing.

PORCELAIN SWITCH INSULATORS

The near ULTIMATE in insulation

Wet process porcelain is used as the insulating support for the main hinge and jaw contacts. Porcelain is a tried and
true material proven in service as the near ultimate in insulation. It has excellent dielectric characteristics, is non-
tracking, non-combustible, non-hygroscopic, won't age, and is easy to clean. No organic materials can compare to the
performance of porcelain.
A SUPER STRUCTURE

Powercon's all welded frame design provides a ruggedness and greater structural strength which is in a class by itself.
The jig welded structural members form an assembly to provide ii plumb and square switch unit. This assures
interchangeability of units and results in a minimum of installation
time.

STATIONARY ARCING TIPS

Powercon arcing blades and tips are designed to prevent arcing blades from hanging up in the stationary arcing
contacts. Successful tests with welded stationary contacts have been made and it has been successfully demonstrated
that these tips do not hang up.

STATIONARY CONTACTS

Both Hinge and Jaw contacts are heavy copper castings capable of absorbing and dissipating the heating from the large
short circuits which may be encountered. The contact pressure is maintained on these contacts with selected spring
washers especially adapted to maintain suitable pressure for many operations and over many years of operational
performance. The retaining nuts are Elastic Stop Nuts to prevent vibration, shock, and operation loosening the joint.
Special dirt sealing designs effectively prevent the entrance of dust or dirt into the contact making area.
The contact area is silver to silver to maintain optimum current carrying ability and decrease heating.

STORED ENERGY MECHANISM

The powerful opening and closing springs of Powercon’s off-center stored energy mechanism provides for quick
make (rated fault closing) and quick break (rated load interruption). The switch mechanism shaft is driven by a chain
and sprocket from the front operating handle. As the handle is rotated, it is directly connected to a sprocket which in
turn, chain drives the opening spring to a “charged” position. As the operator continues to rotate the handle, the
charged spring is driven off-center by the chain and releases its energy into rotating the operating shaft to operate. The
switch blades will not move, in either a closing or opening direction, until the closing spring causes rotation in the
operating shaft. It should be noted, that once the springs are moved off-center, the operation has no further control of
the opening and closing operation. He therefor has a fault closing and rated load break feature independent of his
performance ANTI-FRICTION BEARINGS provide for a smooth operating performance.
 SPECIAL FEATURES and
SPECIFICATIONS AVAILABLE
ACCESSORIES
Electrical Operators:
Air interrupter switches shall be group operated of the stored
energy type, 3 pole single throw, utilizing a direct acting spring • Standard Close - Standard Open
charged mechanism for both closing and opening functions. • Quick Close - Standard Open
Switch mechanisms shall be operable externally from the front • Standard Close - Quick Trip -
or side of the cubicle and shall be equipped with a quick-make • Quick Close - Quick Trip -
quick-break mechanism to open and close the switch
independent of the speed with which the operating handle is Manual Operators:
moved. "Teasing" of the switch poles will not be permitted.
• Manual Close - Quick Trip (Electric)-
• Manual Quick Close - Standard
They shall have main and arcing contacts and be designed to Open -
provide maximum endurance for load interrupting and fault • Manual Close - Manual Quick Trip -
closing. The arcing contacts shall be spring loaded on break and
shall be last in last out. They shall operate in an arc chute Mounting
designed to assist in interruption, & liberate no appreciable gases
on interruption. • Inverted
• 2 High Stack
All components except operating handle system shall be • Horizontal
mounted on a jig welded frame to form a rugged unitized • Extended Side Frames
assembly accomplished in jigs & fixtures to insure all parts
function as required. A strict quality control program shall in Handles
instituted & followed.
• Removable
• Left Side
The main blades shall be made of electrolytically pure cold • Direct Drive
rolled copper. All contact points shall be heavily silver plated • Drilling for Keylocks
on blades as well as the hinge & jaw castings. These contacts
each will be one piece castings to provide maximum heat Insulation
dissipation & continuous current transfer.
• Porcelain for 5KV and Below o 1
W& process porcelain insulators shall be used to insulate the 10KV BIL for 7.2KV thru 15KV
hinge & jaw castings from the frame on all rating, above 5KV.
Reinforced glass polyester shall be used on 5KV & below. Accessories

• Phase Barriers
Rating of interrupter switches shall be as outlined in table page 1
• Ground Bales
of this publication. When used with fuses ratings shall be • Universal Fuse Hinge Castings e key
dependent upon specified fuse characteristics. Interlocks
• Cable Connectors
The switch shall conform to or exceed ANSI Standards for high-
voltage air switches and switchgear assemblies C37,30-1971, Consult factory for special arrangements
C37.32-1972, C37.34-1970, C37.20C-1974. Upon request, and applications.
certified test reports shall be provided, proving published
interrupting, short-time, momentary, BIL, dielectric and fault- *In accord with industry standards, a
closing ratings. deliberate time delay between closing and
opening must be provided in these
switches. Accordingly, in order to open
All components of the switch shall be completely checked and
the switch, the opening springs must be
operated in compliance with documented quality assurance
charged after the switch is closed and vice
procedure to insure that all parts function as intended after versa to introduce this time delay.
manufacture and assembly. Testing shall consist of power
frequency withstand and mechanical operations.
 ORDERING DATA

Specify the Following:

1. Voltage
2. Continuous Current F± Interrupting Rating
3. Close & Latch Rating
4. Frequency & Poles
5. Manual or Electrical Operation
(Specify Control Voltage for Electrical Operators)
6. Handle Arrangement
7. Optional Accessories

NOTES
1. The enclosure and insulating-barrier dimensions
listed herein have been determined using the Switch Minimum Recommended Clearances, Inches
minimum clearances (shown in Note 4) Rating, Kv,
BIL
recommended to maintain the inherent electrical
Metal-to Energized Barrier to
ratings of Powercon type PIF Switches when Metal* part to Ground (in
installed in metal enclosures. These clearances (Phase to Barrier vicinity of
are sufficient provided that normal consideration phase, phase energized
has been given to avoidance of point-gap to phase parts)
configurations. When installing bus or cable ground)
connections and cable terminations, these 60 3.5 .75 .75
clearances should be observed. 95 6 1.5 1.5
125 8.5 2.5 2.5
2. For enclosures wherein PIF Switches are to be 150 10.5 3.5 3.5
combined with Power Fuses in a "switch-over- 200 15 5 5
fuse" configuration, recommended minimum
fuse-component clearances may govern in
determining the enclosure dimensions. 5. In as much as Powercon has no control over the
use to which others may put this material, responsibility
3. For enclosures wherein Powercon PIF Switches for its application and compliance with the applicable
are to be combined with Power Fuses in a "fuse- standards and codes of the final enclosed assembly will not
over-switch" configuration, consult the be assumed by Powercon. The disconnect switches will
Powercon Corp. perform as described herein when used with the proper
technology, application, and maintenance.
4. If the complete assembly consisting of enclosure,
switch, barriers, bus, connectors, terminators, etc.
is not impulse tested to verify that it will fully
meet its assigned BIL rating, the assembly
should be checked to ensure that the following
minimum recommended clearances have been
met or exceeded. Greater clearances may be
required if corners, edges, or small radius, points
exist.