E – 1674 Low Voltage Switchgear

Low-voltage switchgear is typically used name for metal-enclosed or metal-clad low-voltage power circuit breaker switchgear rated for 600V alternating current (AC) and below. The metal-enclosed switchgear is completely enclosed on all sides and top with metal sheets and has stationary primary power circuit switching or interrupting elements, or both, with buses and connections. The metal-clad low-voltage switchgear has removable circuit breakers which are housed in individual earthed metal compartments. There are two basic low-voltage switchgear types. They are indoor and outdoor types. Indoor switchgear consists of a front section containing circuit breakers, meters, protection relays and controls, bus section, and cable entrance section. The outdoor section is similar to the indoor switchgear except a structure that is provided around it for weather-proofing. Low-voltage switchgear takes on many specific forms and functions that combine metering, monitoring, control, protection, and distribution. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) now provide a wide variety of low-voltage switchgear arrangements, some of them very custom, to meet the user’s requirements.