What Are Vacuum Circuit Breakers?
Vacuum circuit breakers are circuit breakers which are used to protect medium and high voltage circuits from dangerous electrical situations. Like other types of circuit breakers, vacuum circuit breakers literally break the circuit so that energy cannot continue flowing through it, thereby preventing fires, power surges, and other problems which may emerge. These devices have been utilized since the 1920s, and several companies have introduced refinements to make them even safer and more effective.
Vacuum circuit breakers are circuit breakers which are used to protect medium and high voltage circuits from dangerous electrical situations. Like other types of circuit breakers, vacuum circuit breakers literally break the circuit so that energy cannot continue flowing through it, thereby preventing fires, power surges, and other problems which may emerge. These devices have been utilized since the 1920s, and several companies have introduced refinements to make them even safer and more effective. In a vacuum circuit breaker, two electrical contacts are enclosed in a vacuum. One of the contacts is fixed, and one of the contacts is movable. When the circuit breaker detects a dangerous situation, the movable contact pulls away from the fixed contact, interrupting the current. Because the contacts are in a vacuum, arcing between the contacts is suppressed, ensuring that the circuit remains open. As long as the circuit is open, it will not be energized.
