LOW VOLTAGE SWITCHGEAR – TERMINOLOGY DEMYSTIFIED
(Article published in the March 2007 issue of “HYDEL” – the technical journal of the
KSEB Engineers’ Association)
by: K.Sivakumar, Sr.Executive-Training, Larsen & Toubro Limited, Switchgear
Training Centre, Coonoor (T.N.)
Introduction: About 70% of the
electrical engineers working in industry
happen to work mainly on the Low
Voltage Switchgear. But, unfortunately,
this subject is not paid enough attention
in our electrical engineering academic
curriculum. Hence, when the field
electrical engineer goes through the
manufacturers’ catalogues/data sheets
of low voltage switchgear, they are
bemused. The switchgear specification
terminology appears a big jargon for
them. An attempt is made in this article
to demystify the switchgear jargon.
Every type of switchgear will have
certain set of characteristic quantities
associated with it. These characteristic
quantities are normally stated in form
of ratings or specifications in the
product catalogue supplied by the
manufacturer. A few of the
specifications are also marked on the
nameplate of the equipment. For a user
of switchgear, it is important to know
about what these characteristic
quantities mean. Following is the brief
description for commonly used
characteristic qualities.
Voltages: An equipment is defined by
the following voltages:
Rated Operational Voltage (Ue): It is
that value of voltage, which combined
with a rated operational current,
determines the application of the
equipment and to which the relevant
tests and the utilization categories are
referred. For single pole equipment, the
rated operational voltage is generally
stated as the voltage across the pole. For
multiple pole equipment, it is generally
stated as the voltage between phases.
Rated Insulation Voltage (Ui): It is the
value of voltage to which dielectric test
voltage and creepage distances are
referred. In no case shall the maximum
the value of Ue should be more than Ui.
Rated Impulse Withstand Voltage
(Uimp): It is the peak value of an impulse
voltage of prescribed form & polarity,
which the equipment is capable of
withstanding without failure under
specified conditions of test & to which
the values of the clearances are
referred. The rated impulse withstand
voltage of an equipment shall be equal
to or higher than the values stated for
the transient over voltages occurring in
the circuit in which the equipment is
fitted.
Table 1: Preferred values of Uimp for a Currents: An equipment is defined by
nominal supply system voltage of the following currents:
240/415V, in case of over voltage
protection by surge arrestors according Conventional free air thermal current
to IEC: (Ith): It is the maximum value of current
as stated by the manufacturer to be
Preferred used for temperature–rise tests of
Over voltage category Values of unenclosed equipment in free air. The
Uimp, kV switching device must be capable of
(1.2/50µs) conducting this test current without the
IV Origin of 6 temperature rise limits given in the
installation level relevant Indian Standard being
III Distribution 4 exceeded (temperature rise limits of
circuit level terminals as per IS is 70oC for silver
II Load 2.5 plated copper for all switchgear (except
(equipment) level circuit breaker). It must be at least
I Specially 1.5 equal to the maximum value of the
protected level rated operational current of the
unenclosed equipment in eight-hour
duty. It is not a rating & is not
Rated Control Circuit Voltage (Uc): It is
mandatorily marked on the equipment.
the voltage, which would appear across
the “a” contacts in the control circuit.
Conventional enclosed thermal current
(Ithe): It is the value of current stated by
Rated Control Supply Voltage (Us): It is
the manufacturer to be used for the
the voltage at which generally auxiliary
temperature-rise tests of the equipment
circuits and more precisely the control
when mounted in a specified enclosure.
circuits are operated or to which they
Such tests are mandatory if the
must be connected for correct
equipment is described as enclosed
operation. A distinction is made
equipment in the manufacturer’s
between Uc & Us. Us may be different
catalogues & normally intended for use
from Uc, due to presence of built in
with one or more enclosure of specified
transformers, rectifiers, resisters etc.
type & size. It shall be at least equal to
The rated control circuit voltage and
the maximum value of the rated
the rated frequency, if any, are the
operational current of the enclosed
values on which the operating and
equipment in eight-hour duty. If the
temperature rise characteristics of the
equipment is normally intended for use
control circuit are based. The correct
in unspecified enclosures, the test is not
operating conditions are based upon a
mandatory, if the test for Ith has been
value of the control supply voltage not
made. It is not a rating & is not
less than 85% of its rated value, with
mandatorily marked on the equipment.
the highest value of control circuit
current flowing, nor more than 110% of
its rated value.
Rated Operational Current (Ie): It is
stated by the manufacturer and takes
into account the rated operational
voltage, the rated frequency, the rated
duty, the utilization category & the type
of protective enclosure, if applicable.
Switchgear may have several rated
operational currents. In the case of
equipment for direct switching of
individual motors, the indication of a
rated operational current may be
replaced or supplemented by an
indication of the maximum rated power
output, at the rated operational voltage
considered, of the motor for which the
equipment is intended.
Rated uninterrupted current (Iu): It is a
value of current, stated by the
manufacturer, which the equipment can
carry in uninterrupted duty (a duty in
which the main contacts of equipment
remain closed, whilst carrying a steady
current without interruption for periods
of more than eight hours i.e. weeks,
months or even years).
Rated current (In): This rating is
defined for circuit breaker & fuses. For
circuit breaker, the rated current is the
rated uninterrupted current (Iu) & is
equal to the conventional free-air
thermal current (Ith). For fuse-link, the
rated current is that value of current,
which it can carry continuously without
deteriorating, under specified condition.
Rated Frequency: It is the supply
frequency for which equipment is
designed & to which the other
characteristic values correspond. The
same equipment may be assigned a
number or a range of rated frequencies
or be rated for both A.C. and D.C.
Utilization Category: It is a combination
of specified requirements related to the
conditions in which the switching device
or the fuse fulfills its purpose, selected
to represent a characteristic group of
practical applications. The specified
requirements may concern, for
example, the values of making
capacities (if applicable), breaking
capacities & other characteristics, the
associated circuits & the relevant
conditions of use and behavior.
Normal Load & Overload
Characteristics: The ability to make &
break currents under normal load &
overload conditions is stated in terms of
following two ratings:
Rated Breaking Capacity: The rated
breaking capacity of an equipment
is a value of current, stated by the
manufacturer, which the equipment
can satisfactorily break under
specified breaking conditions. The
breaking conditions which shall be
specified are: a) the phase-to-phase
voltage across the supply terminals
of the equipment after the breaking
of the current & b) the
characteristics of the test circuit.
The rated breaking capacity is
stated by reference to rated
operational current, according to
relevant Indian Standard (IS) on
the product. An equipment shall be
capable of breaking any value of
current up to and including its
rated breaking capacity. For A.C.,
it is expressed by the r.m.s. value of
the symmetrical component of the
current.
 reference to rated operational voltage &
rated operational current, according to
relevant Indian standard (IS) on the
Short Rated Rated Service product. An equipment shall be capable
Circuit Ultimate S/C S/C Breaking of making any value of current up to
Category Breaking Capacity, Ics and including its rated making capacity.
Capacity, Icu For A.C., it is expressed by the r.m.s.
value of the symmetrical component of
Switching O – t - CO O – t – CO – t the current.
Cycle (O- - CO
Open; Short Circuit Characteristics: Short
CO-Close circuit currents may be encountered
Open; during current making, during current
t-Pause carrying in closed position & during
time) current interruption. The ability of the
Condition A A equipment to make, carry & break
of circuit temperature temperature short circuit currents is stated in terms
breaker rise test is rise test is to of one or more of the following ratings:
after the not be performed
S/C test compulsory. with rated Rated Short-Circuit Making Capacity
The breaker current. The (Icm): The rated short-circuit making
may not be breaker shall capacity of an equipment is the
capable of be able to maximum value of short circuit current,
carrying its conduct its stated by the manufacturer, which the
rated current rated current equipment can satisfactorily make at
continuously. without prior the rated operational voltage, at rated
Limited shift maintenance. frequency and at a specified power
of the Shift of O/L factor of A.C. It is expressed as the
overload characteristics maximum prospective peak current,
release not under prescribed condition.
characteristic permissible.
curve is Rated Short Time Withstand Current
permissible. (Icw): It is the current that an equipment
can carry without damage during
Rating Making Capacity: The rated specified short time under prescribed
making capacity of an equipment is a conditions of use and behavior.
value of current, stated by the
manufacturer, which the equipment can Rated Short-Circuit Breaking Capacity
satisfactorily make under specified (Icn): The rated short-circuit breaking
making conditions. The making capacity of an equipment is the
conditions which shall be specified are: maximum value of short circuit current,
a) the phase-to-phase voltage across the stated by the manufacturer, which the
supply terminals of the equipment just equipment can satisfactorily break at
before the making of the current & the rated operational voltage, at rated
b) the characteristics of test circuit. The frequency and at a specified power
rated making capacity is stated by factor of A.C. It is expressed as the
r.m.s. value of the a.c. component,
under prescribed condition.
Rated ultimate short circuit breaking
capacity (Icu): It is the value of ultimate
short circuit breaking capacity (a
breaking capacity for which the
prescribed conditions according to a
specified test sequence do not include
the capability of the circuit breaker to
carry its rated current continuously)
assigned to that circuit breaker by the
manufacturer for the corresponding
rated operational voltage, under
specified conditions. It is expressed as
the value of the prospective breaking
current, in kA (r.m.s.).
Rated service short circuit breaking
capacity (Icn): It is the value of service
short circuit breaking capacity (a
breaking capacity for which the
prescribed conditions according to a
specified test sequence include the
capability of the circuit breaker to carry
its rated current continuously) assigned
to that circuit breaker by the
manufacturer for the corresponding
rated operational voltage, under
specified conditions. It is expressed as
the value of the prospective breaking
current, in kA (r.m.s.), corresponding to
one of the specified percentages of the
rated ultimate short circuit breaking
capacity.
Utilization Utilization
Category A (Ics as Category B (Ics as
a % of Icu) a % of Icu)
25 - between the instant of the first initiation
50 50
75 75
100 100
Table 3: Standard ratios between Icu &
Ics
Time Intervals: Closing & opening
operations of a switching device may be
defined by following times:
Opening Time: It is the interval of time
between the specified instant of
initiation of the opening operation & the
instant when the arcing contacts have
separated in all poles. The instant of
initiation of the opening operation
means the instant of the application of
the opening command, e.g. energizing
the release etc. In case of a directly
operated circuit breaker, the instant of
initiation of the opening time is the
instant of initiation of a current large
enough to cause the circuit breaker to
operate. In the case of a circuit breaker
operated by any form of auxiliary
power, the instant of initiation of the
opening time is the instant of
application of the auxiliary power to the
opening release. For circuit breakers
opening time is commonly referred to as
tripping time, although, strictly
speaking, tripping time applies to the
time between the instant of initiation of
the opening time and the instant when
the opening command becomes
irreversible.
Arcing Time: It is the interval of time
between the instant of initiation of the
arc in a pole or a fuse & the instant of
final arc extinction in that pole or that
fuse. In a multiple-pole switching
device, it will be the interval of time
of an arc & the instant of final arc
extinction in all poles.
Break Time: It is the interval of time
between the beginning of the opening
time of a mechanical switching device
(or the pre-arcing time of a fuse) & the
end of the arcing time.
Make Time: It is the interval of time
between the initiation of the closing
operation and the instant when the
current begins to flow in the main
circuit.
Closing Time: It is the interval of time
between the initiation of the closing
operation and the instant when the
contacts touch in all poles.
Pre-arcing Time: It is the time between
the commencement of a current large
enough to cause the fuse element(s) to
melt & the instant when an arc is
initiated.
Operating Time: It is the sum of pre-
arcing & the arcing time.
Operational Life: It is the duration for
which electrical equipment operates
reliably (or is expected to operate
reliably) under normal specified
operating conditions. The
operational life of a switching
device is expressed as the number of
make-break operations the device
will perform.
Electrical Life: It is the number of on-
load switching operations, which the
device can perform without any repair
or replacements. The electrical life
depends on the utilization category, the
rated operational current & the rated
operational voltage.
Mechanical Life: It is the number of no-
load switching operations (i.e. with
no current flowing through the
poles) which the switching device
can perform without mechanical
failure.
Service Conditions: The switchgear
manufacturer claims the ratings after
testing as per the procedures specified
in the standards. The standards also
specify the service conditions under
which the tests are to be carried out.
Following are the service conditions
considered:
Ambient air temperature: It is the
temperature existing in the vicinity of
the equipment if supplied without
enclosure or in vicinity of the enclosure
if supplied with an enclosure.
Altitude: It is the height above the sea
level where the equipment is going to be
installed.
Humidity: It is the moisture content in
air expressed in percentage (i.e.
relative humidity).
Pollution degree: The pollution degree
refers to the environmental conditions
for which the equipment is intended.
For equipment intended for use within
an enclosure or provided with an
integral enclosure, the pollution degree
of the environment in the enclosure is
applicable. Unless otherwise stated by
the relevant product standard,
equipment for industrial application is
generally for use in pollution degree 3
environment according to which
conductive pollution occurs, or dry non-
conductive pollution occurs which
becomes conductive due to
condensation. Conclusion: It is hoped that at least
some of the switchgear jargons are
clarified above. Further reference can
be made to IS 13947 (Specification for
Low Voltage Switchgear &
Controlgear) & IS 13703 (Specification
for Low Voltage Fuses).

Service Normal Values

Conditions
Ambient
temperature:
Max. allowable
value + 40°C

Max. allowable
value of 24 hour
average + 35°C

Lowest allowable
value - 5° C

Humidity:
Relative humidity 50% at 40°C

Altitude: Max.
altitude (above
sea level) 2000m

Table 4: Normal service conditions in

terms of Indian Standards.

Switchgears intended to be used in

conditions other than normal service
conditions, should be designed
accordingly or used according to the
relevant product standard, where
applicable, or according to agreement
between manufacturer & user. Many
times certain correction factors are
employed in case actual service
conditions differ from normal.