What is low-voltage metal-enclosed switchgear?

Low-voltage metal-enclosed switchgear is a three-phase power distribution product designed to safely, efficiently and reliably supply electric power at voltages up to 1,000 volts and current up to 6,000 amps.

What is low voltage switchgear?

Low-voltage switchgear is often found on the secondary (low-voltage) side of a power distribution transformer. This transformer and switchgear combination is known as a substation. Low-voltage switchgear is typically used to feed low-voltage motor control centres (LV-MCC), low-voltage switchboards and other branch and feeder circuits.

Why is low-voltage switchgear important?

Low-voltage switchgear is vital to the safe and efficient distribution of electricity. It plays a key role in protecting systems, controlling energy flow, and enabling safe isolation for maintenance.

Why is a low-voltage switchgear compartmentalised?

The extensive compartmentalisation of low-voltage switchgear is designed to increase the safety, reliability and serviceability of the switchgear by preventing, for example, accidental contact with certain conductors such as the main bus or circuit breakers in adjacent cells while performing maintenance.

Why do data centres use LV switchgear?

Data centres, which rely on uninterrupted power, use LV switchgear to maintain the constant flow of electricity needed to keep servers and critical infrastructure online. Similarly, renewable energy systems, like solar or wind farms, rely on LV switchgear to ensure that the power they generate is safely and efficiently fed into the grid.

How does a low-voltage switchgear breaker work?

Power flows through the low-voltage switchgear enclosure via silver or tin-plated copper bus. Vertical sections (“risers”) of copper bus connect the breaker stabs which run horizontally into the breaker cells in a switchgear section and connect to the line sides of the feeder breakers via finger clusters.