As safety related devices, Switchgear, Air and Vacuum Circuit Breakers and Motor Control Centers are critical to both human and plant safety and reliability. They protect property and lives regardless of the make, model or size. Over the years/decades, all of the manufacturers have developed and improved the product lines to make them smaller, safer and an overall better product. The original circuit breakers were designed as resettable protective devices to replace fuses. While fuses are still valuable in some applications, the flexibility of circuit breakers and switchgear and the improved safety factors included with them, are in a nutshell, nothing short of remarkable.

With that being said, in order to service these devices and in order to specify the correct replacement breakers and parts, it takes an experienced person with eyes on the details. Vintage, control voltages, accessories, trip type and functions all play critical rolls in this process. One of the critical questions we are asked is, "is it safe to use a used/reconditioned unit?" The answer to this question has three parts.

1. Yes, it is, if it's provided by a professional with years of experience doing so.
2. Yes, it is, if that professional has a written procedure for the process for certifying the unit for service including written test reports and follows guidelines set forth by ANSI and/or PEARL.

BEFORE                                        AFTER

National Power Equipment, Inc. is one of those companies that can and does provide such equipment. We can recondition your equipment or supply you with equipment from our large inventory. With both one-and two-year warranty programs based on the existing equipment and the customers needs and preferences. NPE has been keeping the lights and power on and production running for major facilities like automotive, steel mills, hospitals or anywhere 600VAC to 15KV equipment is used and maintained. 

So give us a call, send us an email, or even a fax (yes, we still have one of those, too!). We promise to give you the personal attention and service for your project needs and we will do everything possible to keep thelights on and production running smoothly. Our motto, "The right product, at the right price, right now" is something we are proud of and stand by every day!

Have you ever gotten an uneasy feeling when you're walking through your plant or shop that something isn't right? Maybe there's a sound, hum or vibration, maybe it's something else but you just can't shake it...

Our advice is trust your gut instincts.

As they say, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure".

Don't let this turn into:

• A failure during production
• Melted or damaged parts that cascade into a larger failure
• Surprise costs are never in the budget but always have to be dealt with

Let us help you prevent that from happening now!

With hundreds of breakers and thousands of parts - new, used, rebuilt or our ever-growing line of new and improved AFTERMARKET PARTS. Our lead times are usually measured in days (hours if need be) rather than in months and it's our job to not only help you recover from a problem but to help you avoid them in the first place!

Give us a call at 800-647-0815, send us an email info@npeinc.com or fax at 216-898-2684 and check out our RESOURCES page for parts guides, videos and blogs.

Let us know what we can do to help that uneasy felling go away before it gets out of control!

At National Power Equipment, Inc. we believe in the old adage "time is money". 

That is why:

• 90% of requests are answered the same day we receive them.
• 85% of orders are shipped within 24 hours.
• Next day air shipments are common place.
• Same say delivery is not out of the question.

When you need:

• Air Circuit Breakers
• Vacuum Circuit Breakers
• Parts
• Remanufacturing Services
• New and Improved Aftermarket Replacement Parts

Give us a call, send us an email or even a fax (yes, we still have one) and let's see what we can help you with today!

NPE, proving our motto every day...

"The right equipment, at the right price, right now!"

Since 1994 we have been specializing in 600VAC to 15KVAC equipment from World War II vintage through current production. Quoting both as removed from service or reconditioned with up to a two year warranty. Check us out at www.npeinc.com or give us a call at 800-647-0815 or fax at 216-898-2684. 

Most equipment does not fail simply due to age but rather because of lack of maintenance and environmental factors. If equipment is sized and maintained correctly, kept from moisture and other environmental degradations, it can and will typically perform well for decades beyond its original projected lifespan. If kept clean and dry and de-energized for periodic maintenance at least once a year but preferably twice a year, it typically will perform well.

Switchgear and circuit breakers are at the top of the list of these maintenance items. Yearly or bi-annual maintenance programs should include disassembly and inspection of components. Testing insulation for quality and contact surfaces for conductivity according to manufacturing and industry standards, as well as cleaning and lubrication of mechanical assemblies. This may even include complete disassembly to component level and renewal of silver, zinc and other plating. Upgrading of the trip unit to latest industry standards will improve both liability and flexibility because most of these trip units are adjustable through a wide range of settings. At NPE we stock and have a wide range of OEM trip units and also have a great working relationship with aftermarket providers, like Utility Relay and their AC Pro Trip Unit in all of its versions.

This type of service should be performed on a regular basis and it is also a good practice to have good spare breakers on hand to replace at least one of each type of breaker in your switchgear but ideally two or more depending on the size of the switchgear and its impact on production, if out of service. 

The lifespan of your switchgear can and should be extended through these programs as a matter of proper maintenance and budgeting. Maintenance and upgrades have repeatedly proven to be much more cost effective than replacement, requires less down time and doesn't disrupt other systems in the plant. 

National Power Equipment, Inc. can and will serve as an indispensable partner in their programs with equipment in stock and available to ship on short notice and we have the knowledge and experience to walk you through the pitfalls of equipment replacement that may be difficult for OEM's or others to document. 

So give us a call, send us an email or even a fax and let's see what we can help you with today! "The right equipment, at the right price, right now!"

Medium voltage load break switches control power to circuits with voltage ratings from 1kV to 52kV. These devices can be designed for both indoor and outdoor use and are used to interrupt the flow of power under both normal and emergency situations.

As their name suggests, load break switches differ from non-load break switches because they can safely be opened while power flows through the circuit that they are installed in.

In general, most common load break switches from 2.4kV through 15kV have a continuous rating of 600 amps. However, they are typically fused well below that. These parts are most often operated manually, but some models are also equipped with a motor driven mechanism with a shunt trip which allows them to be opened and closed remotely.

Common Applications for Medium Voltage Load Break Switches

There are a variety of applications that utilize these devices, including:

• Selector Switches - Sometimes called A-B switches, these parts select the power source that will be used to energize the primary of a transformer.
• Power Distribution - A group of switches, can be with or without a main, which direct power to various locations in a factory or other large facility.
• Primary - For a single transformer powering a secondary switchgear.
• Isolation - To de-energize equipment not being used or so that the switchgear can safely be serviced.

Load Break Switch Components

The components of a medium voltage load break switch include the switch body and housing, contacts and mechanism and arc extinguishing medium. The arc extinguishing medium can be air, vacuum of SF6 (sulfur hexafluoride) gas. Vacuum and SF6 gas are used when a medium is needed to provide effective current interruption with minimal contact wear. Air is a cost effective option, especially if the switches will see minimum cycling.

Maintenance Best Practices for Medium Voltage Load Break Switches

As with any mechanical or electromechanical device, regular scheduled maintenance is required. An ideal maintenance process includes:

• Visual inspection
• Lubrication of mechanism and contact joints
• Testing of insulators
• Conductivity testing of the closed switch to ensure minimum internal resistance

The frequency of this maintenance will vary depending on factors including frequency of operation and environmental considerations. Failure to properly maintain these switches can and will result in non-scheduled power outages with damage to surrounding property and can injure or kill personnel in the area.

With proper maintenance, many switchgear installations are still in service well past the time that the OEM stopped supporting them. The problem is that a lack of OEM support or a need for items with long lead times can extend the time of unintended outages, causing loss of production that run into tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. This makes the support of local used equipment dealers like National Power Equipment invaluable.

Replace Your Load Break Switches with NPE

NPE not only has switches and parts in stock and available for quick shipment but also the experience and knowledge to guide you through pitfalls in things like parts interchangeability that wouldn't otherwise be apparent in the field.

As always, knowledge and information are critical. By gathering the following information, NPE can help you find the right part at the right price:

• Nameplate information
• Photos of the overall switch
• Details of the parts in question

Give us a call at (800) 647-0815 or contact us online for your switchgear and circuit breaker needs.