Replacing Bottles in GE Magneblast Switchgear

The General Electric Magneblast is one of those iconic circuit breakers that if you spend any time in or around switchgear, you will have reason to deal with them. Manufactured from the 1950's through the early 1970's, they are usually found in large manufacturing facilities, from automotive plants to steel mills to repurposed properties that once had high volume production runs of one kind or another. It is sometimes called a "vertical lift" breaker. It is characterized by a unit that rolls into an enclosure and then lifted vertically into place and then connected to the line and load side by means of a vertical lift mechanism.

With ratings from 2.4kV through 15kV, frame sizes of 600, 1200, 2000 and even 3000 amp and interrupting ratings from 50MVA to 1000MVA, these breakers cover almost every conceivable industrial, commercial and utility application. Documentation for most of these frames can be found on our website www.npeinc.com/resources  or by contacting NPE personnel with specific requests at info@npeinc.com, 800-647-0815 or by fax 216-898-2684, yes, we still have one!

We have found over time, the original "tar pitch" that was used to insulate the primary conductor in the center of the primary disconnect bottle has outlived its useful lifespan. It can crack and absorb moisture and loosen the connection inside and eventually lead to catastrophic failure. That's where NPE and our experience can help to increase the safe, useful lifespan of your switchgear with our repotting program.

Regardless of what your GE Magneblast breaker and switchgear needs are, you will find that NPE has "The right part, at the right price, right now!"

National Power Equipment, Inc. is your one stop shop for air and vacuum circuit breakers, switchgear, primary switches, motor starters and of course, parts!

Allis Chalmers/Siemens Allis Cell Bottles...Almost Everything You Wanted to Know, but Didn't Know to Ask!

The cell bottles (primary disconnects) in Allis Chalmers horizontal drawout switchgear can be a little tricky to replace. These bottles are typically found in cabinets designed to operate FC, FB, FCV, FSV - 500 MVA - 1000 MVA circuit breakers. For example, FC-500, FB-500, FSV-500, FCV-750, etc. This follows all assembles rated 1200 amp or 2000 amp.

The assembly consists of a porcelain "bottle" with a round conductor on the inside which terminates in a flat conductor on the outside. The entire assembly is sealed on the outside with a molded insulation. The assembly is held in place with a steel mounting ring.

Of the six bottles in the cell, there are three different sizes. Three different ones on the line side so that the buss staggers to meet the cross buss and three of the same size on the load side. The tallest of the three measures roughly 16". The medium size measures around 12", and the shortest size measures approximately 9" from the base to the top of the conductor on the bottle.

Short                                                     Medium                                                         Tall

When these assemblies need to be replaced this information will need to be conveyed to our salesman to enable him to ensure that you will receive the correct assemblies. 

So give us a call or send us an email with as much information as you can and we'll take it from there!

NPE where our motto is "The right part, at the right price, right now!"