Autoreclosers are circuit breakers that reset themselves after being tripped by transient faults such as lightning strikes or animal activity. They are commonly used on mains power networks and industrial machines, and come in single-phase and three-phase types with programmable controls. Autoreclosers can attempt to recover power a pre-set number of times before remaining open if the fault persists. They are also used to counteract intermittent trailing cable failures and power overloads in heavy industrial machines. Personnel should be aware of the status of the autoreclose function to avoid electrocution.
An autorecloser is a circuit breaker that can reset itself after being tripped or opened by a line fault. These types of switches are usually used on mains power networks, although they are sometimes installed on industrial machine feeds. The concept behind autoreclose is the automated resumption of electrical supplies where line faults are transient by nature. Faults include lightning strikes and bird or animal activity and would normally require manual intervention to recover, thus leaving consumers without power for extended periods. The self-close is programmed to make a pre-set number of power recovery attempts before remaining open should the fault persist.
A large proportion of overhead line faults on electrical power networks are transient in nature and resolve almost immediately. Examples of these faults include lightning, windblown objects, and animals climbing lines. This type of failure is usually a one-time event that does not require corrective action. If conventional breakers are used, however, a technician must physically reset them before restoring power; often the result is that consumers go without power for long periods. Self-reset switches, on the other hand, reset automatically after a short period and, if the fault has resolved, remain closed, thus resuming normal energy supply. Most are programmed to do this a number of times, usually three attempts, before latching open if the error persists.
The designs of the self-reclosing circuit breakers include both single-phase and three-phase types and cover most charging and blocking methods such as vacuum, oil and gas systems. The controls that operate the autoreclose function are programmable and range in sophistication from fairly simple electromechanical versions to sophisticated digital systems. Digital automatic locking systems typically include a range of additional diagnostic features such as metering and event loggers. A wide range of breaker capacities are also available in self-closing configurations and include line voltages from 2,400 volts to 38,000 volts or more and loads up to 1,200 amps. Typical fault current ratings on self-closing circuit breakers are between 500 and 12,000 amperes.
These circuit breakers are also found in heavy industrial machines, especially those located in remote areas, such as pumps and trenching drag lines. In these cases, self-closing switches are installed to counteract intermittent trailing cable failures and power overloads. In both these and network environments, all personnel who may be required to troubleshoot or troubleshoot system failures should be aware of the status of a circuit breaker’s automatic closing device to avoid being electrocuted in the event of an unexpected closure of the circuit breaker. switch.
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