If you want to use an oil circuit breaker (also called an oil power circuit breaker), you must have enough information about its types and applications. If you are using high voltage oil circuit breakers, you must maintain those properly, as oil can be flammable.

If you want to be an electrical technician, you must understand the installation procedure for oil insulation circuit breakers. Additionally, you must be aware of the safety precautions that you must follow while changing the circuit breaker oil. If you wish to be an oil circuit breaker manufacturer, you will need to have information about oil circuit breaker design and manufacturing processes.

To acquire information about oil circuit breaker (OCB) products, you can:

1. Search for training programs that provide information about various circuit breakers, including oil circuit breakers
2. Read through magazines and journals about the electrical power distribution industry
3. Join associations to enrich your knowledge about circuit breakers
4. Consult an expert if you want to use a special type of oil circuit breaker, such as a minimum oil circuit breaker or a heavy voltage circuit breaker

Action Steps
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Attend training programs that provide information about oil circuit breakers

If you want to use an oil circuit breaker, you will need to train your employees about its operation and maintenance. In addition, if you want to pursue a career as an electrical technician, you will need to attend certificate courses at reputable training institutions.

I recommend: Los Angeles Trade-Technical College offers apprentice education programs that provide information on oil circuit breakers. The Electricity Forum offers an onsite training program called ‘Substation Maintenance Training Course’ that covers circuit breaker maintenance as a part of its curriculum. Northwest Territories Education, Culture and Employment also provides apprenticeship training programs, including a program called ‘Powerline Electrician Program’.

Join associations to improve your knowledge about OCB products

To keep track of technological updates in OCB products, you can join associations for companies that manufacture electrical products. These associations also provide other useful features, such as a technical library or a discussion forum for industry professionals.

I recommend: You can join IEEE, an association of electrical and electronics engineers that provides education programs, magazines and technical standards. You can also register as a member at NEMA, another association for the electrical manufacturing industry.

Read through periodicals that provide information about OCB products

You can subscribe to magazines and journals dedicated to the electrical power distribution industry. These magazines provide information about various aspects of the OCB products market, such as new products, their applications and maintenance procedures.

I recommend: You can subscribe to Electricity-Today, a magazine that provides information about new products in the electrical industry. NETA World is a quarterly publication for professionals in the electrical testing and maintenance industry. Transmission & Distribution World is another magazine for professionals in the electric power industry.

Oil circuit breakers are circuit breakers that stop the flow of electricity by means of oil. When there is an excessive electrical overload or a voltage failure, a triggering mechanism in the oil circuit breaker pulls the electrical contacts apart and immerses the contacts in oil, thus preventing any more current from flowing. This process allows oil power circuit breakers to be fast-acting and easily reset.

Early on in electrical system development, most high voltage circuit breakers were oil circuit breakers. New technology has moved the residential market away from oil circuit breakers, but the industrial market continues to use them in many applications. Oil insulation circuit breakers offer industrial operations several advantages such as:

1. Oil circuit breakers have fewer operating mechanisms than other types of circuit breakers resulting in less maintenance and fewer repairs.

2. The electrical contacts in OCBs seal, protecting against dirt and the elements.

3. Oil's superior cooling properties make it an excellent medium to use in circuit breakers.

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Purchase high voltage oil circuit breakers

Companies that operate power stations or high voltage machinery require oil power circuit breakers with voltage ratings higher than 600 volts. High voltage oil circuit breakers are available is several styles.

I recommend: ABB offers many types of high and medium voltage oil insulated circuit breakers including the advanced minimum oil circuit breaker. Industrial Control Systems offers an industrial oil circuit breaker.

Consider a used oil circuit breaker to cut costs

When price is an issue, consider buying a used oil circuit breaker. Several companies specialize in used and rebuilt oil fuse circuit breakers and fully guarantee their products.

I recommend: Belyea has a large online listing of recycled oil circuit breakers. Tucson Transformer and Apparatus offers reconditioned substation oil circuit breakers for use in electrical power distribution substations.

Maintain your existing oil circuit breaker

Routine testing to evaluate the condition of a circuit breaker, oil power circuit breaker or oil insulation circuit breaker is key. In addition, oil circuit breakers can lose performance from wear, poor contact surfaces, misalignment and improper timing of contact movement. Maintenance kits are available online that can help you keep your oil circuit breaker in good running condition.

I recommend: High Voltage Supply (HVS) is a leading manufacturer of replacement parts for oil circuit breaker components and offers maintenance kits for oil circuit breakers. Midwest offers maintenance kits designed to update oil circuit breaker protection functions.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The majority of accidents involving electrical personnel occur when any type of circuit breaker, including an oil circuit breaker, is inadvertently left closed or accidentally closes.

An oil circuit breaker is a type of circuit breaker that uses oil for disconnecting current carrying components. These circuit breakers are useful in high voltage circuits in industrial applications. With the advancement in technology, these products are also available with low voltage specifications for use in residential applications.

Whether you want to buy oil circuit breakers or you want to be a supplier of OCB products and their accessories, you will need to understand various technical terms. This guide will explain key terms relating to oil circuit breakers, such as AC, DC, kV, ampere and NEC.

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AC (Alternating Current)

AC is an electric current in which the direction of flow is reversed at frequent intervals. An alternating current flows from zero to a positive maximum and then back to zero. The current then flows down again to a negative maximum and returns to zero.

I recommend: All About Circuits, an online resource, publishes technical information about alternating current. You can also read through the glossary at Energy Classroom, an informative website by Xcel Energy.

DC (Direct Current)

Unlike AC, DC is an electric current in which the electron flow is unidirectional. DC might be constant or varying.

I recommend: For the definition of this term, you can read through the glossary of technical terms at Baldor Electric Company.

kV (Kilovolt)

Generally, specifications for OCB products are expressed in terms of kV, the unit used to measure electric potential between two points. One kV is 1,000 volts and 1 volt is defined as the potential (or electromotive force or EMF) required to produce current of one ampere through resistance of one ohm.

I recommend: For more information about kV, read through the glossary at Tyco Electronics, a supplier of industrial electronic products. In addition, Silicon Valley Power provides a glossary of terms for power industry professionals.

Amperes

An ampere is another unit for specifying OCB products. For electrical products, the current rating is expressed in terms of amperes.

I recommend: To understand the basics of this term, read through information at Maxim Integrated Products. Responsible Energy Corporation also provides a brief description of this term.

Viscosity

Viscosity indicates the resistance of the fluid to flow. Viscosity of the oil is an important parameter for the design and performance of an oil circuit breaker.

I recommend: To understand the meaning of viscosity and its units, read through information at STLE (Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers). Additionally, Eaton Corporation offers a hydraulics glossary that explains various definitions, including viscosity.

NEC (National Electrical Code)

NEC is a set of guidelines for the safe, efficient and durable functioning of electrical equipment. You must be aware of requirements about OCB products outlined by NEC.

I recommend: Maintenance Resources, an online information resource for the maintenance and repair of electrical equipment, provides a description of NEC requirements for circuit breakers.

Oil circuit breakers were once dominate in the product marketplace. However, the compressed air circuit breaker is gaining in popularity. This competition helps brings the pricing and cost structure down. As is the case with any product but especially an important one like a circuit breaker, you want to balance pricing with quality. If you purchase cheap oil insulation circuit breakers that don't work well, you'll cost your company money, time and productivity.

To determine the correct oil circuit breakers pricing and costs range, you need to conduct thorough research. To begin, you'll need to know what type of oil power circuit breaker you need. For instance, high voltage oil circuit breakers may be too powerful for your purposes. Next, you need to establish a budget. Unfortunately, the price point data on the Internet is virtually non-existent. To obtain a precise price range you'll have to call oil circuit breaker manufacturers or request a quote online. That said, before you begin, there a few items to consider:

1. Request an online pricing quote for circuit breaker oil products.

2. Submit a used or refurbished oil circuit breaker pricing quote request.

3. Review the cost saving measures for your current OCB equipment.

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Contact an industry company for an oil circuit breaker price quote

If you're unfamiliar with oil circuit breaker design or maintenance then it is best to purchase the product new, with all the service agreements. Even though this route is the most expensive, it provides you the protection in case something is wrong with the oil insulated circuit breakers. In addition, it helps to understand the difference between air and oil circuit breakers, to make the correct product choice.

I recommend: Midwest Electrical Testing and CircuitBreaker.com both offer online or phone quote services. For a quick synopsis of the product, review the information available at the Engineers Edge.

Speak to a company that sells a used or refurbished minimum oil circuit breaker

Another option to control costs for your oil circuit breaker purchases is to opt for used or refurbished parts. However, you'll need to be aware of the purchase agreement, the warranty and on-site support for the product. If the product is lacking in quality, it's important that you have staff that can maintain these parts.

I recommend: Both Relectric and EquiSales offer used and refurbished oil fuse circuit breakers and other types of breakers.

Evaluate the cost saving measures you can use to lengthen the life of current OCB products

An excellent cost reduction tact you can use is to try to lengthen the useful life of the oil circuit breakers you are currently using. This delays the new product purchase and helps increase the life of future circuit breaker purchases.

I recommend: Weidmann Systems International and Zensol Automation both have oil circuit breaker conditioning and maintenance programs available. Assess the circuit breaker diagnostic tools from Transmission & Distribution World.