Inspection, Maintenance, and Troubleshooting
This chapter contains the following sections:
Inspection/Preventative Maintenance Guidelines
This section contains information on inspecting and performing preventive maintenance on HVL/cc Metal-Enclosed Switchgear.
![]() |
---|
HAZARD OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, EXPLOSION, OR ARC FLASH
Failure to follow these instructions will result in death or serious injury.
|
Inspection
Follow the guidelines and procedures outlined in this section when performing periodic inspections on the equipment.
Recommended Inspection Interval
Periodic inspection of the equipment is necessary to establish the conditions to which the units are subjected (see Recommended Maintenance Guidelines). The maximum recommended inspection interval is one year.
Inspection Procedure
The following is a minimal list of inspection procedures to perform to help ensure proper maintenance.
-
Bus and Connections. De-energize the primary and secondary circuits. Perform a standard sixty-cycle hi-pot test to measure bus insulation integrity (see Hi-Pot (Dielectric) Testing).
-
Inspect the connections for symptoms which indicate overheating or weakened insulation. Remove dust from the surfaces of the bus bars, connections, supports, and enclosures. Wipe clean with a solvent such as denatured alcohol. Only apply denatured alcohol with lint free cloths and take care to only use it on the surfaces of bus bars, connections, supports, and enclosures. Vacuum the equipment. Do not use compressed air to blow dust from the surfaces inside the switchgear.
-
Maintain the instruments, relays, and other devices according to the specific instructions supplied. Inspect the devices and their contacts for dust or dirt; wipe clean with a clean, lint free cloth as necessary. The maintenance schedule for individual devices, such as meters and relays, are based upon recommendations contained in the individual instruction manual for each device. Coordinate the various schedules with the overall maintenance program.
-
Inspect control wiring connections for tightness and damage.
-
Manually operate mechanical moving parts such as switch assemblies, interlocks, and doors.
-
Make sure all bus areas are well ventilated. Inspect grille work and air passages on indoor and outdoor switchgear to make sure they are free from obstruction and dirt accumulation. Clean aluminum filters on outdoor switchgear by removing and thoroughly back-flushing with soap and water. Replace the filters only after they are clean and dry.
Preventive Maintenance
Follow the guidelines and procedures in this section when performing preventative maintenance.
Maintenance Log
Keep a maintenance log (see Troubleshooting) for this equipment. List all inspection, service, and maintenance calls with dates as well as any corrective and preventive actions taken.
Preventative Maintenance Intervals
Periodic maintenance on the switchgear includes cleaning, lubrication, and exercising component parts. The interval between maintenance checks can vary depending upon the amount of usage and environmental conditions of each installation. This definition for periodic maintenance applies throughout this manual, unless otherwise noted.
Inspect the equipment immediately after abnormal or stressful operating conditions occur or after the equipment experiences a trip current.
Recommended Maintenance Guidelines
Component |
Ideal Conditions* |
Standard Conditions* |
Aggressive Conditions* |
---|---|---|---|
Epoxy Switch Housing |
Every ten years |
Every five years |
Every two years |
Housing interior (all bus and mechanisms) |
Every ten years |
Every five years |
Every two years |
Housing |
Every ten years |
Every five years |
Every two years |
These inspection/maintenance guidelines cover only the switch and enclosure manufactured by Schneider Electric. If conditions cannot be established and documented, then the aggressive operating condition must be assumed.
These inspection/maintenance guidelines do not warrant any field connections, field modifications, or supersede any maintenance procedures or schedules recommended by component manufacturers.
Environmental Conditions
Ideal Conditions:
-
Unit is installed and commissioned in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions
-
Humidity below 40% and no dripping water
-
Indoor protected from weather
-
Minimum dust and air circulation
-
Ambient temperature between 32°F and –104°F (–0°C and +40°C)
-
No contact with any chemical agents (salt, H2S, etc.)
-
No infestation of any animal life (rodents, insects)
-
No contact with any plant life (mold or other)
-
No earth movements
-
No damage to the unit of any kind
-
No mal-operation of any kind
-
No abnormally high number of operations (see Typical Life of HVL/cc (a) 25.8 and 38 kV, (b) 5 and 15 kV)
-
No abnormally high number of trips (see Typical Life of HVL/cc (a) 25.8 and 38 kV, (b) 5 and 15 kV)
-
No over-voltage or over-current (above ratings)
-
Thermal scanning of the joints at-least once a year
Standard Conditions:
All the above conditions listed under “Ideal Conditions” apply (see Recommended Maintenance Guidelines) with the exception of the following:
-
Bullet 2: Humidity below 60%.
-
Bullets 3 through 5: The unit may be indoors or outdoors but must not be subjected to regular extremes of weather (heavy rainstorms, dust storms, flooding, temperature cycles greater than 104°F (40°C), temperatures less than –22°F (–30°C), dense coastal fog or acid rain).
-
Bullet 8: No regular thick covering of leaves or other debris.
Aggressive Conditions:
Any environmental conditions, which do not satisfy one of the two above descriptions, must be deemed aggressive.
The product has been tested under ideal laboratory conditions to the values listed below.:
-
1000 Mechanical no load operations
-
100 Full load current interruptions
The device has been designed and tested to IEEE Std C37.20.4 and CSA C22.2, No.193 requirements. Typical Life of HVL/cc (a) 25.8 and 38 kV, (b) 5 and 15 kV illustrates the typical life of the equipment under ideal laboratory conditions. This chart represents an accumulated total (ksi) at greater than 80% power factor, less than 17.5 kV of the 600 A interrupter.
The contact life can also be verified by performing a millivoltage or micrometer test. The value should not increase by 300% of the original value of 80 microohms using a 100 A test micrometer. The 1200 A disconnect has an electrical endurance (full load operations) of 18.
Replacement Parts
The contact life can also be verified by performing a millivoltage or micrometer test. The value should not increase by 300% of the original value of 80 microohms using a 100 A test micrometer.
Replacement Parts
Description |
Part Number |
---|---|
Auxiliary Switch |
|
Bulb, Push-button 120 V, 60 Hz |
120 MB |
Fuse, 10 A |
BAF10 |
Mobil red grease #28 |
1615-100950 |
Handle, operator |
|
Motor limit switch |
|
Motor cut-off switch |
25713203 |
Motor, Electric SEM & OTM |
|
Motor 24 Vdc |
|
Motor 48 Vdc |
997933 |
Motor 125 Vdc/120 Vac |
997934 |
Motor 250 Vdc/240 Vac |
|
Fuses |
|
Fuses for motor 24 Vdc |
|
Fuses for motor 48 Vdc |
29743211DH |
Fuses for motor 125 Vdc/120 Vac |
|
Fuses for motor 250 Vdc/240 Vac |
29743211CN |
Coils |
|
Opening and closing coil 24 Vdc |
178024 |
Opening and closing coil 48 Vdc |
178026 |
Opening and closing coil 125 Vdc |
178030 |
Opening and closing coil 250 Vdc |
178032 |
Opening and closing coil 120 Vac |
178027 |
Opening and closing coil 240 Vac |
178030 |
Air flters (NEMA 3R) |
46011-560-01 |
Live line Indicators |
|
Wiring harness |
Contact Schneider Electric* |
Replacement Lights |
Contact Schneider Electric* |
2.4–15 kV Capacitive standoff divider |
Contact Schneider Electric* |
25.8–38 kV Capacitive standoff divider |
Contact Schneider Electric* |
Phase Sequence Testing Unit |
Contact Schneider Electric* |
Strip heater for standard equipment |
29904-00682 |
Class 1, Division 2 T3B rated heater |
XP13020T3B |
Fuse clip for Mersen CS-3 style fuses |
80012-004-01 |
Fuse clip spring for Mersen CS-3 style fuses |
80012-005-01 |
Corrective Maintenance
This section contains information on how to perform corrective maintenance on HVL/cc Metal-Enclosed Switchgear.
Medium Voltage Fuses
Medium voltage fuses provide over-current protection for the medium-voltage switch as well as short circuit interrupting protection up to the short-circuit current rating of the equipment. Schneider Electric HVL/cc equipment can use only Square D (or Bussmann equivalent) or Mersen current limiting fuses.
![]() |
---|
HAZARD OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, EXPLOSION, OR ARC FLASH
Use only Square D, Bussmann, or Mersen identical fuses
that came with HVL/cc equipment. Do not substitute any other fuse.
Failure to follow these instructions will result in death or serious injury.
|
Always follow the steps listed below before entering the fuse compartment to replace or perform maintenance on the fuses.
![]() |
---|
HAZARD OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, EXPLOSION, OR ARC FLASH
Failure to follow these instructions will result in death or serious injury.
|
-
If equipped, verify if blown fuse indicator is showing a fuse has blown / opened.
-
De-energize (turn off) the switch. Use a properly rated voltage sensing device to test and verify that the power is off. Perform lock-out tag-out on all upstream or downstream sources that could energize the primary fuses or control power to help prevent inadvertent closure or energization.
-
Place the switch in the OPEN position. The load-side LLIs must not be on. Close the ground for the switch if so equipped (see Operating the Ground Switch (if equipped), Switchgear Operation (OTM), and Switchgear Operation (SEM).
NOTE: Always replace all three fuses even if only one has blown to maintain system coordination. When one fuse blows, the other two fuses may experience an over-current condition and could also be damaged. -
Replace the load-side panel. Verify that it is properly placed in the interlock slot and all hooks are engaged.
-
Open the ground switch first (if so equipped), then the main switch can be closed re-energizing the circuit.
Live Line Indicator (LLI) Replacement
Live Line Indicator (LLI) lights are connected by a capacitive circuit to the main bus bars on the line or load side of the HVL/cc switch. LLI lights connected to the load side of the HVL/cc switch are mounted on the front of the switch mechanism cover. LLI lights connected to the line side of the HVL/cc switch are mounted on the front door of the Low Voltage Compartment.
![]() |
---|
HAZARD OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, EXPLOSION, OR ARC FLASH
Failure to follow these instructions will result in death or serious injury.
|
To replace LLIs:
-
Turn off all power supplying the equipment. Use a properly rated voltage sensing device to confirm that the power is off.
-
Remove the two mounting screws.
-
Pull the LLI outside of the cover.
-
Unplug the wiring harness.
-
Plug the wiring harness into the new LLI head.
-
Push the LLI back into the cover opening.
-
Replace the two mounting screws.
-
Restore power to the equipment.
If the lights on the LLI do not light up repeat steps 1–8 above. If after repeating the procedure results are not satisfactory, turn off all power to the equipment and contact your Schneider Electric representative.
Class 1, Division 2 Maintenance Requirements
Follow the maintenance requirements below for Class 1, Division 2 rated switchgear used in hazardous areas.
![]() |
---|
HAZARD OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, EXPLOSION, OR ARC FLASH
Failure to follow these instructions will result in death or serious injury.
|
![]() |
---|
Hazard of Explosion
Follow instructions provided as NEC class 1 Division 2
environments may contain ignitable gases.
Failure to follow these instructions will result in death or serious injury.
|
-
When replacing heaters, use only explosion proof T3B rated heaters. Seal wiring connections and openings with silicone before turning on the power.
-
When replacing LLIs, seal connections at the insulators with silicone before turning on the power.
-
Use only non-indicating fuses.
-
Test ports on the LLI heads are factory plugged and are not for use for Class 1, Division 2 rated equipment.
-
Use only manually operated switch mechanisms (OTM and SEM).
LLI test ports should be plugged.
Troubleshooting
![]() |
---|
HAZARD OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, EXPLOSION, OR ARC FLASH
Failure to follow these instructions will result in death or serious injury.
|
The following tables list conditions, mechanisms, and solutions to problems that may occur in HVL/cc Metal-Enclosed Switchgear.
Troubleshooting General Issues
Condition |
Mechanism |
Action |
---|---|---|
Live-line Indicator will not illuminate |
ALL |
|
Load-side panel cannot be removed or installed |
ALL |
|
Ground switch cannot be operated |
ALL |
|
Switch cannot be operated |
ALL |
|
Troubleshooting Mechanism Issues
Condition |
Mechanism |
Action |
---|---|---|
Electrical operation impossible but manual operation is possible |
ALL |
|
Operation impossible following an electrical closing |
SEM and OTM (with motor) |
|
Insertion of operating handle is impossible following electrical closing |
SEM and OTM (with motor) |
|