Before Energizing for the First Time

For record-keeping and follow-ups of the equipment, upload all installation, commissioning, usage, and maintenance information to the Schneider Electric Safe Repository. Record the number of circuit breaker operations (as displayed on the operation counter) and the date upon initial operation of the circuit breaker.

Check that the switchgear and circuit breakers are in good serviceable condition. They must be clean and free of any installation scraps or items (tools, electrical wires, broken parts or shreds, metal objects, etc.).

For reference, the secondary disconnect plug for circuit breaker power and control in EvoPacT circuit breaker cradles and SureSeT switchgear is located at the front, top, center area of the circuit breaker. The circuit breaker has a molded plug containing 33 contacts as standard, but it may be equipped instead with a “Contact Plus” plug that offers more circuit breaker auxiliary contacts, provides indication of the status of the plug, offers a provision for the close blocking magnet, and has an increased number of racking endurance operations (see the table Secondary Disconnect Labels).

The type of plug on the circuit breaker must be coordinated with and match the type of receptacle in the circuit breaker compartment. This coordination is indicated by the symbols on the labels on the circuit breaker compartment bracket and on the circuit breaker plug cover (see the table Secondary Disconnect Labels and the figure Coordinating Circuit Breaker Compartment and Circuit Breaker Secondary Disconnect Labels).

The secondary disconnect plug for circuit breaker power and control engages with two tapered guide pins on the compartment of the receptacle mounting assembly. Physically, the test and disconnected positions on the racking mechanism are the same. When the circuit breaker is fully racked out, it moves to the test/disconnected position and the secondary disconnect plug for power and control is automatically disconnected. When the receptacle in the compartment is manually pulled forward to connect with the circuit breaker in the test/disconnected position, the circuit breaker is placed into test mode.

Control power can be manually connected to the circuit breaker in the test/disconnected position by pulling the handle attached to the secondary disconnect receptacle in the compartment forward to mate with the circuit breaker plug (refer to the section Secondary Disconnect Plug for Circuit Breaker Power and
Control — Operation and Testing the Circuit Breaker in the Test/Disconnected Position for further information). Check the customer order drawings and the nameplates, and compare the secondary disconnect labels on the circuit breaker and the circuit breaker compartment (see the figure Coordinating Circuit Breaker Compartment and Circuit Breaker Secondary Disconnect Labels) to verify the circuit breaker is installed into the proper circuit breaker compartment.

Secondary Disconnect Labels

Secondary Disconnect Label	Secondary Disconnect Plug for Circuit Breaker Power and Control	Breaker Features	Maximum Number of Racking Operations	Number of Auxiliary Contacts
None (standard)	Standard	Digital Ready	500	5NO, 4 NC
	Contact Plus	Digital Ready	1000	10NO, 9NC
	Standard	Digital Monitoring and/or Digital Control	500	5NO, 4 NC
	Contact Plus	Digital Monitoring and/or Digital Control	1000	10NO, 9NC

Coordinating Circuit Breaker Compartment and Circuit Breaker Secondary Disconnect Labels

Label on circuit breaker compartment identifying type of secondary disconnect receptacle for circuit breaker power and control

Label on circuit breaker identifying type of secondary disconnect plug for circuit breaker power and control

NOTE: Before racking in the circuit breaker, verify the label (A) on the switchgear circuit breaker compartment and the label (B) on the circuit breaker to be used in the compartment correspond with each other.

WARNING
NON-COMPLIANT VOLTAGE Apply the assigned voltage for the control auxiliaries and check it directly on the auxiliary terminals. Failure to follow these instructions can result in death, serious injury, or equipment damage.

Check that the circuit breakers match the installation diagram/customer order drawings for:

• breaking capacities indicated on the nameplates

• presence of optional functions (electric control of charging mechanism, racking mechanism motor control, auxiliaries, meters, blocking magnet and indicators, etc.) and compliance with their electrical settings

• identification of the applicable circuit on the front of the circuit breakers and/or SureSeT switchgear

• verification that the secondary disconnect plug for circuit breaker power and control and the compartment receptacle correspond or match by comparing the secondary disconnect labels on the circuit breaker and the circuit breaker compartment (see the figure Coordinating Circuit Breaker Compartment and Circuit Breaker Secondary Disconnect Labels)

Refer to the switchgear documentation and follow the commissioning rules that pertain to the switchgear. The initial state of the EvoPacT circuit breaker is the open (O OPEN) position with all springs discharged and the racking mechanism in the test/disconnected position. Verify this state by checking the circuit breaker and racking mechanism indicators. If it is not in this position, manually press the open (O OPEN) push button, the close (I CLOSE) push button, and then the open (O OPEN) push button again or use the racking/charing handle with the racking mechanism to move into the test/disconnected position (refer to Using the EvoPacT Circuit Breaker, for further information on performing the procedures in this section).

Initial State of the EvoPacT Circuit Breaker

Check the mechanical operation of the circuit breakers several times in every control mode (local mechanical and electrical controls and remote control) and for every possible operation for proper functionality:

• close the circuit breaker

• open the circuit breaker

• close the circuit breaker and perform an operation sequence OPEN - CLOSE - OPEN

• rack-in and rack-out the circuit breaker (according to the configuration of the switchgear)

• in case of racking mechanism motor control:

  • energize the racking motor from the low voltage compartment

  • rack-in and rack-out the circuit breaker (according to the configuration of the switchgear)

  • de-energize the racking motor from the low voltage compartment

• check the operation of the locking and interlocking.

Remove all tools and miscellaneous items left on or inside the circuit breaker. Replace all devices and circuit breaker covers and place the EvoPacT circuit breaker back into its initial state while waiting for the switchgear to be energized.

For reference, the circuit breaker and the SureSeT circuit breaker compartments are equipped with an interlock system designed to:

• not allow the circuit breaker to be inserted into the compartment if the circuit breaker is not in the fully racked out position. The circuit breaker is blocked by a plate in the compartment and the locking tabs are blocked from retracting, preventing latching into the compartment plates.

• not allow the circuit breaker to be pushed into the compartment when the circuit breaker is closed (I CLOSED). The automatic discharge pin of the circuit breaker is operated by a plate in the circuit breaker compartment.

• not allow the circuit breaker to be closed (I CLOSED) while it is moved between the test/disconnected and connected position (due to an interlock integrated on circuit breaker)

• not allow the circuit breaker to be moved from the connected position when it is closed (I CLOSED) (due to an interlock integrated on circuit breaker)

• discharge both the closing and trip springs when the circuit breaker is being removed (withdrawn) from the circuit breaker compartment. The automatic discharge pin of the circuit breaker is operated by a plate in the circuit breaker compartment.

The erosion gap or E-gap should be measured, outside the switchgear circuit breaker compartment, before the initial installation of the circuit breaker. Refer to Maintaining the Performance of the EvoPacT Circuit Breaker and Maintenance E-gap Measurement for more details on measuring the E-gap during the life of the circuit breaker.

The E-gap is the space between the bottom of the pivot block and the top surface of the hexagonal end of the bias spring sleeve. The pivot block and bias spring sleeve are located below each of the vacuum interrupters at the bottom of the pole assembly (refer to E-gap). Follow steps 1–7 to measure and record the initial E-gap.

1. Manually charge the circuit breaker and push the close (I CLOSE) push button.

2. Use pin gauges, feeler gauges, or drill bits to measure the space between the pivot block and the hexagonal block.

   E-gap Settings

   Short Circuit Current Rating	Initial E-gap
   <40 kA	0.118 ± 0.016 in. (3.0 ± 0.4 mm)

3. The E-gap is factory set and should not be adjusted, only measured.

4. Record the initial E-gap measurement in the maintenance log on the Schneider Electric Safe Repository.

   NOTE: It is important to keep this measurement to compute the contact erosion during the life of the circuit breaker.

5. Push the open (O OPEN) push button.

6. Remove all tools and miscellaneous items left on or inside the circuit breaker.

7. Replace all devices and circuit breaker covers.

E-gap

DANGER

hazard of electric shock, explosion, or arc flash When performing the dielectric withstand test: Do not exceed the voltages shown in One-Minute High-Potential Dielectric Withstand Test Levels. Keep all persons at least 6 ft. (2 m) away from the circuit breaker being tested. Discharge to ground the primary high voltage contacts (i.e., runbacks and clusters) and the vacuum interrupter mid-band ring before handling the circuit breaker. These areas can retain a static charge after a dielectric withstand test. Failure to follow these instructions will result in death or serious injury.

Follow the steps below to perform the dielectric withstand tests. If the equipment does not sustain the specified voltage for one minute without flashover, inspect the insulators for leakage paths. If necessary, clean the surface of each insulator and repeat the test.

1. Check the circuit breaker indicators to verify that the circuit breaker is in the open (O OPEN) position with all springs discharged (refer to The Circuit Breaker Indicators). If it is not in this position, press the open (O OPEN) push button, the close (I CLOSE) push button, and then the open (O OPEN) push button again (refer to Typical EvoPacT Circuit Breaker Features.

2. Ensure that all persons are at least 6 ft. (2 m) away from the circuit breaker being tested.

3. Perform a line-to-load (across the open vacuum interrupter contacts) dielectric withstand test on each pole:

   1. Gradually increase the voltage to the levels indicated in One-Minute Dielectric Withstand Test Levels.

   2. Verify that the circuit breaker sustains the specified voltage without flashover for one minute.

   3. After the test is complete, discharge to ground the primary high voltage contacts (i.e., runbacks and clusters) and the vacuum interrupter mid-band ring before handling the circuit breaker.

   4. Repeat the steps on each vacuum interrupter assembly.

4. After the circuit breaker has been fully discharged to ground, close the circuit breaker by pressing the close (I CLOSE) push button (refer to Typical EvoPacT Circuit Breaker Features).

5. Perform a phase-to-phase dielectric withstand test on each pole:

   1. Gradually increase the voltage to the levels indicated in One-Minute Dielectric Withstand Test Levels.

   2. Verify that the circuit breaker sustains the specified voltage without flashover for one minute.

   3. After the test is complete, discharge to ground the primary high voltage contacts (i.e., runbacks and clusters) and the vacuum interrupter mid-band ring before handling the circuit breaker.

   4. Repeat the steps on each vacuum interrupter assembly.

6. Perform a phase-to-ground dielectric withstand test on each pole:

   1. Gradually increase the voltage to the levels indicated in One-Minute Dielectric Withstand Test Levels.

   2. Verify that the circuit breaker sustains the specified voltage without flashover for one minute.

   3. After the test is complete, discharge to ground the primary high voltage contacts (i.e., runbacks and clusters) and the vacuum interrupter mid-band ring before handling the circuit breaker.

   4. Repeat the steps on each vacuum interrupter assembly.

7. After the circuit breaker has been fully discharged to ground, press the open (O OPEN) push button, the close (I CLOSE) push button, and then the open (O OPEN) push button again (refer to Typical EvoPacT Circuit Breaker Features to return the circuit breaker to the initial state of open (O OPEN) with all springs discharged (refer to the section The Circuit Breaker Indicators).

8. Remove all tools and miscellaneous items left on or inside the circuit breaker.