Receiving, Handling, and Storage

This section contains instructions for receiving, handling, and storing 5/15 kV EvoPacT Medium Voltage Vacuum Circuit Breakers. Follow all safety precautions before working on the equipment.

Receiving

EvoPacT circuit breakers are shipped wrapped on individual pallets inside protective containers. Do not stack the circuit breakers. The circuit breaker box may have crush cones attached to the top. If the cone is crushed, do not accept or use the circuit breaker and report as potential shipping damage to the freight carrier.

Upon receipt, compare the packing list to the equipment received to make sure the order and shipment are complete. Claims for shortages or errors must be made in writing to Schneider Electric within 60 days of delivery. Failure to give such notice will constitute unqualified acceptance and a waiver of all such claims by the purchaser.

Immediately inspect the equipment for any damage that may have occurred in transit. If damage is found or suspected, do not use the equipment, file a claim with the carrier immediately, and notify Schneider Electric. Delivery of equipment to a carrier at any of the Schneider Electric plants or other shipping point constitutes delivery to the purchaser regardless of freight payment and title. All risk of loss or damage passes to the purchaser at that time.

Handling

WARNING
FALL OR TIPPING OF THE circuit breaker DURING UNLOADING OR HANDLING Apply appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and provide collective protection equipment (CPE) whenever required. Follow all safe work practices. Do not try to catch the parcel if it falls. Use handling equipment suitable for the dimensions and weight of the circuit breaker. Take into account the position of the center of gravity when handling the parcels or the circuit breaker. Failure to follow these instructions can result in death, serious injury, or equipment damage.

WARNING

FALL OR TIPPING OF THE circuit breaker DURING UNLOADING OR HANDLING

Apply appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and provide collective protection equipment (CPE) whenever required. Follow all safe work practices.
Do not try to catch the parcel if it falls.
Use handling equipment suitable for the dimensions and weight of the circuit breaker.
Take into account the position of the center of gravity when handling the parcels or the circuit breaker.

Failure to follow these instructions can result in death, serious injury, or equipment damage.

CAUTION
INAPPROPRIATE HANDLING Move the circuit breaker carefully and avoid shocks. Do not allow the ambient temperatures to exceed the specified limits during transportation. Do not subject the equipment to excessive vibration during transportation or handling. Do not roll the circuit breaker directly on excessively rough floors, uneven surfaces, or outside ground surfaces. Failure to follow these instructions can result in injury or equipment damage.

CAUTION

INAPPROPRIATE HANDLING

Move the circuit breaker carefully and avoid shocks.
Do not allow the ambient temperatures to exceed the specified limits during transportation.
Do not subject the equipment to excessive vibration during transportation or handling.
Do not roll the circuit breaker directly on excessively rough floors, uneven surfaces, or outside ground surfaces.

Failure to follow these instructions can result in injury or equipment damage.

Weight

Maximum Weight (15 kV, 2000 A, 40 kA)
450 lb (204 kg)	410 lb (186 kg)

Position of Center of Gravity

How to Lift and Move the Circuit Breaker

WARNING

inappropriate handling

Remove all shipping restraints and ensure the circuit breaker is free from shipping pallet before lifting the circuit breaker with the lifting brackets.
Do not allow the lifting straps to press on the housing of the outer pole assemblies of the circuit breaker.
Do not use the primary high voltage connections to handle, lift, grab, or move the circuit breaker.
Never lift the circuit breaker by placing forklift bars beneath the circuit breaker frame.
Use the correct holes of the lifting bracket to lift the circuit breaker.

Failure to follow these instructions can result in death, serious injury, or equipment damage.

If the circuit breaker needs to be lifted, for example, when it is shipped on a pallet, please follow the instructions below after unbolting both of the shipping brackets from the pallet and removing any shipping restraints/packaging.

When lifting the circuit breaker by a hoist, verify that it is capable of supporting the weight.
Lift the circuit breaker using the lifting brackets on the top (left and right side) of the breaker mechanism area.
Ensure that the lifting strap is at such an angle to not press on the housing of the outer pole assemblies of the circuit breaker.
Use the second hole from the front of the circuit breaker, marked with a “II” symbol below it.
Never lift the circuit breaker with a forklift from below.

Lifting bracket

When maneuvering the circuit breaker, guide the circuit breaker by the green recessed handles of the racking mechanism beam or the pull handle located at the front, middle of the plate covering the racking mechanism.

Do not lift, grasp, or move the circuit breaker by the primary high voltage connections.

Do not push on the front covers or phase insulator barriers of the circuit breaker as it may cause them to break.

The circuit breaker can be moved by rolling on the floor, but do not attempt to move on excessively rough floors, uneven surfaces, or outside ground surfaces.

DANGER
HAZARD OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, EXPLOSION, OR ARC FLASH Remove the shipping and lifting brackets from the circuit breaker before installing it in the circuit breaker compartment of the switchgear. Failure to follow these instructions will result in death or serious injury.

Remove the shipping and lifting brackets from the circuit breaker, before installing the circuit breaker in the circuit breaker compartment of the switchgear. Store the lifting brackets and the mounting hardware close to the switchgear line-up operating area.

Storage

If the equipment is stored prior to installation, follow these storage instructions:

Moisture Contamination Avoidance and Mitigation

Safety Precautions

DANGER
Hazard of Electric Shock, Explosion, or arc flash Store the equipment in a clean, dry (including no condensation), well-ventilated area with an ambient temperature of approximately 70°F (21°C). For equipment that is not contained in enclosures, such as loose breakers, the storage environment must be temperature and humidity controlled. If heaters are furnished in the assembly, energize them from an external source. When energizing heaters from an external source, remove the primary and secondary overcurrent protective devices from the control power transformer. If heaters are not installed in the assembly, and the area is cold and damp, use a temporary heating source within the assembly. A minimum of 200 watts of heat per section is recommended. Avoid greasy, smoky heaters that can deposit carbon on insulation, which could lead to tracking and insulation breakdown. If moisture, condensation, or chemical ingress is observed, do not energize the equipment. If the equipment is already energized, de-energize it immediately. Failure to follow these instructions will result in death or serious injury.

DANGER

Hazard of Electric Shock, Explosion, or arc flash

Store the equipment in a clean, dry (including no condensation), well-ventilated area with an ambient temperature of approximately 70°F (21°C).

For equipment that is not contained in enclosures, such as loose breakers, the storage environment must be temperature and humidity controlled.

If heaters are furnished in the assembly, energize them from an external source. When energizing heaters from an external source, remove the primary and secondary overcurrent protective devices from the control power transformer.

If heaters are not installed in the assembly, and the area is cold and damp, use a temporary heating source within the assembly. A minimum of 200 watts of heat per section is recommended.

Avoid greasy, smoky heaters that can deposit carbon on insulation, which could lead to tracking and insulation breakdown.

If moisture, condensation, or chemical ingress is observed, do not energize the equipment. If the equipment is already energized, de-energize it immediately.

Failure to follow these instructions will result in death or serious injury.

WARNING
fire hazard Remove all flammable material in the vicinity of the heaters, such as packaging, accessories in boxes, and documentation, before energizing the heaters. Failure to follow these instructions can result in death, serious injury, or equipment damage.

Shipping, Receiving, and Storage Requirements

This equipment does not achieve its ratings until it is installed per record/as-built drawings, installed per the instructions contained in this document, and has operational environmental controls with appropriate settings to help mitigate environmental influences. This equipment can also be stored in a climate controlled area that uses both heating and cooling to maintain acceptable environmental conditions. Indoor and outdoor rated equipment is not suitable for outdoor storage.

The equipment should be treated as if it is in storage until it is installed and operational. The storage area should be clean, dry (75% or less relative humidity), and climate controlled with proper ventilation.
To keep the equipment dry, the use of heaters is required in some cases (for example, during seasonal or low periods of loading and equipment de-energization).
- Consult the Engineer of Record for the appropriate environmental control settings or means to mitigate environmental influences.
- If so equipped, ensure that the thermostats and/or humidistats are set to mitigate condensation. A minimum of 200 watts of heat per section is suggested.
- If heaters are being used with the equipment that were not included in the equipment by Schneider Electric, they must be clean and free of debris and grease. Greasy and/or smoky heaters can contaminate electrical insulation and lead to dielectric breakdown and/or tracking.
Shipping packaging is not suitable for and cannot be used by itself for equipment storage unless otherwise indicated on the shipping packaging labeling.
When receiving equipment, the equipment may be at a lower temperature than the ambient air temperature. Allow time for the equipment temperature, including the temperature of internal components, to rise to ambient air temperatures before making openings in or otherwise or disturbing the packaging. Condensation can occur on and inside the equipment if warm air contacts cold surfaces of the equipment. Moisture damage can occur, destroying the dielectric capabilities of the equipment and rendering it unusable.
The factory shipping wrap around the equipment on shipping pallets is not suitable for non-enclosed over the road transportation that risks exposing the equipment to the elements. The factory shipping wrap around the equipment should remain on the equipment until the equipment is ready to be inspected and stored or inspected and installed. After receiving the equipment and allowing it to acclimate to the environment, remove the packaging and inspect the equipment for damage that may have occurred in transit. If damage is found or suspected, immediately file a claim with the carrier and notify the local Schneider Electric representative.
Follow these guidelines every time the equipment is moved to a new storage location or to its final destination.

Installation, Operation, and Maintenance Requirements

This equipment does not achieve its ratings until it is installed per record/as-built drawings, installed per the instructions contained in this document, and has operational environmental controls with appropriate settings to help mitigate environmental influences. This equipment can also be operated in a climate controlled area that uses both heating and cooling to maintain acceptable environmental conditions. Indoor and outdoor rated equipment is not suitable for outdoor storage.

In some cases (such as seasonal electrical loading, de-energized equipment, and standby/alternate power sources), the heat generated by equipment loading is insufficient to prevent condensation and alternate heat sources are required. If environmental controls such as a thermostat or humidistat are used, ensure their settings are sufficient to mitigate condensation and remain operational at all times. Consult the Engineer of Record for the appropriate environmental control settings.

Exposure to Moisture, Chemicals, and Condensation

If liquids such as moisture, chemicals, and condensation contact the electronics, circuit breaker, fuses, bussing, or other electrical components, do not attempt to clean or repair the equipment as this may lead to unrepairable damage. If the equipment is energized, de-energize it. If equipment is not energized, do not energize it. Contact the Schneider Electric Customer Care Center at 888-778-2733.

General Storage Conditions

CAUTION
INAPPROPRIATE STORAGE CONDITIONS If the circuit breaker is to be stored, observe all the storage instructions. The device is to be kept in the original packaging until final installation. Never install the device if damaged. Do not allow the ambient storage temperatures to exceed the specified limits. Failure to follow these instructions can result in injury or equipment damage.

To preserve all characteristics of the circuit breaker during prolonged periods of storage, store the circuit breaker:

indoors
in its original packaging
in clean, dry, corrosion-free conditions (including no condensation and recommended relative humidity levels)
sheltered from the sun and rain
at an ideal temperature of +70°F (+21°C) with maximum allowable temperatures of + 23°F (– 5°C) and + 104°F (+ 40°C)

NOTE: To ensure the circuit breaker functions properly, do not allow the ambient storage temperature to exceed these minimum or maximum limits.

Ideal Conditions	Allowable Conditions

Average Relative Humidity For Storage

Ideal value	≤ 75%
Measured over a 24-hour period	≤ 95%
Measured over a 1-month period	≤ 90%

The maximum storage period is 12 months. Place the circuit breaker in its permanent location as soon as possible. If the circuit breaker will be used in switchgear employing space heaters, install it only after the heaters are operating. If the circuit breaker is stored:

between 6 and 12 months, perform a routine level maintenance to ensure a correct circuit breaker operation.
beyond 12 months, contact the local Schneider Electric Service representative for circuit breaker check-up.

Use care when uncrating and handling the circuit breaker. After unpacking, check the circuit breaker carefully for:

broken or damaged parts
condensation marks or droplets
visible degradation (color change, rust, deposits, etc.)

If any damage, degradation, or condensation marks or droplets are detected, do not install the circuit breaker and contact the local Schneider Electric representative.

The circuit breaker must be stored in the open (O OPEN) position with the charging springs discharged and the racking mechanism in the "test/disconnected" position.

Storage Arrangements

CAUTION
heavy load stacking Do not place any heavy objects on the packaging that could either deform it or apply mechanical stress to the structure of the circuit breaker. Do not step or walk on the circuit breaker packaging. Failure to follow these instructions can result in injury or equipment damage.