Contact Erosion & Vacuum Bottle Integrity in 11kV VCB Switchgear

High-potential dielectric withstand testing and contact stroke calibration for 11kV and 33kV vacuum interrupters.

1. Vacuum Interrupter Physics

Vacuum circuit breakers extinguish arcs within high-vacuum ceramic bottles (<10⁻⁷ mbar). Because vacuum offers exceptional dielectric recovery, contact gaps remain minimal (typically 10-15mm) while interrupting short-circuit currents up to 31.5 kA.

2. Hipot Testing & Contact Wear Limits

Applying a DC or AC high-potential test across open contacts verifies vacuum bottle containment. Measuring contact wipe compression confirms whether copper-chromium contact erosion remains within manufacturer safety tolerances.

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