Document PS-004

Product Specifications for Side-Break Switches December 28, 2001

1. General

a) This specification covers the design, manufacture, and shipment of side-break switches, both
air-break and load-break configurations, for substation and transmission switching applications
b) All switches furnished shall conform to all applicable IEEE, NEMA, and ANSI standards
c) The switch manufacturer shall furnish all parts required to install a complete operating switch,
including insulators, switch bases, operating mechanism, and equipment mounting hardware;
if insulators are not required, this shall be specified by the customer
d) The pole or mounting structure, bus conductor, terminal connectors, dead-end assemblies,
guying and grounding materials, through bolts and miscellaneous pole or structure hardware
will be provided by Others
e) This equipment will be factory assembled when supplied with insulators, and field assembled
when supplied without insulators; field assembly and installation will be by Others

2. Applicable Standards and Specifications

a) The following standards shall form a part of this specification unless otherwise stated:
ANSI C29.9 Wet-Process Porcelain Insulators
ANSI C37.32 Schedules of Preferred Ratings, Manufacturing Specifications, and
Application Guide for High Voltage Air Switches
ANSI C37.34 Test Code for High-Voltage Air Switches
ASTM 123 Zinc Coating (Hot Dip) on Iron and Steel Hardware
NEMA SG6 Power Switching Equipment
b) All switches furnished shall be in accordance with the latest versions of the appropriate
specifications.
c) The switch shall be a side-break, SEECO type “S”, “SMH”, or “SL”, or approved equal

3. Materials and Workmanship

a) The equipment shall be new and of standard commercial, first-grade quality as to materials,
workmanship, and design, in accordance with the best engineering practice, and shall be such
as has been proven to be suitable for the intended purpose.
b) All welding shall be done by welders experienced in the process to be used and in a manner
evidencing good workmanship.

4. Environmental Conditions

a) Temperature - Equipment supplied shall be adequate for an operating range of -40 degrees C to
+55 degrees C
b) Humidity - Equipment supplied shall be operated under humidity of up to 95% at a temperature
of 40 degrees C
c) Environment - Equipment supplied shall provide reliable performance in environments with
high exposure to salt, minerals, chemicals, or windborne particulate
d) Ice - Equipment supplied shall operate adequate with a build-up of 3/4” clear ice

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 Document PS-004
Product Specifications for Side-Break Switches December 28, 2001

5. Ratings and Type

a) Type - Switches shall be group operated side-break switches, mounted horizontal upright,
vertical, underhung, or phase-over-phase, with parallel insulator configurations
b) Ratings - Switches shall meet or exceed the following ratings
Rated Voltage 15 kV through 161 kV
Rated Maximum Voltage 15.5 kV through 169 kV
Rated Frequency 60 Hz
Rated Continuous Current 600 Amp through 2,000 Amp
Rated Momentary Current 40 kA through 100 kA
Rated Withstand Voltage (BIL) 110 kV through 750 kV
6. Switch Design and Construction

a) Jaw Contacts
i) All jaw contacts shall be silver to copper and designed so that wiping action is
provided with a minimum of roughening or wear on the silver surfaces
ii) The design of the jaw contacts shall be such that the resultant magnetic forces
during short circuit will tend to hold the blade in the closed position and maintain
contact pressure; blade locks or other latching devices are not permitted
iii) Switch contacts shall be the high pressure, single point contact type with a
minimum of 100 lbs pressure on each silver contact
iv) Contact pressure shall be maintained by separate back-up spring members
independent of the main current path. Contact members shall be independently
adjustable for proper contact deflection
v) Wear of contacts shall not result in diminished contact performance due to
reduction of contact pressure. The number and size of contact fingers shall be
sufficient to ensure adequate transfer of rated current from the blade to the jaw
vi) All contacts shall be self-aligning and self-adjusting and designed to ensure firm
positive contact

b) Switch Blade
i) Each switch blade shall form one solid piece and shall be so assembled that no
part of the blade can move relative to another
ii) Ends of switch blades shall be completely closed except for drain holes iii)
Switch blades shall be high conductivity copper alloy and of tubular
construction

c) Terminal Pads
i) Terminal pads on each end of the switch shall be located at the same height above
the insulator
ii) Terminal pads shall have flat, machined surfaces
iii) Terminal pads shall be NEMA standard 2-hole for 600 ampere switches and
NEMA standard 4-hole for switches rated 1200 to 2000 amperes

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 Document PS-004
Product Specifications for Side-Break Switches December 28, 2001

d) Switch Assembly
i) Switches of the same rating and design shall have interchangeable parts ii)
The switch shall be so designed that when installed, its operation will not be
prevented by accumulated water, sleet, ice, snow, dirt, or other atmospheric
contamination.
iii) Metal live parts shall be non-rusting and corrosion resistant. All current carrying
parts shall be non-ferrous. iv) Live parts shall be designed to use at least three of the four
mounting holes in the insulator or insulator adapter.
v) Bolts, screws, and pins shall be provided with lock washers, keys, or equivalent
locking facilities
vi) No part of the switch blade or jaw assembly shall project lengthwise beyond the
terminal pads

e) Switch Mechanism
i) The mechanism shall be so designed that all three phases are in positive
continuous control throughout the entire operating cycle
ii) Each rotating insulator stack shall have double roller or double ball bearings in
the base bearing assembly. Bearing housings shall be weatherproof. Open type
bearing assemblies must be rustproof and non-corroding, and they shall be
designed to completely drain water and moisture accumulation.
iii) All roller or ball bearings shall be greaseless or maintenance free type iv) Rotating
insulator stacks with 5” bolt circles (115 kV and greater) shall have leveling
provisions at the base of each stack; rotating insulator stacks with 3” bolt circles
(69 kV and below) may employ shims for alignment
v) All operating pipes shall be sufficiently rigid to maintain positive control under
the most adverse conditions, including a heavily iced switch and operating
mechanism.
vi) It shall be impossible, after proper and final adjustment has been made, for any
part of the mechanism to be displaced sufficiently, at any point in the travel, to
allow improper functioning of the switch when the switch is opened or closed at
any operating speed
vii) All ferrous parts, except springs, shall be hot-dip galvanized in accordance with
ASTM A153, latest revision

f) Operating Mechanism
i) The operating mechanism shall be positively toggled when the switch is closed to
ensure correct, complete switch operation and to provide operating personnel with
visual confirmation
ii) All vertical operating shafts shall be supported on ball or roller thrust bearings.
Guides shall be provided on the vertical shaft at regular intervals to ensure proper
operation.
iii) Switches of all voltages will be furnished with a horizontal swing handle. Geared
mechanisms shall be acceptable, if required by customer, to ensure proper
operation.

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 Document PS-004
Product Specifications for Side-Break Switches December 28, 2001

iv) Provision shall be made for padlocking the mechanism in the open or closed
position.
v) A flexible copper braid shunt shall be provided on the operating mechanism for
ground connections by Others
vi) The maximum operating effort shall be fifty pounds for a swing handle operator
or thirty-five pounds for a manually operated gear mechanism

g) Switch Bases
i) Switch bases shall be constructed of ASTM A36 steel with sufficient rigidity to
maintain proper insulator alignment and contact engagement under all climatic
and loading conditions. All steel shall be hot-dipped galvanized in accordance
with ASTM A123.
ii) Switch bases shall be single channel construction for switches rated 69 kV and
below; for switches rated 115 kV and up, switch bases shall be welded or bolted
double channel construction
iii) When application design considerations require reduction of installed weight,
switch bases may be constructed of 6061-T6 aluminum, with member sizes
specified to maintain proper rigidity

h) Insulators
i) Insulators will be supplied as standard equipment on all voltage ratings unless specified
otherwise on customer’s RFQ or manufacturer’s proposal
ii) Insulators will conform with ANSI C29.8 and C29.9.
iii) Insulators supplied will be standard strength, ANSI 70 sky-tone gray unless
specified otherwise on customer’s RFQ or manufacturer’s proposal
iv) Insulators will be wet-process porcelain; polymer style insulators can also be
supplied at customer request; consult the manufacturer for guidance on
appropriate applications

i) Arcing Horns
i) Switches will be supplied with standard wipe-type arcing horns of hard drawn
copper alloy rod
ii) Switches requiring reduced current, full voltage interruption capability (line
charging or transformer magnetizing applications) shall utilize a high-speed,
snap-out arcing horn
a) Horns to be constructed from beryllium or stainless steel with
appropriate mechanical and electrical attributes to maintain function
throughout the life of the switch without degradation of spring
characteristics
b) Horn shall be of a tapered design to provide maximum tip speed
c) Arcing horn assembly shall include a mechanical stop (snubber) to
prevent return/rebound of the horn and possible re-strike

j) Interrupter
i) Switches requiring reduced voltage, full current interruption capability (loop
splitting applications) shall utilize a single bottle, reduced voltage vacuum
interrupter to provide a confined arc when switching

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 Document PS-004
Product Specifications for Side-Break Switches December 28, 2001

ii) Switches requiring full voltage, full current interruption capability shall utilize a
multi-bottle vacuum interrupter
a) The number of bottles per interrupter stack to be properly coordinated
with the expected recovery voltage of the switching application and the
open gap across the switch
iii) The interrupter unit shall be designed to ensure high speed interruption regardless
of the operational speed of the switch
iv) When not being operated, the interrupter unit shall be out of the current path so
that it is not subject to fault currents
v) When the interrupter employs a dielectric to enhance the interrupting rating of the
enclosed vacuum bottle, accidental loss or disposal of the dielectric shall not pose
a risk to the health of utility personnel or the environment; SF6 is not acceptable
as a dielectric

k) Nameplate
i) All switches shall be equipped with a non-corrosive nameplate in accordance with
ANSI C37.30, permanently attached with stainless steel screws or rivets
ii) Nameplate shall include the appropriate catalog number, electrical ratings, and
manufacturer’s sales order number for proper and complete identification of the
switch

l) Shipping
i) Switches rated 69 kV and below shall be shipped completely assembled and
adjusted, with insulators, base bearings, and live parts bolted into position on
bases
ii) Switches rated 115 kV and up can also be shipped completely assembled and
adjusted; consult the manufacturer for details
insulators, base bearings, and live parts bolted into position on bases
iii) Switches shipped without insulators shall have live parts and base bearings
assembled and bolted into position on bases
iv) Operating pipe will be shipped unassembled and banded together, with proper
identification to the switch
v) All other switch components shall be shipped in a wooden crate, with proper
identification to the switch
vi) All switches and accessories shall be shipped FOB factory, freight prepaid and
add unless otherwise noted

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