AC & DC circuit breakers on ships and trains

[qawsed]

I am looking for information on what types of circuit breakers are used on ships and trains, and how they would differ from normal circuit breakers , in terms of selection and maintenance .
A web site location would be great or any other information
thank you
qawsed

 

[MDom]

qawsed,I know a little about this point. I refer to Schneider products,because I know them, but I am sure that the others have their's own decision.
If you take the ÌASTERPACT or COMPACT catalogues,you will find that they comply with the marine specifications ( Veritas,Lloyd's Register of Shipping,DetNorske,Veritas etc.) The same for Telemecanique LC contactors - they have marine's sertificates. It means that you can use it on ships. Of course,they are installed into the swtchboards and these switchboard are special. =S= has Masterbloc MB 300M and 400 M for this application ( M at the end means "marine&quot.

 

[bru]

qawsed
Try

http://www.schneider-electric.com/

for the above info. Many ships I have serviced typically use japaneese products as homogenous components to the on board systems. Manintenance is largely dictated by and structured around the requirements of marine surveyors as MDOM has mentioned. Normally, the breakers are withdrawable, that is to say that they may be serviced while the power system is running, and withdrawn from the cell for testing, cleaning and evaluation. Many companies embrace annual testing but given the environment of most electrical control rooms aboard modern vessels, every 2 years is realistic. This depends on the duty cycle, but as most power breakers are used for generator protection and synchronization, the loads are light unless they break under fault conditions.

Testing usually involves mechanical inspections and lubrication as necessary, and secondary current injections into integral or external overcurrent protection relays. This would involve functional testing of the breaker itself along with any preferential or load shedding trips and associated alarms. The primary circuit would be tested for contact resistance and contacts and arc chutes would be inspected. see

http://www.electricityforum.com/et/apr99/circuit.html

for more info.

The breakers are generally considered to be low voltage, under 750Vac. Breakers over that voltage can be either air magnetic, air or vacuum style. All have different service requirements as per product documentation. You will most likely deal with low voltage products.