In the early 1970¹s, vacuum interrupters started replacing air and oil as the interrupting medium found in industrial circuit breakers and related equipment. Manufacturers rightfully insisted that this astonishing new technology would streamline maintenance and upkeep and lower total ownership costs. However it was anticipated that these vacuum interrupters would be replaced with new gear or new replacements well before they would wear out mechanically, fail electrically or lose vacuum. It is now 30+ years later and those using this vacuum interrupter technology should to be aware of these factors or they could see increased costs as their vacuum interrupters head catastrophically toward the end of their useful lives. Listed here are some of the failures that our contributors have posted. Send yours along with the story of the event, using the form reached via the Submit Now button below, and we will try to post them to help educate the industry at large. We will email a newsletter twice a year dealing with vacuum interrupter failures and will send out service advisories as we find them. On the submission form you can indicate if you would like to receive this service.
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failure you’ve encountered here:
Below are visual examples of vacuum interrupter failures.
Mouseover a thumbnail image below right to enlarge it and display description.
#1
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#2
Equipment Type: 5kV Contactor
Failure Type: Unknown
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#3
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Unknown
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#4
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Unknown
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#5
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#6
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#7
Equipment Type: Outdoor Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note: 72kV Cap Bank Breaker
#8
Equipment Type: Outdoor Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Passive
Special Note:
#9
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#10
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#11
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Unknown
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#12
Equipment Type: Outdoor Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Passive
Special Note:
#13
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Passive
Special Note:
#14
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#15
Equipment Type: Outdoor Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#16
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Wear
Severity of Failure: Passive
Special Note:
#17
Equipment Type: Outdoor Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Passive
Special Note: 38kV Cap Bank Breaker
#18
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#19
Equipment Type: Outdoor Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: VI Contacts Welded
Severity of Failure: Mechanical Failure
Special Note:
#20
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#21
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Passive
Special Note:
#22
Equipment Type: 5kV Contactor
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#23
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Mechanical
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#24
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#25
Equipment Type: Outdoor Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#26
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Wear
Severity of Failure: Passive
Special Note:
#27
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Passive
Special Note:
#28
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Wear
Severity of Failure: Passive
Special Note:
#29
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#30
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Passive
Special Note: 15kV 5000A Generator Breaker
#31
Equipment Type: Outdoor Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#32
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#33
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#34
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#35
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Wear
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#36
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#37
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#38
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#39
Equipment Type: Outdoor Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#40
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#41
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Unknown
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#42
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#43
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#44
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#45
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#46
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#47
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#48
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Unknown
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#49
Equipment Type: 5kV Contactor
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Passive
Special Note:
#50
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#51
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#52
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#53
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Unknown
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#54
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Unknown
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#55
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#56
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Passive
Special Note: New From Factory , Failed AC Hipot in acceptance testing
#57
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Unknown
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#58
Equipment Type: 5kV Contactor
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#59
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Unknown
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#60
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#61
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Passive
Special Note:
#62
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#63
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#64
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Passive
Special Note:
#65
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Passive
Special Note:
#66
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Passive
Special Note:
#67
Equipment Type: Outdoor Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#68
Equipment Type: Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#69
Equipment Type: Outdoor Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#70
Equipment Type: Outdoor Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#71
Equipment Type: 5kV Contactor
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#72
Equipment Type: 5kV Contactor
Failure Type: Loss of Vacuum
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#73
Equipment Type: 11kV Vac Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Puncture
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
#74
Equipment Type: 11kV Vac Circuit Breaker
Failure Type: Puncture
Severity of Failure: Catastrophic
Special Note:
This site is intended as a forum to display and educate people as to the growing issue of aging vacuum interrupters. All users of vacuum circuit breakers, switches or contactors have or will have a vacuum interrupter failure and should plan, test and be prepared. This site is not for commercial activity and is intended as an educational web site only!
If you have anything you would like posted ‹ a failure, service advisory or warning ‹ send it along via the Submit Now button to the left and we will post it if it is pertinent.