NFPA 70E Testing Requirements

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lile001

Senior Member
Location
Midwest
NFPA 70E art 225.3 says:

225.3 Circuit Breaker Testing.

Circuit breakers that interrupt faults approaching their ratings shall be inspected and tested in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions
What kind of testing are they indicating? Is this kind of testing something we can do in the field?
 

zog

Senior Member
Location
Charlotte, NC
Re: NFPA 70E Testing Requirements

LV breakers are pretty simple. Contact resistance, Insulation Resistance, and trip testing. Trip testing does require some special equipment but can be done in the field. The manufactures instruction book tells you how to conduct contact alignment/pressure, gap and wipe adjustments, and lubrication points.

Medium and high voltage breakers require several other test, depending on the type.
 

zog

Senior Member
Location
Charlotte, NC
Re: NFPA 70E Testing Requirements

Either primary injection or secondary injection of current into the breaker. You check pick up values and ensure the breaker trips within the acceptable time band for different functions of the breaker.
 

brian john

Senior Member
Location
Leesburg, VA
Re: NFPA 70E Testing Requirements

Molded case circuit breakers typically have long time and instantaneous, while some newer circuit breakers will have long time short time, instantaneous and ground fault.

High current test sets manufactured by AVO and Phenix run in the 12,500-45,000 range.
(these test sets weigh 500lbs - 1000 lbs (SWAG) I move I don't weigh them.

Micro-ohm Meters (contact resistance AVO, ACME, Alber run in the 1,500.00-5,200.00 range.

Then there is meggers costing around 300.00-1,500.00

A rather large investment plus training, try the NETA web site and find a local contractor if this testing is required,
 
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