Fused Switchgear

[ron]

Why does a regular switch become a bolted pressure switch over 1,200 amps? What is the duty cycle and FLC interruption of a switch vs a bolted pressure switch? And where does the name come from?

I think it is because of the amount of current needed to pass through.

This from a vendor's website:
This modern design improves on the original by being faster to open or close and the fact that the contacts do not rely solely on contact spring pressure to maintain contact. The bolted pressure contact switch uses bolts and/or cams to hold the contacts together under much more pressure than the old spring contact type switch. Tighter contact means less resistance to the current and reduced operating temperature under heavy loads.

 

[mbrooke]

Good to know.