Source for electrically-operated breakers

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jstjohnz

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I am looking for a source of electrically-operated breakers, in other words a breaker that can be turned on or off via a control voltage from a remote location.

So far my searching has come up with nothing. My specific need is for some 3-pole 50A breakers.

If anyone can point me in the right direction I would appreciate it.

-jim-
 
Square D "Power Link" will do it. I think Cutler Hammer also has some similar product.

But Larry's suggestion may well be cheaper and easier to implement.
 
iwire said:
Square D "Power Link" will do it. I think Cutler Hammer also has some similar product.

But Larry's suggestion may well be cheaper and easier to implement.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. These things seem to be hard to come by. The Square D catalog lists them as "for replacement use only".

To be honest a standard breaker followed by a contactor was my first thought, but I wanted to at least explore this option.

The application, FWIW, is to be able to select between multiple AC power sources aboard a yacht. 2 generators, 2 or 3 shore power inlets, and possibly an inverter.

The idea is to have a small enclosure near each power source (generator, inverter, or hull inlet) with a 2-pole breaker (for hull inlets, others have their own OCP) followed by a 3-pole contactor (yes, the neutral must be switched in this type of an installation). Then the output terminals of each contactor will tie to an AC bus that will loop through every box and also through the main AC panel.

Auxiliary contacts on the contactors will be used to prevent activating more than 1 contactor at a time.

-jim-
 
Electrically-operated breakers

Electrically-operated breakers

As far as I am aware the largest amperage breaker offered in the minerature class, such as the Square D Powerlink or CH Pow-R-Command is 30A. If you are looking for separate mount devices I feel that these would be somewhat cost prohibitive these breakers are designed for installation in a panelboard only. A supervisory controller to perform the interlocking would also be needed to prevent the paralleling of sources.

The following link is for Square D's Industrial Molded Case Breaker Motor Operators.

http://ecatalog.squared.com/catalog/174S/html/sections/03/SD17403026.html#613238

These can be utilized in their I-Line power panels if you can centrally locate the panel and derive and share a common neutral on all sources. I am unsure if Square D has an enclosure available that will accept the motor operator, if not you may have to also purchase and install in Hoffman enclosures.

One other option if you have to have individually located devices, the most cost effective solution could be to utilize (3) combination starters or contactors, ie SQD Class 8538/9 or 8903 devices and utilize a set of aux. contacts on each to perform the interlocking if you are mouting seperate enclosures.

One other issue is how the control power going to be derived so there is either a single common source or isolated sources.

In either case your Local Inspector may require a mechanical interlock between the devices. I would recommend deciding on a design and check with the local authrority for pre-approval, especially since you have three sources available.
 
This could also be done manually by using (2) 3ph 50a , manual transfer

switches. One would have normal power, load, to load of # 2 and the other

would have power source2, to load of #1, power source3.

Interlocks would not be needed.
 
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