Switchgear is designed to protect, control, and isolate electrical equipment, preventing damage and ensuring operational safety. In many facilities, legacy switchgear is still in operation despite technological advancements. Older systems may not meet today’s demands for performance, environmental sustainability, and safety. Modernizing switchgear can solve these issues, offering benefits such as enhanced monitoring, predictive maintenance, and compatibility with smart grids.
Key Drivers for Switchgear Upgrades from Square D
- Aging Infrastructure
- Increased Load Demands
- Enhanced Safety Requirements
- Sustainability and Efficiency Goals
Switchgear Upgrade Options
Square D, by Schneider Electric, offers a variety of brand-neutral switchgear modernization options allowing you to use best-in-class parts and service technicians regardless of the manufacturer of the original switchgear.
Direct Replacement
Circuit breakers are designed to fit into the existing cubicle with little-to-no modification to the switchgear cell. Direct replacement solutions reduce downtime since there is minimal (if any) outage on the equipment bus. Designs are available for any manufacturer’s switchgear.
Retrofill
The existing switchgear cell and bus are modified to accept the new circuit breaker. This option requires a longer bus outage (compared to the direct replacement option), during which time the internal circuit breaker cell is modified to accept the new circuit breaker. A retrofill solution is often used in lieu of the direct replacement option for larger devices, such as main circuit breakers and tie circuit breakers.
For more information about switchgear modernization and Square D by Schneider Electric services, call 800-876-9373, or [email protected].