Eaton Disconnects
vEnsuring safety and reliability in electrical systems means having the right disconnects, and that’s exactly what Eaton provides. The company offers a wide range of devices called safety switches, which effectively disconnect electrical power from a given load. Eaton’s safety switches can be divided into two major categories for use in applications with different operational demands: general duty and heavy-duty.
General duty safety switches are for residential and light commercial use, while heavy-duty safety switches are designed for the industrial environment. Both broad categories feature a variety of models that differ in important ways from one another. General duty safety switches, for example, are not designed to be "working in wet conditions." Heavy-duty switches, on the other hand, can "work in wet conditions."
More Information about Eaton Disconnects
Eaton offers a range of robust safety switches for heavy-duty service entrances and industrial power distribution applications—both fusible and non-fusible, both kinds offering disconnect solutions that exceed the requirements of the National Electrical Code. Configurations are available for three-wire and three-pole setups, enhancing their versatility in complex applications. Enclosures are made of heavy-gauge painted steel, assuring strength and reliability over a long life. Using the switches outdoors presents no problem; they are rated NEMA 3R, which is suitable for outside applications.
FAQs
What are fusible and non-fusible shunt trip safety switches used for?
Fusible and non-fusible shunt trip safety switches are used to provide a means of remotely tripping the switch to disconnect power for emergency situations or maintenance, with fusible switches adding overcurrent protection through fuses and non-fusible switches relying solely on the shunt trip mechanism for power disconnection.
Can double throw safety switches be used in service entrance elevator control?
Yes, double throw safety switches can be used in service entrance elevator control to provide a reliable means of transferring power between normal and emergency power sources.
Do Eaton heavy duty, single-throw switching devices come in painted galvanized steel?
Yes, Eaton heavy-duty, single-throw switching devices are available in painted galvanized steel for enhanced durability and corrosion resistance in demanding environments.
Disconnects vs Circuit Protection
Disconnects
Disconnects are intended to remove and restore power from any electrical equipment that is downstream of that disconnect. In most cases, this is a manual operation and is actuated only when power needs to be removed or restored to a particular circuit. Disconnects do not typically provide any type of state monitoring ability nor do they offer any type of circuit protection, they are simply used to remove and restore power. It is common to see electrical disconnects used in situations where larger amounts of voltage are present. External disconnects function by allowing the operation of switching power to be performed outside of an electrical enclosure. It is also common to see disconnects require power to be shut off before the enclosure can be opened. This type of disconnect is found on circuits with high voltage potentials and allows for much safer operation when the electrical equipment inside the enclosure needs to be accessed.
Circuit Protection
Circuit protection devices, such as circuit breakers and fuses, function differently from disconnects in that they have the ability to disconnect power to any devices downstream from their location by monitoring current and power surge events. They are not designed to operate as a switch. When using fuses, if an overcurrent event or surge occurs, they will need to be replaced as they are only intended to be used once. Circuit breakers can be reset, but are not intended to switch power on and off as their main function. In many cases it is necessary to have both an electrical disconnect and a circuit protection device to ensure that any hardware on the circuit does not become damaged because of overcurrent or power surges.