Lovato Disconnects
Lovato Electric switch disconnectors are safe and efficient electrical circuit isolation devices found in most industrial and commercial applications. They come in a number of poles, including 3 pole, and are known for their high quality, durability, and performance; they tend to be very robust, making them excellent long-term performers in even the harshest of environments.
Fused and unfused versions of Lovato disconnect switches are available, with the former offering "overload" and "short circuit" protection, and the latter offering only the means to isolate a circuit. Operators can also choose between many different handle types, which are designed to be safe and provide positive signals (to the operator) that tell him or her the true state of the disconnection. In the case of many versions of Lovato disconnection switches, the operator can also padlock the switch in the open or closed position, or wire the switch so that it cannot be tampered with.
Products
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.