The lifespan of a vacuum interrupter is typically 20 years. Its mechanical life is generally 6,000 to 20,000 interruptions, while its electrical life depends on the number of interruptions at the rated short-circuit current or rated operating current. When a vacuum interrupter reaches the end of its lifespan, it should be replaced immediately.
- The vacuum lifespan is typically set at 20 years. The factory vacuum level must be below 1.33×10^3 Pascals, and the leakage rate must not exceed 1.3×10^3 Pascal·L/s.
- The mechanical lifespan depends primarily on the quality of the bellows and is generally 6,000 to 20,000 interruptions, affected by fatigue or wear of the bellows material.
- The electrical lifespan depends on the number of interruptions at the rated short-circuit current or rated operating current. Higher interruption currents increase contact wear and shorten the lifespan.
What to do when a vacuum interrupter reaches the end of its lifespan:
- Removing the old interrupter: Remove the old vacuum interrupter in the prescribed order.
- Preparing a New Interrupter: Before installing a new vacuum interrupter, ensure its conductive contact surfaces are clean or polished. Do not apply any grease.
- Precision Adjustment: After assembling the vacuum interrupter, precisely adjust the position of the movable conductive rod to avoid rubbing against the interrupter.
- Testing and Measurement: After installation, perform a power frequency withstand voltage test, measure the main circuit resistance, and adjust the overtravel and circuit breaker travel to the specified values.
- Closing and Opening Operations: After installation and successful testing, perform dozens of closing and opening operations to confirm that everything is correct before commissioning.