Testing Air Blast Circuit Breakers with CIBANO 500
Air blast circuit breakers have been operating in power networks since the 1950s. Although many are now several decades old, their robust design and long service life mean that utilities continue to rely on them. Because of their age and complex construction, however, regular switchgear testing is essential to confirm that they remain safe and dependable.
Unlike many modern circuit breakers, air blast breakers may contain several interrupters in each phase. This makes testing more complicated and traditionally requires considerable time and equipment. To demonstrate a more efficient approach, OMICRON specialists Andreas Nenning and Elias Alber visited a UK power utility with the CIBANO 500 circuit breaker test system.
The test setup included one CIBANO 500 main unit, 15 MC2 main contact modules, three EtherCAT hubs, and a TN3 transducer node for motion measurements. This configuration allowed the team to test a large number of interrupters simultaneously and assess all three phases in detail.
The CIBANO 500 and its Primary Test Manager software provide more than basic timing measurements. The system can perform static contact resistance, dynamic contact resistance, and motion measurements in addition to timing tests. Combining these measurements gives engineers a much clearer understanding of a breaker’s electrical and mechanical condition.
Static contact resistance testing can reveal abnormal differences between phases, interrupters, or previous test results. An unexpected increase in resistance may indicate deteriorated contacts or connections. Dynamic contact resistance testing provides information about the breaker’s internal current-carrying and arcing contacts. Motion measurement evaluates the movement, speed, and operating characteristics of the breaker mechanism, helping identify mechanical problems and confirm that the breaker can respond quickly during a fault.
The demonstration also showed the practical advantages of modern test equipment. Despite limited time, difficult access, painted connection points, and only one ladder available for setup, the team completed the testing in approximately half a day. The utility explained that comparable testing with its existing equipment normally took two days and provided only timing results.
By combining several diagnostic methods in one coordinated system, CIBANO 500 helps utilities collect more information in less time. Historical results can be compared with current measurements to identify developing defects and support preventive maintenance. Regular testing therefore improves safety, reduces the risk of unexpected failures, minimizes downtime, and helps extend the service life of critical switchgear assets.
