In the past fuses were the only option when it came to protecting homes, businesses, and equipment against overloaded circuits, shorts in circuits, and other faults.  With advancements in technology, circuit breakers became a popular option over the use of fuses due to the number of advantages they are able to offer.  The use of modern-day circuit breakers creates increased safety and reliability, decreased costs, and additional support for energy management initiatives.

Benefits of Using Circuit Breakers

Performance Reliability

The performance of fuses can decrease overtime.  Age increases the instances of fault, causing fuses to open even under normal conditions.  There is no way for fuses to be tested thus the current value that causes it to become faulty can never be determined.  Circuit breakers however are tested when manufactured and can be tested throughout its lifetime to ensure peak performance.

Comprehensive Protection

Circuit breakers trip circuit, breaking the electrical connection, up to a thousand times faster than fuses.  The trip capacity of a circuit breaker is greater than the equivalent fuses.  Modern day circuit breakers provide exception fault current limitations which was once only known to occur with fuses.  This function offers reliable protection while increasing the life of equipment by decreasing the aging that occurs with frequently tripped circuits.  Unlike fuses that can experience an overload even when one of multiple fuses opens, this will never occur within a circuit breaker.  When one breaker experiences an overload, the connection will be stopped immediately.

Increased Safety and Production

Replacing fuses can be risky for untrained personnel.  Fuses have exposed conductors and therefore can be quite tricky to change out.  The connections for circuit breakers are hidden, being that it is unexposed it keeps re-connecting the circuit safer for employees.  A major cause of fires within industrial settings occurs because of fuses that were incorrectly replaced.  This could include using the wrong fuse, incorrect model and/or rating, and more.   These issues are almost inconceivable when correcting a tripped connection when using a circuit breaker. The time saved is also considerable when using circuit breakers as reclosing the breaker can occur instantly which prevents production downtime.

Savings

Although the cost of a single fuse is less than the cost of a circuit breaker overall the installation and usage is less expensive.  Consider that three-phrase circuits must have three fuses.  Also, the cost of keeping extra fuses in stock.  Overall operation costs of using fuses instead of a circuit breaker are higher.

More Functionality

Circuit breakers, unlike fuses, can offer additional functions like ground fault protection.  System coordination between breakers, cascading and selectivity cannot occur when using fuses whereas circuit breakers allow for this feature.  Newer technology allows for circuit breakers to use remote controls, have alarm features, offer measurement features, and communication within your network.

J & P Electrical Company is a full-service electrical company that supplies contractors, end users, and supply houses with new surplus, quality reconditioned, and obsolete electrical equipment. We purchase a wide range of electrical equipment such as bus plugs, bud ducts, panel switches, substations, and transformers.  More information can be found at https://www.jpelectricalcompany.com

Understanding how the electrical system works in your manufacturing facility is not as difficult as you may think. While it may seem like magic how the lights turn on or how the power gets to your stuff that you plug into the wall outlet. However, it is far from magical and in fact it is quite simple really. It is not a very complex system when explained.

There are several parts that make up your electrical service, one of the most important parts being the disconnect switch. This device is designed to instantly shut off the power to your facilities main power panel. This device is a very important part of your manufacturing electrical system and should only be used in extreme conditions.

How does an electrical disconnect switch work?

The basic operation of an electrical disconnect switch is simple in that it truly has only one purpose and that is to kill the power to the main power panel for your facility. All the facilities wiring goes into the main power panel and is connected to breakers that control the power inside the building. The disconnect switch sits in line between your facilities electrical meter and main power panel.

By turning this switch off you will instantly disconnect all power going into your location, this does not however, have any effect on your electrical service. You will continue to have power at the meter and on the feeder side of disconnect switch.  It is important to know where your electrical disconnect switch is, which is also referred to as the electrical service disconnect switch.

When repairs or replacement is needed it is important to find the right parts.

Due to the seriousness of the functionality of the electrical disconnect switch only trained professionals should ever open up the disconnect switch box. This is because the feeder lines going into the switch have 240v running through them and that is enough to kill a person if you are in direct contact with it. When repairs are needed, and it becomes necessary to replace the electrical disconnect switch there are several options that will be recommended.  One of the more common options in manufacturing is budget friendly reconditioned disconnect options.

When parts are needed you can insist on using reconditioned equipment.  Often reconditioned electrical components like the disconnect are preferred as they not only save you money but most often all the bugs that are found in new OEM parts have been worked out and fixed.

J & P Electrical Company is a full-service electrical company that supplies contractors, end users, and supply houses with new surplus, quality reconditioned, and obsolete electrical equipment. We purchase a wide range of electrical equipment such as bus plugs, bud ducts, panel switches, substations, and transformers.  More information can be found at https://www.jpelectricalcompany.com

If you are a manufacturer of products you know how essential it is for you to keep those operating costs down to make as much profit as possible and to see your business thrive.  One way of reducing your overhead is by purchasing those raw materials at the least expensive rates possible.

Another way of reducing those operational costs is by replacing those worn out electrical parts needed in your manufacturing equipment with quality reconditioned electrical distribution equipment and reconditioned electrical parts. Keep in mind that not all parts that need to be reconditioned have functional problems to begin with, the parts may simply have been leased and when the lease has expired the part may be returned and need to be reconditioned before being issued for sale. Reconditioned electrical parts are of similar quality as new parts, but simply cost a lot less.

As surprising as it may be, purchasing high quality reconditioned electrical parts can save your manufacturing company anywhere from 50% to 75% over purchasing new parts and when quality reconditioned electrical equipment is reconditioned properly they can last if those new parts as well.

Choosing the Right Reconditioning Company

Of course you don’t want to purchase reconditioned electrical distribution equipment from just any company that reconditions these types of parts you want to buy those reconditioned electrical parts from a company that has an excellent record for those parts they sell and you want to make sure that the company has excellent reviews from places such as the Better Business Bureau and Google as well as testimonials on the company’s website.

When purchasing reconditioned electrical parts even from a reputable company here are some things you want to know about the reconditioning process before purchasing those parts.

Here are a few of the questions you want to ask.

1) What type of electrical parts does the company recondition? Does it recondition and sell the types of parts your manufacturing company needs?

2) Does the reconditioning Company completely disassemble the use part and clean all the parts and examine them to ensure that each of the smaller individual parts are in good condition?

3) Is the reconditioned used part then repainted with quality paint to give it that new like look and help to protect the part?

4) Is the reconditioned part tested once it is put back together and does the reconditioned part meet or exceed the Manufacturers UL certification.

5) Does the reconditioned part come with some type of warranty, so you can be assured that the money spent on the used part won’t be wasted?

By purchasing high quality reconditioned electrical components manufactures can save significant amounts of money when replacing those old worn out electrical parts for you manufacturing machinery. If your company is looking to cut operating costs, then buying reconditioned electrical parts for a reputable company may be one way do so.

Learn more about J & P Electrical Company and their vast line of new, surplus, and refurbished industrial electrical components including: circuit breakers, bus ducts, bus plugs, disconnects, fuses, panel switches, tap boxes, and transformers at www.jpelectricalcompany.com.  To contact one of our product reconditioning specialists, call 877.844.5514 today.

All buildings whether commercial or residential require some sort of electrical power in order to provide lighting, outlets and other electrical devices. For commercial buildings, you have power needs for machinery, lighting, cooling systems, and other types of electrical needs. Typically, in a residential building, you have electrical service entering the house with cables. This is different then how electrical power is distributed in commercial and manufacturing settings.

Commercial buildings, especially those used by medium or large-scale manufacturing businesses use a larger type power distribution system that requires a much different way to run power through the manufacturing spaces of the building. Unlike residential power distribution which uses cables to carry the power throughout the home, commercial building use bus ducts or sheet metal runs with either aluminum or copper busbars.

History of the Busway Power Distribution System

The busway and bus bars were first introduced in the US back in the 1920’s at the request of the auto industry in Detroit, Michigan. The system gave them the necessary versatility that was needed for supplying power to the assembly line equipment that was being used in the manufacturing facilities at the time. Over the years since, there have been numerous innovations that have improved on the original design and installation procedures.

Commercial Power Distribution System Components

Heavy duty machinery typically found in manufacturing plants have unique power requirements which cannot be served by typical power distribution systems that are found in most residential homes and most commercial buildings. For these unique power requirements, there is a power system that is designed especially suited for this type of need. Bus Ducts and Bus Plugs are combined to deliver the necessary power to each machine

Bus Ducts – Bus Ducts also referred to as busways are sections of sheet metal with bars attached to them that are made of either aluminum or copper.  The sections are connected together in order to reach each piece of machinery that is needing the power. This type of power distribution system requires trained, certified professional electricians to install them and ensure that they are in full operation at all times.

Bus Plugs – Bus Plugs are specially designed components that work in tandem with the busbars in a unique type of power distribution system that is typically installed in a large-scale manufacturing facility. Each bus plug is used to connect directly to busways that are running throughout building to deliver the power to equipment like large motor starters and other power switching equipment.

Indoors and Outdoors Power System

One of the benefits of using this type of system in a manufacturing facility is that it can be used both indoors and outdoors to deliver the necessary power to different parts of any operation. The unique design of the system helps to prevent voltage drops across each of the numerous sections of the bus ducting throughout the building.

The system can also be fitted with a trolley system that is designed to deliver power to equipment that is designed to move frequently. There are also cables that are used to deliver the power directly to the trolley itself.

Learn more about J & P Electrical Company and their vast line of new, surplus, and refurbished industrial electrical components including: circuit breakers, bus ducts, bus plugs, disconnects, fuses, panel switches, tap boxes, and transformers at www.jpelectricalcompany.com.  To contact one of our product reconditioning specialists, call 877.844.5514 today.

For all those people who are looking for major differences between fused disconnect switches and circuit breakers, this post will eradicate all your confusions and help you to make the best choice. Before proceeding further, let’s shed some light on why you need devices such as circuit breaker panels and fused disconnect switches.

Electrical circuits in residential and commercial establishments are designed to carry a certain amount of current. Due to any reason, if more current passes through them, it can lead to dire circumstances where sensitive appliances and equipment can be destroyed. In some situations, this overflow of current through electrical circuits can also result in a fire that can prove to be extremely fatal for the inmates of the building.

In order to prevent such a situation from happening, different devises such are used that serve the purpose of protecting overcurrent in wires. These devices, in a current overflow situation, disconnect or open the circuit. This helps in preventing the fire from erupting. Thus, there are fewer chances of any damage to be caused to appliances and equipment installed in the building. Devices such as circuit breaker and fused disconnect switch also work in case of short-circuit situations.

Now that you are aware of the basic function of both these devices; let’s now have a look at major differences between them.

Fused Disconnect Switch

A fused disconnect switch, as the name suggests, is a combination of a fuse and switch. The fuse shuts the circuit off and switch disconnects it in case of an issue. Switches are designed to be shut the power off manually. On the other hand, fuse works in the opposite way. They are made up of a small filament that melt down in case of a current overflow. A fuse’s current rating is preset. Thus, when the current exceeds the rating of the fuse for a longer period of time it melts automatically. As a result, the circuit is disconnected.

A point to note here is that when a fuse disconnects the circuit, it can be used again. Power can only be restored if the fuse is replaced by a new one.

Circuit Breaker

With circuit breaker, there is no issue of getting a new fuse every time it turns the power off due to the overflow of current or short-circuit. Thus, it is often considered a better option for many appliances. Circuit breaker panels can also be turned off in a manual way as they also serve the functions of a switch. This feature makes them handy if you want to do get some electrical work done in the building.

A circuit breaker disconnects the circuit automatically with the help of an electromagnet it features when it detects overflow of current or a short-circuit. After the problems have been fixed, it only needs to be turned back on for restoring power.

A Final Word

To sum it up, both these devices can help a great deal to eliminate issues caused by the overflow of current or short-circuit. As stated above, a circuit breaker disconnects the circuit both automatically and manually and a fused disconnect switch offers the same purpose. The difference lies in their design and functionality. Thus, when selecting them, take into consideration the electrical requirements of your premises for taking the best decision.

Learn more about J & P Electrical Company and their vast line of new, surplus, and refurbished industrial electrical components including: circuit breakers, bus ducts, bus plugs, disconnects, fuses, panel switches, tap boxes, and transformers at www.jpelectricalcompany.com.  To contact one of our product reconditioning specialists, call 877.844.5514 today.