BY: REYNALDO A.

MORENO

What is a switchboard used for ?

To gather and protect the control and protective

devices together with electrical and mechanical
connections against external influences.
To inform the end-user on the state of his
installation.
To protect the switchboard user against the main
risk of accidents (direct contact protection,
indirect contact protection and fire risk).
To evolve with the activity

The LV electrical switchboard has to be safe

and available

It is a
the
the
the

question of balance between:

needs of safety and availability
constraints of reliability and maintenability of
installation.
Safety
Reliability

Availability

Maintenability

Ingress protection of enclosures

Power Distribution System

Isolated IT-system

The most common IT-system

Limited earth fault current depending on capacitance in the cabling system
Alarm in case of an earth fault
Ideal for emergency power and important consumers with need for continuous
operation
To be used in UPS-systems

Power Distribution System

Isolated IT-system (230 V)

The miniature circuit breaker with integrated earth fault tripping is

functioning very well in a fully insulated IT-system!

Power Distribution System

Impedance earthed IT-system

Earth fault current calculated to maximum 100 A

Consumers will be tripped in case of an earth fault

Power Distribution System

Directly earthed TN-S system

Two voltage levels in one system!

400/230 V are the most common voltages
Separate N- and PE-conductors
Consumers will be tripped in case of an earth fault
EMC Performance - Excellent

Signal Classes

Class 1 - Mains power lines, power circuits with a

high di/dt, switch-mode converters, power regulation
Class 2 - Relay contacts.
Class 3 - Digital circuits (HF switching).
Class 4 - Analogue input/output circuits (low-level
measurements, active sensor supply circuits)

Protective Sheaths

Routing of Cables

Routing of Cables

Routing of Cables

Spare cable conductors shall either be terminated or

insulated.

Power and low level apparatus shall be physically separated and

cables segregation and distances between power and sensitive
cables shall also be respected as shown on the figure:

Power Circuits

Screening of horizontally installed busbars

Termination

Conductor Ends (Termination)

Conductor Ends (Termination)

Earthing Connections and Conductors

Minimum cross-section of Earthing conductors

Arrangement of earth
conductor

Cross-section Q of
associated current
carrying conductor
(one phase or pole)
(mm2)

Minimum cross-section of earth

conductor

2. Uninsulated earth
conductor in cable for fixed
installation, being laid under
the cable's lead sheath,
armour or copper braid and
in metal-to-metal contact
with this.

Q 2.5

1 mm2

2.5 < Q 6

1.5 mm2

6<Q

Not permitted

3. Separately installed earth

conductor for fixed
installation

Q < 2.5

Same as current-carrying conductor

subject to minimum 1.5 mm2 for
stranded earthing connection or 2.5
mm2 for unstranded earthing
connection

Cabinet Cabling

Cabinet Cabling

Enclosure

Arrangement of Earth Bus-bar

IE Bar should be isolated from the panel

Arrangement of Earth Bus-bar

IEC 61892-6 (2007):4.1.3 quotes:
Earth bars, when provided, shall
be located in front of equipment
and junction boxes to allow for
easy access for usage, inspection
and maintenance. All earth bars
and terminals shall be visible and
possible to be checked also after
termination of cables.

Arrangement of Earth Bus-bar for MCC

Install the complete cable right
up to the level of the
actual starter, and terminate the
braiding and/or earth
conductor to the vertical sub
earth bar at this level!

Earth Terminations

IEC 61892-6 (2007):4.1.3 quotes:

Separate connections shall be
used for each individual earth
conductor.

Equipment Protective Earthing

Suitable star washers and conductor terminals shall

be used, so that a reliable contact is ensured.

Equipment Protective Earthing

The earthing of the cable itself may be carried out by fixing the
cable to the hull constructions, or to parts that are welded or
riveted to the hull constructions (metal to metal without paint or
coating), by corrosion resistant clamps or metal clips.

Marking and Nameplate

Marking and Nameplate

Marking and Nameplate

Clearance and Creepage Distances

Clearance
Clearance is the shortest distance between two conductive parts measured through air.
Creepage
Creepage is the shortest distance between two conductive parts measured along a surface.

Type tested assemblies and Partly type tested assemblies

a) Electrical low voltage assemblies constructed and tested in accordance with
IEC 60092-302, item 7.1.2.101
(referring to IEC 61439-1) are accepted as long as the following conditions
are met:
minimum clearance distance shall be 8 mm, minimum creepage distance
shall be 16 mm
the assembly has been type tested with impulse voltage test in accordance
with IEC 61439-1
maximum operating temperature of busbars shall be documented to be
acceptable with respect to fixing
materials and internal temperature by a full current type test
maximum temperature rise at termination points for external cables shall
be 60C
such assemblies shall not be installed in machinery space category A.

HAZARDOUS AREAS
Zone 0 Area in which an explosive gas atmosphere is present
continuously or for long periods.
Certified safe for Intrinsic safety Ex-ia
Zone 1 Area in which an explosive gas atmosphere is likely to
occur in normal operation.

Zone 2 Area in which an explosive gas atmosphere is not likely

to occur in normal operation and, if it does occur, is
likely to do so infrequently and will exist for a short
period only.
certified safe for Zone 1 and Zone 2 application.
Ex-n standard
Minimum of IP45

Ex Protection According to Zones

Zone 2

Zone 1

Zone 0

Ex d (flameproof)

Yes

Yes

No

Ex e (increased safety)

Yes

Yes

No

Ex i (intrinsic safe)

Yes

Yes

Yes

Ex p (pressurised)

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

No

No

Ex s (special protection)

Yes

Yes

Yes

Ex m (moulded)

Yes

Yes

No

Ex q

Yes

Yes

No

Ex o

Yes

Yes

No

Ex n

HAZARDOUS AREAS

HAZARDOUS AREAS

HAZARDOUS AREAS
Ex-i circuits
All intrinsic safe circuits shall have a safety barrier in form of a zener
barrier or galvanic isolation certified safe for the application in front of the
circuit part going into hazardous areas.
A circuit in which no spark or any thermal effect produced is capable of
causing ignition of a given explosive atmosphere

HAZARDOUS AREAS
Ex-i circuits
All intrinsic safe circuits shall have a safety barrier in form of a zener
barrier or galvanic isolation certified safe for the application in front of the
circuit part going into hazardous areas.

Exi barrier and circuit(s)

must be sufficiently separated
from other circuits

Corresponding Values for NEMA-Type and IP-rating

Cable types, Cabling and Termination

All cables installed in hazardous areas shall have an outer non-metallic

impervious sheath.
Power and signal cables shall have a metallic braiding or armour
between conductors and the non-metallic impervious sheath in the
following zones and areas:
zone 0
zone 1

The tests of standard IEC 60439-1

There are two type of tests:

7 type tests are performed by the manufacturer on one or several

configurations:
n1 temperature rise limits
n2 dielectric properties
n3 short-circuit withstand
n4 protective circuit effectiveness
n5 clearances and creepage distances
n6 mechanical operation
n7 degree of protection.

3 routine tests are performed by the panelbuilder on each particular

switchboard:
n8 general inspection
n9 insulation/dielectric test
n10 protection measures.