Reclosers and Controls

Reclosers
Automatic circuit reclosers are recognized by electric utilities throughout the world as an essential device for achieving their prime goal: providing maximum continuity of electric service to their customers simply and economically. Reclosers sense and interrupt fault currents and automatically restore service after momentary outage. The automatic circuit recloser is essentially a self-contained device with the necessary intelligence to sense overcurrents to time and interrupt fault currents, and to re-energize the line by reclosing automatically. If a fault is permanent, the recloser locks open after a preset number of operations (usually three or four), isolating the faulted section from the main part of the system. Major classifying features of automatic circuit reclosers are:

• Single-phase or Three-phase
• Interrupters: Oil or Vacuum
• Control: Hydraulic or Electronic
• Insulation: Oil, Air, or Epoxy

Single-Phase Reclosers
Single-phase reclosers are used to protect single-phase lines such as branches or taps of a three-phase feeder. They can also be used on three-phase circuits where the load is predominantly single phase. Thus, when a permanent phase-to-ground fault occurs, one phase can be locked-out while service is maintained to the remaining two-thirds of the system.

Three-Phase Reclosers
There are various types of three-phase reclosers available to satisfy multiple applications at the most economical cost. They are used as main breakers three phase feeders for substations with rating up to 1200 amps and 20 KA and also for distribution feeders to segment the feeder into multiple zones of protection.

Recloser Controls
The intelligence that enables a recloser to sense overcurrents, select timing operation, time the tripping and reclosing functions, and finally lockout is provided by the recloser control. There are two basic types of control schemes used: an integral hydraulic control or an electronic control located in a separate cabinet.

Hydraulic Controls
Hydraulic recloser control is used in most single-phase reclosers and in three-phase recloser types 6H and V6H. It is built as an integral part of the recloser. With this type of control, an overcurrent is sensed by a trip coil that is connected in series with the line.

Electronic Controls
Kyle electronic recloser controls are used in most three-phase reclosers and in the single-phase recloser types VXE and NOVA¹. Compared with the hydraulic control, they are more flexible, more easily customized and programmed, and many have advanced protection, metering, and automation functionality.

Single-Phase Hydraulic

Types E, 4E, V4E, H, 4H, V4H, L, V4L
Types D, DV

Single-Phase Electronic

Types VXE, NOVA¹

Three-Phase Hydraulic

Types 6H, V6H
Types W, VW, WV, VWV

Three-Phase Electronic - Air Insulated

Type VSA

Three-Phase Electronic - Oil Insulated

Types WE, WVE, VWE, VWVE
Type VSO

Three-Phase Electronic - Solid Insulation

Type NOVA
ARIES

Triple-Single Recloser

Type NOVA-TS

Recloser Controls

FXA / FXB
Form 3A
Form 4C
Form 5
Form 6

Technology

Solid Dielectric
Vacuum
Cycloaliphatic

Product Literature

Recloser and Controls Library