S&C VacuFuse User guide

Instruction Sheet 465-501
June 1, 2020
© S&C Electric Company 2020, all rights reserved
VacuFuse™ Self-Resetting Interrupter—Quick Operation Guide
Outdoor Distribution (5 kV, 15 kV, and 25 kV)
Opening and Closing the VacuFuse Interrupter
The VacuFuse interrupter can be open or closed using the yellow OPEN/CLOSE lever. See
Figure 2. The VacuFuse interrupter will not drop out of the cutout mounting when in the
Open position. It will remain upright until removed manually. Read and understand the
WARNING message in the “If the VacuFuse Self-Resetting Interrupter is Found Open”
section.
To Open
Push the notched side of the yellow OPEN/CLOSE lever up rmly using the straight
prong of the Talon tool or a distribution prong. The vacuum interrupter inside the
VacuFuse interrupter will open, and the green position indicator will display. See Figures
2 and 6.
To Close
Pull the ring of the yellow OPEN/CLOSE lever down rmly using the straight prong of
the Talon tool or a distribution prong. The vacuum interrupter inside the VacuFuse
interrupter will close, and the red position indicator will display. See Figures 2 and 5.
If the VacuFuse interrupter is closed into a fault, it will trip open independently of any
force still applied to the OPEN/CLOSE lever.
To Reset the OPEN/CLOSE lever after Manually Closing into Fault Current
If the VacuFuse interrupter is manually closed into fault current, it will trip open, leaving
the lever in the Closed position and the vacuum interrupter in the Open position. The
lever can be reset by operating it into the Open position. Then, if desired, close the
VacuFuse interrupter by pulling down on the OPEN/CLOSE lever.
Setting the MODE SELECTOR Lever
Before leaving the VacuFuse interrupter, verify the MODE SELECTOR lever is in the
desired position for the installation. The MODE SELECTOR lever has two positions.
When the lever is up, it is in Auto mode. When the lever is down, it in NR (Non-Reclose)
mode. To set the MODE SELECTOR lever, rotate it to the desired position with the straight
prong of a Talon tool or distribution prong.
Auto Mode
In Auto mode, the VacuFuse interrupter will respond to fault current in accordance with
its preset TCC curve. The VacuFuse interrupter will perform one Reclosing operation
(two Trip operations total) to lock open. The open interval between operations is a
user-specied time between 0.5 and 5 seconds. The protection sequence reset time is a
user-specied interval between 30 seconds and 15 minutes. If a fault persists to the end
of the protection sequence, the VacuFuse interrupter will remain in the Open position
until manually closed. The VacuFuse interrupter will not drop out and will remain
upright in the cutout mounting. The interrupter is in Auto mode when the curved label
on the MODE SELECTOR lever side of the housing is fully covered and when the label on
the base of the lever matches with the label on the bottom of the housing. See Figure 6.
NR Mode
In NR (Non-Reclose) mode, the VacuFuse interrupter will operate using the instantaneous
curve.
The VacuFuse interrupter will open and lock open and not attempt to reclose. The
VacuFuse interrupter is in NR mode when the red curved line on the side of the housing
is visible and the amber NR LED on the base of the interrupter is blinking at a 2-second
interval. See Figures 1 and 5 and the “Understanding the LED Indicators and Position
Indicators” section.
WARNING
VacuFuse Self-Resetting Interrupters must be installed, operated, and maintained
by qualified persons who are knowledgeable in overhead electric power distribution
equipment and the associated hazards. This guide is not a replacement for
adequate training and experience in safety procedures for this product. Read S&C
Instruction Sheet 465-500 thoroughly and carefully before installing or operating
your VacuFuse Self-Resetting Interrupter.
DANGER
VacuFuse Self-Resetting Interrupters may be energized from either side and in any
position. Always consider all parts live until de-energized, tested, and grounded.
If the VacuFuse Self-Resetting Interrupter is Found Open
WARNING
The VacuFuse Self-Resetting Interrupter is designed to protect distribution
transformers from internal and external fault current. A VacuFuse interrupter found
in the Open position should not be closed using the OPEN/CLOSE lever until
the cause of the fault current has been determined and repaired. Closing without
repairing the fault could result in equipment damage, injury, or death.
After responding to an overcurrent event, in either the Auto or the NR mode, the
VacuFuse interrupter’s vacuum interrupter will open and the position indicator will
show a green target. See Figure 6. Opening the vacuum interrupter disconnects the
VacuFuse interrupter’s sensing and display functions from line power, and all LEDs
will be inoperative after one minute. If the VacuFuse interrupter is found in the Open
position:
STEP 1. Open and drop open, or remove the VacuFuse interrupter from its mounting if
required by utility practice, following the steps in “Installing and Removing a
VacuFuse Interrupter from the Cutout Mounting” section.
STEP 2. Determine and resolve the cause of the fault.
STEP 3. After determining the cause for the fault and making necessary repairs, install
the VacuFuse interrupter into its mounting as described in the “Closing the
VacuFuse Interrupter into the Cutout Mounting” section.
If Maintenance is to be Performed on the Transformer
STEP 1. Open the VacuFuse interrupter by pushing up on the OPEN/CLOSE lever using
the straight prong of a Talon™ Handling Tool.
STEP 2. Open and drop open or remove the VacuFuse interrupter from its mounting, if
required by utility practice, following the steps in “Installing and Removing
the VacuFuse Interrupter from the Cutout Mounting” section. This creates an
open gap. Depending on your utility’s standard practices, additional testing
or grounds may be required.
STEP 3. Follow the utility’s standard practice for performing transformer maintenance.
After maintenance has been completed, install the VacuFuse interrupter into its
mounting following the steps in “Installing and Removing a VacuFuse Interrupter from
the Cutout Mounting” section.
Figure 1. The VacuFuse Self-Resetting Interrupter—MODE SELECTOR lever side
Figure 2. The VacuFuse Self-Resetting Interrupter—OPEN/CLOSE lever side.
Pull-ring
Jaw-end
contact
Hinge-end
contact
Trunnion
Hand grip
To open, push the
OPEN/ CLOSE lever up
until the green indicator
displays.
To close, pull the
ring down until the red
indicator displays.
MODE SELECTOR
Lever in NR mode
OPEN/CLOSE lever
(Open shown)

2 S&C Instruction Sheet 465-501
Understanding the LED Indicators and Position Indicators
LED Indicators
Two LED indicators are on the base of the VacuFuse interrupter. See Figures 5 and 6.
The HEALTH INDICATOR LED is white and indicates the health state of the VacuFuse
interrupter. When the interrupter is powered, the LED will flash white at a 30-second
interval to indicate a healthy condition. If the VacuFuse interrupter is in an unhealthy
state, the white LED will “fast-blink” at a one-second interval. An off LED indicates either
the MODE SELECTOR lever is in the NR (down) position or the VacuFuse interrupter
is no longer connected to line power. The HEALTH LED will only remain lit with the
vacuum interrupter open for one minute before the unit loses power.
The NR (Non-Reclose) LED is amber and will flash at a two-second interval when the
interrupter is in NR mode. When the VacuFuse interrupter is in Auto mode, the amber
LED remains off.
Position Indicators
The position indicator is located at the
base of the VacuFuse interrupter. It
is a reective red or green target that
indicates the position of the vacuum
interrupter inside the VacuFuse
interrupter. The target is green when
the vacuum interrupter is in the Open
position and red when the vacuum
interrupter is in the Closed position.
Note: Catalog number option “-F1”
reverses the colors of the position
indicator. This option is only avail-
able to some Canadian utilities that
require reversed colors on their
system.
Do not refer to the position of the
OPEN/CLOSE lever to know the posi-
tion of the vacuum interrupter. If the
transformer is manually closed into
fault current, the interrupter will trip
open in response, leaving the lever in
the Closed position and the vacuum
interrupter in the Open position.
Always observe the position indicator
to know the position of the VacuFuse
interrupter’s vacuum interrupter.
NOTICE
Information on troubleshooting
the VacuFuse Self-Resetting
Interrupter can be found in
S&C Instruction Sheet 465-500
available at sandc.com.
Closing the VacuFuse Interrupter into the Cutout Mounting
WARNING
The VacuFuse interrupter is different from other cutout-mounted devices such
as fuses. Before using a VacuFuse interrupter, installation training using both a
hotstick and extendostick must be provided so line crews know how to correctly
install the VacuFuse interrupter in the field to avoid potential serious injury or death.
Special attention should be paid to how the VacuFuse interrupter behaves when being
closed into its mounting.
When the MODE SELECTOR lever is in the Auto (up) position, the VacuFuse interrupter
will operate in Non-Reclose (NR) mode for the first 10 seconds. The active Time-Current
Characteristic (TCC) curve will be the initial trip curve (TCC0). If a fault is not present
on the line, after 10 seconds the VacuFuse interrupter will revert to Auto mode and the
active TCC curve will be the same TCC0. If a fault is present on the line, the VacuFuse
interrupter will trip open and lock open.
When closing with the MODE SELECTOR lever in the Non-Reclose (down) position, the
VacuFuse interrupter will operate in NR mode until the MODE SELECTOR lever is moved
to the Auto (up) mode position. The active TCC curve will be the instantaneous curve.
To close a VacuFuse interrupter into the cutout mounting:
STEP 1. Conrm that the VacuFuse interrupter is in the Open position by viewing its
position indicator. Stand rmly in front of and in line with the cutout mounting.
Do not operate standing directly underneath. If using an extendostick, stand
6 to 10 feet (183 to 305 cm) away from the utility pole.
STEP 2. Insert the straight prong of a Talon tool or a distribution prong into the pull-
ring.
STEP 3. Swing the VacuFuse interrupter to within approximately 45 degrees of the
Closed position. See Figure 3.
STEP 4. While rmly gripping the stick, drive the VacuFuse interrupter closed with
forward force. Maintain the
forward force until the
VacuFuse interrupter properly
closes and latches into the
cutout mounting.
STEP 5. Disengage the prong from the
pull-ring taking care to avoid
pulling the VacuFuse
interrupter open.
STEP 6. Verify the MODE SELECTOR
lever is in the proper position
for the application, either Auto
or NR mode. Then, pull the
OPEN/CLOSE lever down to
close the VacuFuse interrupter
and energize the transformer.
NOTICE
For a video about installing the
VacuFuse Self-Resetting Interrupter
visit sandc.com/vacufuse-video.
Installing and Removing a VacuFuse Interrupter from the Cutout
Mounting
To install a VacuFuse interrupter into a cutout mounting:
STEP 1. Visually inspect the cutout mounting for damage or excessive wear. If damage
is visible, replace the cutout mounting. Make any electrical connections to the
cutout mounting. If aluminum conductors are used, wire-brush them and apply
a coating of oxidation inhibitor before inserting them into the connectors.
STEP 2. Use appropriately rated insulated gloves. With the OPEN/CLOSE lever in the
Open position, insert the VacuFuse interrupter into the cutout mounting with
gloved hands, as shown in Figure 4. Guide the trunnion into the hinge of the
cutout mounting. Close as described in the “Closing the VacuFuse Interrupter
into the Cutout Mounting” section.
To open the vacuum interrupter, drop open, and remove a VacuFuse
interrupter from a cutout mounting:
WARNING
Do NOT attempt to remove a VacuFuse interrupter from its cutout mounting with
the interrupter in the Closed position. The VacuFuse interrupter is in the Closed
position when the position indicator at the base displays a red target. Removing the
VacuFuse interrupter from its cutout mounting in the Closed position may cause
arcing, equipment damage, serious injury, or death.
STEP 1. Open the vacuum interrupter inside the VacuFuse interrupter by pushing up
on the notch of the yellow OPEN/CLOSE lever. Conrm the position indicator
at the base of the VacuFuse interrupter displays a green target. See Figure 6.
STEP 1. With a Talon tool or distribution prong, pull the pull-ring of the
VacuFuse interrupter forward until the interrupter disengages from the
Closed-Into-Cutout position and drops open. A swift, rm pull will be
required.
STEP 2. Using appropriately rated insulated gloves, remove the VacuFuse interrupter
from the cutout mounting with gloved hands. See Figure 4.
Trunnion
Figure 4. Carefully lift the trunnion out of, or place the trunnion
into, the hinge-end contact.
45°
Figure 3. Angle to achieve before closing.
Open/Closed
Position
Indicator
(Closed shown)
OPEN/CLOSED lever
in Closed position
MODE SELECTOR
lever
in NR mode
Amber NR LED
Figure 5. Base of the VacuFuse interrupter showing
a red closed target and a lit amber NR LED.
Figure 6. Base of the VacuFuse interrupter showing
a green open target and a lit white HEALTH LED.
The HEALTH LED will only remain lit with the
vacuum interrupter open for one minute before the
unit loses power.
Open/Closed
Position
Indicator
(Open shown)
White HEALTH LED
OPEN/
CLOSED
lever
(Open
shown)
MODE SELECTOR lever
in Auto mode