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(ANSI C37.59)

Much of the existing switchgear in operationtoday is nearing the end of its reliablelife expectancy (approximately 20 years). This problem has forced many users to decidewhether to leave their existing switchgear in place until it fails, or replace it with new switchgear.

General Switchgear Inc. offers its customers another option: Retrofitted Circuit Breakers. GSI begins its retrofit process by taking an existing air circuit breaker and removing both its operating mechanism and contacts. Then, either a new vacuum or SF6 circuit breaker is mounted on the frame of the existing breaker, along with bus to the bushing. The retrofit breaker is finally wired to the secondary control-disconnect and racked into the existing cell for final testing.

General Switchgear Inc. is in the forefront of retrofit breaker technology, having retrofitted almost all makes of circuit breakers at 600V, 5kV, and 15kV. GSI has provided these types of circuit breakers to both utility and industrial users alike for more than twenty years.

Benefits of retrofitted circuit breakers include:

New Circuit Breaker
The most important part of the switchgear is replaced with a new SF6 or vacuum-circuit breaker.

Low Cost
The cost of modernizing is minimized because only the breaker is replaced.

Warranty
GSI's retrofit circuit breakers are warranted as new circuit breakers.

Minimal Down Time
Service interruption is just a short time to “rack” the old breaker out and install the new retrofitted breaker into the cell.

Quality
All retrofitted circuit breakers are tested to ANSI standards; Short Circuit and BIL tests are also available.

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