Low-Voltage Circuit Breaker Maintenance Technician

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CERTIFICATION OVERVIEW

Low voltage circuit breakers (1000V or less) play a crucial role in the protection of other power system devices. The need for maintenance of these circuit breakers is not always obvious because they remain idle for long periods of time. While deterioration is normal and begins as soon as the circuit breaker is installed, it can cause failures and malfunction without preventive maintenance. Proper maintenance and testing of electrical circuit breakers will enhance equipment life expectancy, reliability, and overall system performance. Molded case circuit breakers (MCCBs) are assembled as an integral unit in a supportive and enclosing housing of insulating material. MCCBs have factory calibrated and sealed elements. An insulated case circuit breaker is is simply a MCCB with a stored energy mechanism. Effective maintenance of these circuit breakers demands careful attention to minor details combined with a thorough testing program. Basic maintenance procedures plus proper electrical tests are essential to maximize reliability. This certification program will qualify technicians to safely maintain molded-case, insulated-case and low-voltage power circuit breakers. What is certification? Certification means you have achieved certain performance criteria - knowledge, skills and abilities through training. Certifications prove your skills, and their value is the recognition of customers, coworkers and employers. This certification also meets the requirements of OSHA 29 CFR 1910.269(a)(2)(vii).

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

  • Maintenance requirements and justification
  • Identify components and nameplate data for power circuit breakers equipped with electromechanical and solid-state trip devices
  • Perform a complete circuit breaker service: inspection, removal, disassembly, cleaning, tightening, reassembly, lubrication and adjustment in lab
  • Read and interpret manufacturers' trip curves, including RMS types
  • Use high current test sets, perform contact resistance and insulation resistance testing in lab
  • Evaluate test results
  • Components and nameplate data for breakers equipped with thermal, magnetic and solid-state trip devices
  • Applicable safety and NEMA standards
  • Discuss and perform maintenance as required by manufacturer and industry standards
  • Read and interpret time overcurrent curves, including thermal and solid-state types
  • Perform primary current injection, contact resistance and insulation resistance testing in lab
  • Evaluate test results
  • Electrical hazards and personal protective equipment (PPE) selection requirements
  • Proper care and use of PPE in compliance with OSHA and ASTM
  • Energized and de-energized work procedures
  • Safe workspace and approach distances
  • General installation safety requirements and electrical safe work practices
  • OSHA 29 CFR 1910.331-335, .269 and .303

REQUIREMENTS

The following courses may be completed in any order, within an 18 month period. The certification will be valid for 3 years from the date of issue. In order to meet the safety requirements, this certification requires completion of the OSHA OR NFPA course - not both. Circuit Breaker Maintenance, Low-Voltage 4.5 days, 3.6 CEUs Circuit Breaker Maintenance, Molded- and Insulated-Case 2 days, 1.6 CEUs OSHA Electrical Safety-Related Work Practices 2 days, 1.6 CEUs NFPA 70E 2018 Electrical Safety 2 days, 1.6 CEUs

Circuit Breaker Maintenance, Low-Voltage
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Circuit Breaker Maintenance, Molded & Insulated Case
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NFPA 70E® 2018 Electrical Safety
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OSHA Electrical Safety-Related Work Practices
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