Basics of Low Voltage Switchgear

Basics of Low Voltage Switchgear
A quickSTEP Online Course
© Siemens industry, Inc. www.usa.siemens.com/step

Trademarks
Siemens is a trademark of Siemens AG. Product names mentioned may be trademarks or registered
trademarks of their respective companies.
ANSI is a registered trademark of American National Standards Institute
National Electrical Code® and NEC® and NFPA 70® are registered trademarks of the National Fire
Protection Association.
NEMA® is a registered trademark and service mark of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association.
UL® is a registered trademark of UL, LLC.
Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
© Siemens Industry, Inc. 2017 Page 1-2

Course Topics
Welcome to Basics of Low Voltage Switchgear.

This course covers the following topics:
Chapter 1 - Introduction
• Overview
• WL LV Power Circuit Breakers
Chapter 2 – WL LV Switchgear
• WL LV Switchgear Design
• Arc Resistant LV Switchgear
• Sm@rtGear LV Switchgear
Final Exam
If you do not have an understanding of basic
electrical concepts, you should complete Basics
of Electricity before attempting this course.

Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course you will be able to…

• State the differences in operating voltage between low voltage and medium voltage switchgear
• List the maximum voltage rating and maximum bus current ratings for WL low voltage switchgear
• Describe the most important design characteristics of WL low voltage power circuit breakers
• List the most significant specifications that affect the design of low voltage switchgear
• Identify the range of continuous current ratings, interrupting ratings, and short-time withstand ratings
available for WL low voltage power circuit breakers
• Identify operational features of WL low voltage power circuit breakers
• Describe the key differences among the various electronic trip units available for WL circuit breakers
• List the communication options available for WL circuit breakers
• List the enclosure types available for standard WL low voltage switchgear
• List the types of sections and section widths commonly for WL low voltage switchgear.
• Identify the ANSI/IEEE arc resistant testing standard that applies to both low voltage and medium
voltage switchgear
• Describe the difference between accessibility levels 1 and 2 for arc resistant switchgear
• Describe the key similarities and differences between WL low voltage switchgear and the arc
resistant version
• List important features of Sm@rtgearTM LV switchgear.

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Power Distribution
Power from a power generating plant is distributed to

customers through transmission lines and substations. The
most efficient way to do this is to increase the voltage while at
the same time reducing the current. Electric utilities, which
must provide power to customers of various types, use
transmission systems that operate in the high voltage or extra
high voltage range.
Once the electrical energy gets near the end user, the utility
steps down the voltage to the level needed by the user. The
amount by which the voltage is stepped down at the user end
depends on the needs of the facility. Many large commercial
or industrial facilities have service entrance equipment that
operates in the medium voltage range. Other facilities have
low voltage equipment at the service entrance.
Medium voltage (MV) systems generally operate between

1000 and 38,000 volts (1 to 38 kV), although some MV
systems can operate above 38 kV. The switchgear covered in
this course is referred to as low voltage (LV) equipment. For
the purposes of this discussion of power distribution
equipment, LV systems operate at 1000 VAC (nominal) or
below. Keep in mind that to account for power system
differences the maximum voltage of equipment is usually
© Siemens Industry, Inc. 2017 higher than the nominal system voltage.
Page 1-6
Medium Voltage Switchgear
A large industrial facility receives electrical power

from the utility company at high transmission voltage
levels. The voltage is stepped down to a medium
voltage or low voltage level at the substation for
distribution throughout the facility. Large industrial
facilities can be spread out over several acres and
may incorporate many large buildings. Multiple MV
switchgear units, sometimes called MV metal-clad
switchgear, could be used if the power demand is
large enough.
Switchgear is a compartmentalized system of

coordinated devices used for power distribution,
control, and circuit protection. Switchgear performs
the same function as switchboards, but different
standards dictate the design of switchgear. In
addition, because medium voltage (MV) switchgear
must handle higher levels of electrical energy and
must be capable of interrupting higher fault currents,
it is larger and more heavily constructed.
Siemens manufactures multiple types of MV

switchgear to meet varied customer requirements
with voltage ratings up to 42 kV.
WL Low Voltage Metal-Enclosed Switchgear
A Siemens WL low voltage (LV) metal-enclosed switchgear

assembly consists of one or more metal-enclosed vertical
sections. WL LV switchgear is designed around the innovative
features of Siemens WL LV power circuit breakers. Each vertical
section consists of up to four individually-enclosed breaker or
auxiliary compartments sized to provide uniform section height.
Included in each assembly are components such as circuit

breakers, instrumentation and control equipment, transformers,
relays, three-phase bus work, and all internal wiring, connectors,
and other supporting equipment.
WL switchgear has horizontal and vertical bus rated for 6000

amps maximum. It is rated for use on 50 or 60 Hz, three-phase,
three-wire or three-phase, four-wire systems with a maximum
voltage of 635 VAC.
This course covers Siemens WL LV metal-enclosed switchgear

and the WL low voltage power circuit breakers that this
equipment incorporates. An overview of the following variations
of WL LV switchgear is also included: four-pole WL LV
switchgear, front-connected WL LV switchgear, marine WL LV
switchgear, arc resistant LV switchgear, and Sm@rtGear WL LV
switchgear.
Large Facility Power Distribution Example
In large commercial, industrial, or institutional facilities, the

supplied voltage must be reduced multiple times to
accommodate the needs of various types of electrical
equipment. While some machines require voltages above
480 volts, most factories and many large commercial and
institutional faculties use AC motors, drives, motor control
centers, and other devices that operate on three-phase,
480 volts and other equipment that requires even lower single-
phase or three-phase voltages.
In the accompanying example, power is stepped down at the

utility company’s substation to 38,000 volts (38 kV) and applied
to the incoming section of the facility’s 38 kV medium voltage
metal-clad switchgear.
One distribution branch is stepped down to 4.16 kV and another

to 13.8 kV and further distributed through MV metal clad
switchgear units. A 13.8 kV branch is applied to a secondary
unit substation and further reduced to 480 volts. Further down
this path, a single-phase transformer reduces the voltage to
120 V.
In this example, the LV switchgear is incorporated into a

secondary unit substation. Keep in mind that LV switchgear
© Siemens Industry, Inc. 2017 sections may not set up in this configuration.
Page 1-9
Secondary Unit Substations
Some customers require an integrated assembly,

called a secondary unit substation, to provide
electrical service to a facility. A secondary unit
substation consists of a primary switch and one or
more transformers mechanically and electrically
connected to switchboard or switchgear sections.
All elements of the substation are engineered to
the specific needs of the application.
The incoming service to the primary switch is

typically 2.4 to 13.8 kV. The primary switch is
used to connect and disconnect the secondary
unit substation from the incoming service. The
transformer section can be liquid filled, ventilated
dry type, or cast coil type and is used to step
down the voltage to 600 V or below. The outgoing
sections can be switchboard or LV switchgear
sections.

WL Low Voltage Power Circuit Breakers
Siemens WL circuit breakers are designed to address the

increasingly demanding requirements of today’s electrical power
distribution systems and incorporates the following characteristics.
• High reliability
• Compact size
• Ease of use
• Modularity of design
• Flexibility of system communications
• Safety-oriented features
Siemens WL family of circuit breakers includes both insulated

case circuit breakers that conform to the UL 489 specification and
low voltage power circuit breakers that conform to the UL 1066
and corresponding ANSI and NEMA specifications. The WL circuit
breakers used in WL LV switchgear are LV power circuit breakers.
One important characteristic of an LV power circuit breaker is its

ability to withstand a designated level of fault current without
damage for a short time. This is important because an LV power
circuit breaker is often required to delay tripping for a short time
when a fault current is sensed so that a downstream breaker
closer to the fault has time to trip, thereby avoiding a larger
system outage.
Low Voltage Switchgear Standards
The terms switchboard and switchgear are

often confused because these terms are
similar in spelling and both types of
equipment are used in power distribution
systems. However, low voltage switchgear
conforms to ANSI, IEEE, and UL
standards that differ from NEMA and UL
switchboard standards.
The accompanying chart shows the most

significant ANSI, IEEE, and UL standards
that apply to LV switchgear assemblies
and devices.

Low Voltage Switchgear Applications
WL LV switchgear is designed for use in a wide variety of applications. The accompanying chart shows examples of typical
applications for LV switchgear.

Low Voltage Switchgear Versus Switchboards
LV switchgear and switchboards are similar in appearance

and perform similar functions, but there are some
important differences. In general, low voltage switchgear is
typically more rugged than comparable switchboards. This
difference translates into a higher manufacturing cost and
selling price for low voltage switchgear.
Another important difference relates to the different design

standards for switchboards and LV switchgear. The U. S.
standards for LV switchgear were provide earlier in this
course. In comparison, consider that switchboards are
designed to NEMA PB-2 and UL 891 standards. In
addition, shown in the accompany chart, switchboards are
capable of incorporating a broader range of overcurrent
protection devices. This means that more device
standards apply to switchboards.
In summary, There are applications that can be handled

effectively with either switchboards or LV switchgear;
however, there continues to be a need for both types of
products. Switchboards offer flexibility and a lower initial
cost, and LV switchgear offers increased ruggedness and
reliability that for many companies translates into a lower
total cost of ownership.
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Chapter 1 – Introduction
This chapter covers the following

topics:
• Overview
• WL LV Power Circuit Breakers

WL LV Three-Pole Power Circuit Breaker Ratings
WL low voltage power circuit breakers, also referred to as WL UL 1066 circuit breakers, are used in WL low voltage
switchgear as drawout-mounted breakers. They have a rated maximum operating voltage of 635 VAC and are available in
two frame sizes with frame ratings from 800 to 6000 A and continuous current ratings from 200 to 6000 A. Additional
details for three-pole WL power circuit breakers are provided in the chart shown below. Note that frame size I is not shown
here because it only applies to WL circuit breakers that conform to the UL 489 specification. Ratings for four-pole WL
power circuit breakers are provided in the chart on the following page.

WL LV Four-Pole Power Circuit Breaker Ratings
Four-pole breakers provide the neutral isolation capability that is advantageous for low voltage switchgear applications
where multiple, separately-derived power sources are individually grounded. Ratings for four-pole WL power circuit
breakers are provided in the chart shown below. Note that frame size I is not shown here because it only applies to WL
circuit breakers that conform to the UL 489 specification.

WL Circuit Breaker Operational Features
WL circuit breakers can be fused or unfused

and optionally delivered with any of these
operating mechanisms:
• Manual operating mechanism with

mechanical closing (standard)
• Manual operating mechanism with
mechanical and electrically-interlocked
closing
• Motorized operating mechanism with
mechanical and electrically-interlocked
closing.
As shown in the accompanying graphic, WL

circuit breakers have a number of standard and
optional features that enhance the safety and
usability of the breaker, reduce errors, and
minimize training time.

Ready-to-close Indicator
One of the standard safety features of WL

low voltage power circuit breakers is the
ready-to-close indicator that provides an at-a-
glance visual indication that the all eight of
the necessary conditions have been met and
the breaker is in the ready-to-close state.
The WL circuit breaker is ready to close if the

following conditions are met;
1. The breaker is in the open position

2. The stored-energy springs are charged
3. The under-voltage release (UVR) is
energized
4. The shunt trip is not energized
5. The closing coil is not energized
6. No interlocks are activated
7. The mechanical closing lockout is reset
8. The racking handle is stowed away

Modularity of Design
WL circuit breakers
have a flexible
modular design that
includes common
plug-in accessories,
field upgradeable trip
units, and field-
changeable contacts
and arc chutes.
This design minimizes

inventory, allows for
last-minute changes,
and is cost-effective
to support.

Field Installable Accessories
WL circuit breakers offer a variety accessories and trip units that are easily mounted at the front of the breaker and each
of these devices fits all frames. Examples of some of the more common accessories are shown in the accompanying
graphic.

Electronic Trip Units – Part 1
Three electronic trip units (ETUs) are available for use with
WL circuit breakers. The protective functions and
additional capabilities available for these trip units are
shown in the accompanying diagram. Some of the optional
functions are briefly described below and on the next page
The switch-selectable I2t or I4t characteristic curve

function allows the breaker’s long-time characteristics to
be set to either an I2t curve or an I4t curve to make it
easier to achieve optimal coordination.
Switchable parameter sets simplify adapting the system to

rapid changes, such as when power is switched between
utility power and a generator. Switching between
parameter sets can be done quickly and, if desired,
remotely.

Electronic Trip Units – Part 2
Dynamic Arc-Flash Sentry (DAS) employs the unique dual

protection settings of the ETU776 trip unit coupled with the
ability to toggle to a lower arc flash parameter set. A
normal parameter set can be optimized for selective trip
coordination with the alternate parameter set optimized for
lower arc flash energy levels initiated when someone
approaches the arc flash protection boundary.
Extended Instantaneous Protection (EIP) is designed to

provide any WL low voltage power circuit breaker with the
capability to be applied at the short-time withstand rating
of the breaker with no instantaneous override. This feature
gives downstream breakers the maximum possible time to
clear a fault and reduces the likelihood of a system-wide
outage.

Electronic Trip Unit Modularity – Part 1
The modularity of WL circuit breakers extends

to the ETUs. For example, any ETU model can
be installed in any WL circuit breaker. In
addition, as described below, selected ETU
models can be easily adapted to changing
conditions in the field by the addition or
replacement of the following ETU modules:
• Display
• Ground fault protection
• Rating plug
• Metering function/Metering function plus
• Communication.
The alphanumeric LCD display is an option for

ETU745 (shown in the accompanying graphic)
and ETU748. ETU776 comes equipped with a
graphical LCD display.

Electronic Trip Unit Modularity – Part 2
Ground fault trip and alarm and ground-fault-

only modules are available for ETU745,
ETU748, and ETU776.
The rating plug is a replaceable module used to

set the continuous current rating for the circuit
breaker. Rating plugs are available for frame
size II from 200 to 3200 amps and for frame
size III from 800 to 6000 amps.
The integrated metering function can be

installed on ETU745, ETU748, and ETU776 to
measure currents, voltages, power, energy,
power factor, and frequency. All metered
quantities are real-time values with min/max
recording. The metering module also provides
additional alarm setpoint and protective relay
functions. The metering function plus module
has additional recording capacity and supports
harmonic analysis.

Communications Options – Part 1
CubicleBUS forms the backbone of the WL

circuit breaker communication system.
CubicleBUS is an internal system bus that
connects all intelligent components in the
WL circuit breaker and simplifies the
connection to external components.
CubicleBUS is incorporated into all WL

circuit breakers with ETU745, ETU748, and
ETU776 trip units. The modular design of
this system simplifies retrofitting of
communications functions. All modules
shown attached to CubicleBUS in the
accompanying graphic directly access
useful circuit breaker data.

Communications Options – Part 2
With the addition of a COM15 PROFIBUS

module for PROFIBUS DP communications
or COM16 MODBUS module ( not shown)
for MODBUS RTU communications, WL
circuit breakers with ETU745, ETU748, and
ETU776 trip units can have ETU
parameters changed, and the breaker can
be opened and closed remotely. In addition,
data can be shared with other systems. For
trip units with the metering function or
metering function plus option, the breaker
can take on an even wider role in a power
management system.
The Breaker Data Adapter (BDA)

incorporates configuration software and
embedded web pages. This enables online
configuration and diagnostics and allows
configuration data developed offline to be
downloaded to the trip unit.
The BDA Plus has all the functionality of

the BDA and can also connect to an
Ethernet network.
CubicleBUS I/O Modules
A variety of CubicleBUS input/output (I/O) modules are available to expand the

capabilities of the WL circuit breaker. The following paragraphs summarize the
capabilities of this modules.
The digital output module with rotary switch (not shown) allows up to six binary
signals to be connected to external signaling devices or used to control other
equipment. Digital and relay output versions of this module are available.
The configurable digital output module allows up to six binary signals to be

triggered by protective or setpoint events. Optionally, three of these outputs can be
assigned in a logical-OR arrangement connected to up to six events. Both digital
and relay output versions of this module are available.
The analog output module can be used to output a variety of measured values
(amps, volts, power, power factor, etc.) to analog display devices on the cubicle
door. Up to two modules of this type can be connected to the WL breaker.
The digital input module can connect to a maximum of six digital (24 VDC) inputs.
This enables the status of a switch or the cubicle door to be communicated to the
circuit breaker.
Zone selective interlocking (ZSI) is a method that allows two or more circuit
breakers to communicate so that a short circuit or ground fault is cleared by the
breaker closest to the fault in the minimum time. The ZSI module is used to
© Siemens Industry, Inc. 2017 interconnect WL circuit breakers in this arrangement.
Page 1-29
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topics:

Enclosures
The following types of enclosures are available for WL low

voltage metal-enclosed switchgear:
• NEMA 1 (shown in the accompanying graphic)
• NEMA 3R outdoor (non-walk-in)
• NEMA 3R outdoor (walk-in)
For NEMA 1 enclosures, rear covers with captive hardware are

standard. Rear doors with quarter-turn latches and captive
screws and rear doors with three-point latches are optional. In
addition to the standard ventilation design, a tamper-resistant
ventilation design is available as an option.
NEMA 3R enclosures are painted, weather-resistant steel

housings. Both enclosures sit on a six-inch high, formed steel
base which provides rigid support and a tight bottom seal. A
heavy-duty protective undercoating is applied to the under side
of the enclosure. Shielded ventilation housings permit proper
airflow. Walk-in enclosures have a 42-inch lighted and
unobstructed service isle.
The integrally mounted breaker hoist, standard on walk-in

outdoor and optional on indoor switchgear enclosures, travels
along rails on top of the switchgear to assist in breaker
handling.
Section Types
WL low voltage switchgear can be configured in

many ways by combining different section types.
Up to five vertical sections plus a transition
section can be shipped together as a unit. If
requested at order entry, the switchgear can be
shipped so that it can be tilted onto its back to
transport it during installation.
The major assembly sections include:

• Transition Section - used as transition to a
liquid filled transformer, to an outdoor dry-type
transformers, or other equipment such as
MCCs or switchboards.
• Auxiliary Section - used as incoming bus duct
or cable entrance when a main breaker is not
used. Also utilized when utility metering or full
height control section is required.
• Main Section - used to contain a main breaker
and may house metering and feeder breakers.
• Feeder Section - used to contain feeder
breakers and other equipment such as
instrumentation.
• Tie Section - used to contain a tie breaker and
other equipment such as feeder breakers.
Main Sections
The accompanying graphic shows the

possible configurations for WL LV
switchgear main sections, which are
sections that include a main breaker,
but not a tie breaker.

Main and Tie Sections
The accompanying graphic shows the possible configurations for WL LV switchgear main and tie sections, which are
sections that include a main breaker and a tie breaker. A tie breaker is a circuit breaker used in systems with two power
sources. The tie breaker allows the user to select which source provides power to the load.

Tie Sections
The accompanying graphic shows the possible configurations for WL LV switchgear tie sections, which are sections that
include a tie breaker without a main breaker. A tie breaker is a circuit breaker used in systems with two power sources.
The tie breaker allows the user to select which source provides power to the load.

Feeder Sections
The accompanying graphic shows the possible configurations for WL LV switchgear feeder sections, which are sections
that include feeder breakers and do not include main or tie breakers.

Front Accessible Features
The WL LV switchgear design incorporates

exceptional front access to key features. For
example, all breaker settings and displays are
clearly visible with the breaker door closed.
The breaker can also be racked into its
connect, test, or disconnect positions with the
breaker door closed.
Control and communication wiring is routed

through vertical and horizontal wireways in
the front of each breaker compartment and
separated from the power cables which are
terminated in the rear. Opening the breaker
door provides access to the vertical wireway.
Standard control and communication wiring is

number 14 AWG extra-flexible, stranded
copper type SIS.

Bus Design – Part 1
The standard main bus is silver-plated copper. Tin-

plated copper bus is optionally available. Vertical
and horizontal bus bars utilize a channel shape
design to maximize short circuit withstand capability
and minimize heat rise. All bus joints include grade
5 bolts and conical spring washers. Provisions for
future extension of the main bus include plated
joints and high tensile strength steel hardware.
The main three-phase horizontal buses are

arranged vertically one phase above the other with
edge-to-edge alignment to provide high, short circuit
strength. Insulated main bus with isolated vertical
bus is optional.
Vertical bus ratings available are 1600, 2000, 3200,

4000, 5000, and 6000 amps continuous current.
Horizontal bus ratings available are 1600, 2000,
3200, 4000, 5000, and 6000 amps continuous
current.

Bus Design – Part 2
A neutral bus is furnished when specified, and can

be rated 1600, 2000, 3200, 4000, 5000, or
6000 amps continuous current.
A 1/4” x 3” standard copper ground bus extends

through all sections. Cable lugs are mounted to the
ground bus in each section. Standard short-circuit
withstand (4 cycle) and short-time withstand
(60 cycle) bus bracing is 100,000 amperes. Higher
short-circuit withstand bus bracings (150 kA and
200 kA) are available.
Load side runbacks for feeder circuits are copper

construction, are insulated with sleeve tubing in the
main bus area, and are supported by high-strength
bus bracing.

Compartments
Each complete vertical section contains the

following three compartments:
• Front compartment containing breakers
and/or auxiliary equipment
• Bus compartment containing the
horizontal and vertical buses
• Rear cable compartment containing the
load-side runbacks connecting the load
side of the breaker to the load cable
terminals.
Within the front compartment, each breaker

is barriered and compartmented from all
other breakers. This design also isolates
the breakers in the front compartment from
the bus compartment.

Optional Barriers and Lugs
Optional barriers can be supplied to isolate

the bus compartment from the rear cable
compartment. Other optional barriers include:
• Full depth section barriers to isolate one

section from the adjacent section(s).
• Barriers to isolate the incoming line side
connections to the main breaker(s) from
the load-side bus and connections in the
switchgear section.
(Note: line/load barriers are provided as a

standard feature for service equipment
main breakers.)
Cable compartment mechanical lugs are

standard. Compression lugs are available as
an option. If requested and supplied, lugs can
be pointed directly to the rear or rotated up or
down at 45 degree angles.

Siemens Advantages
In summary, WL low voltage metal enclosed switchgear offers a

number of significant advantages.
The small foot print for switchgear sections minimizes the

amount of space required, saving on construction costs for new
facilities and simplifying installation for existing facilities.
It incorporates advanced WL circuit breaker features such as

Extended Instantaneous Protection, which reduces the impact
of system faults, and Dynamic Arc Flash Sentry, which
increases worker safety.
It offers many features, such as the elimination of front

ventilation and heat sinks and a unique and rugged bus design,
that enhance system reliability and reduce maintenance costs.
Its flexible design incorporates many field-installable

accessories and front-accessible control and communications
connections, thereby reducing the cost of adapting the system
to changing facility requirements.
And finally, its extensive communication capabilities provide the

ability to interconnect WL switchgear with other equipment to
enhance system-wide control, reliability, and energy
© Siemens Industry, Inc. 2017 management.
Page 2-13
Four-pole WL LV Switchgear
Four-pole breakers provide the neutral isolation

capability that is advantageous for low voltage
switchgear applications where multiple,
separately-derived power sources are
individually grounded.
In a typical 3-phase, 4-wire main-main or main-

tie-main LV switchgear application, the neutral is
solidly connected throughout the equipment and
is grounded (bonded) at each incoming source.
This provides multiple paths for ground fault and
normal neutral current to flow. If a three-pole
breaker is used in conjunction with traditional
residual or zero sequence ground fault, nuisance
ground fault tripping and/or failure to trip on
ground fault can occur.
With a four-pole main breaker, the neutral is

disconnected (isolated) when the breaker is
open, and, provided that only one main breaker
is closed at a time, the problems associated with
multiple neutral grounding points and multiple
paths for ground fault and normal neutral current
are eliminated.
Four-pole WL LV Switchgear Sections
The accompanying graphic shows the possible configurations for four-pole WL LV switchgear sections.

Front-connected WL LV Switchgear
With traditional rear-connected LV switchgear, each vertical section

contains the following three compartments.
• Front compartment containing breakers and/or auxiliary
components.
• Middle compartment containing vertical and horizontal bus
• Rear compartment containing breaker connections(line and/or
Typically the breaker connections are cables ,but could be
busway.
With front-connected LV switchgear, the rear breaker connection

compartment is relocated to a separate vertical section beside the
vertical section containing the breakers. All incoming and outgoing
breaker connections are accessible from the front.
Front-connected WL LV switchgear is typically wider than a

comparable rear-connected LV switchgear lineup, but it isn’t as deep
and doesn’t require rear working space. While the front -connected
LV switchgear footprint may be larger than a comparable rear-
connected switchgear lineup, the total required electrical room space
(including working space) is typically smaller.

Marine LV Switchgear
Siemens offers LV switchgear for marine and

offshore applications. Siemens WL Low Voltage
Switchgear can be manufactured to meet ABS,
USCG, DNV and Lloyd’s of London standards.
Additionally, all Siemens Type WL LV switchgear is
built to the applicable UL, ANSI, and IEEE
standards.
Equipment Ratings
• 635V AC maximum
• 3-phase 3-wire, 3-phase 4-wire
• 50/60 Hz
• 6000 amp maximum horizontal bus
• 6000 amp maximum vertical bus
• Silver-plated copper bus standard, tin-plated
copper optional
• Standard bus bracing 100kA –optional up to
200kA
Seismic Qualification
Seismic qualification to all major seismic
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topics:

Arc Fault and Arc Flash
There are two broad categories of electrical faults, bolted faults and arc
faults. Bolted faults occur in conductors that are solidly connected when no
arcing occurs. Standard design low voltage metal-enclosed switchgear
withstands the mechanical forces that occur on load terminals as a result
of a bolted fault (within equipment specifications) until a circuit breaker has
time to interrupt the fault current.
Arc faults occur when electricity flows through air. Arc faults can be caused
by a variety of conditions such as overvoltage, corrosion, excess humidity,
aging or overstress of insulation, improper installation and maintenance
practices, the intrusion of small animals, etc.
For conductors operating at the voltage levels found in a typical residence,

arc faults are a problem because of their potential to cause a fire. Hence,
the increased requirement for arc fault circuit interrupters in residential
environments.
At higher voltage and current levels, such as those found in commercial,

institutional, industrial, and utility applications, arc faults pose an even
greater safety hazard. At these higher energy levels, an arc fault can result
in an arc flash, where heat energy is suddenly and often explosively
produced. An arc flash can cause temperatures and explosive forces
sufficient to vaporize equipment. Because of the hazards posed by arc
flashes, numerous safety standards have been put in place to enhance
© Siemens Industry, Inc. 2017 workplace safety.
Page 2-20
Switchgear Testing Standard
Because the danger from an arc flash increases with the energy
level, arc flash safety has long been a concern for equipment
operating at medium voltages and higher. However, the
potential for an arc flash is present with low voltage switchgear
as well.
As a result of the increased awareness of the need for arc flash

protection in low voltage switchgear, IEEE standard C37.20.7
(IEEE Guide for Testing Medium-Voltage Metal-Enclosed
Switchgear for Internal Arcing Faults ) was revised to include
low voltage metal-enclosed switchgear that is intended to be
designated arc resistant. The revised standard is IEEE
standard C37.20.7-2007 (IEEE Guide For Testing Metal-
Enclosed Switchgear Rated Up To 38 kV For Internal Arcing
Faults).
The revised standard does not require all metal-enclosed

switchgear to be designated arc resistant, nor does it define the
design changes needed for metal-enclosed switchgear to be
considered arc resistant. However, because of the safety issues
involved, it does set rigorous testing requirements that a
switchgear design must comply with to be designated arc
resistant.

What Does Arc Resistant Mean?
Because the causes of internal arcing and the potential for an arc flash cannot be
may be present and undetected, and it is not always possible to de-energize
power distribution equipment when someone is nearby, companies are required
to comply with a number of standards intended to improve workforce safety.
Even the best safety practices, however, cannot guarantee worker safety.
One additional step that companies can consider when replacing existing low
voltage switchgear or designing new or expanded facilities, is to use arc resistant
low voltage switchgear, but what does arc resistant mean in this context?
For one thing, it means that the switchgear has successfully completed testing in
accordance with the IEEE C37.20.7-2007. This means that the equipment has
been constructed to provide an additional degree of protection in the event of an
arc flash.
This specification identifies two zones of accessibility in relation to the equipment

that identify the area for which additional protection is provided. Equipment
tested to provide type 1 accessibility provides additional protection only from the
front. Equipment tested to provide type 2 accessibility provides additional
protection from the front, back, and sides. Each of these accessibility types
requires that all equipment covers and doors are installed and closed. These
accessibility levels are often shown with suffix letters. Suffix A applies if no other
suffix letter is applicable. Suffix B indicates that the arc-resistant functionality
extends to designated low voltage compartments.
WL Arc Resistant Low Voltage Switchgear
Ratings
• ANSI/IEEE Type 2B accessibility
• Maximum internal arcing short-circuit current: 100 kA @ 508 V and
85 kA @ 635 V
• WL power circuit breaker frames range from 800 A to 6000 A
• 3 and 4 pole WL power circuit breakers
• Maximum arcing duration: 500 msec
• Vertical bus continuous current ratings to 6000 A
• Horizontal bus continuous current ratings to 6000 A
• Maximum voltage: 635 V
• 3 Phase 3 Wire, 3 Phase 4 Wire
• 50/60 Hz
Industry Standards
• UL-1558
• ANSI/IEEE C37.20.1
• ANSI C37.51
• ANSI/IEEE C37.20.7

Standard Features
Siemens arc resistant low voltage switchgear provides an added degree of protection over standard metal-enclosed
switchgear. In addition to bolted faults, Siemens WL arc resistant low voltage switchgear is designed and performance
tested to ANSI/IEEE C37.20.7 to provide protection from the hazards of internal arcing faults.
Standard Features
• ANSI/IEEE Type 2B Arc Resistant to protect personnel at the front, back and sides of the equipment.
• UL listed, performance tested and classified as arc resistant in accordance with ANSI/IEEE C37.20.7.
• Reinforced enclosure to withstand pressure from internal arcing faults.
• Internal venting system with pressure dams and pressure vents to channel the flow of arc fault gases and vent these
gases out the top of the gear and away from personnel.
• Reinforced and gasketed front doors with additional hinges and latching means.
• One piece circuit breaker compartment doors with insert panels for control devices such as fuses, indicating lights,
and circuit breaker control switches when required.
• Reinforced bolted rear covers.
• Insulated/Isolated bus bar system.
• Integrally-designed circuit breaker door sealing frame that allows the user to rack a circuit breaker to connect, test or
disconnect position without having to install additional hardware (bellows, shrouds, etc) and still maintain arc resistant
rating of the apparatus.
• Shutters in circuit breaker compartments.
• Riser base with integrated arc plenum.
• Four high power circuit breaker stacking capability. No additional stacking/configuration restrictions.
• All section configurations available. Available in solidly grounded or resistance grounded configurations.
• Non-fused, non current-limiting circuit breakers allow full power coordination.

Recommended Optional Features
The following optional features of WL arc resistant LV switchgear provide additional protection and are recommended
where appropriate.
Overhead plenum with exhaust duct. The system is designed to transfer the byproducts of the arcing event (smoke,
particulate matter, heat, etc.) away from the immediate vicinity of the low voltage switchgear when an internal arcing fault
occurs. Typically, the exhaust duct will vent the byproducts to a location usually outside of the room in which the low
voltage switchgear is located. The overhead plenum is attached to the roof of the low voltage switchgear, and can be
exhausted in any direction ((left, right, forward, backward) away from the switchgear assembly or unit substation.
Dynamic Arc Flash Sentry (DAS). DAS employs the unique dual parameter setting capability of the ETU776 trip unit,
coupled with the ability to easily toggle to a lower arc flash parameter set. A normal operation parameter set can be
optimized for selective trip coordination, while the second set is optimized for lower arc flash energy levels. The dynamic
action comes from the ability to switch from the normal operation set to the arc flash limiting set based on the presence of
personnel as they approach the flash protection boundary.
Zone Selective Interlocking (ZSI). If WL circuit breakers are arranged in several levels and minimum delays are desired,
it is advisable to use the ZSI module. The circuit breakers are interconnected by these modules. In the event of a short-
circuit, all circuit breakers communicate to determine and isolate the exact short-circuit location. Thus, only the closest
upstream circuit breaker will be opened. The ZSI module provides the complete range of selectivity with the short delay
time of tzsi = 50 ms. By shortening the delay time, the ZSI module significantly reduces arc duration, stress and damage
in the event of a short-circuit in the switchgear.
High resistance grounding. Reduces available fault current during ground faults, thereby reducing arc energy.

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topics:
• Arc Resistant WL LV Switchgear
• Sm@rtGear™ LV Switchgear

Sm@rtGear™ Low Voltage Switchgear
Traditional hard-wired remote control panels provide additional

safety, but Siemens Sm@rtGear™ low voltage switchgear
(LVS) can provide the same breaker remote control plus
remote monitoring and configuration of all embedded intelligent
devices.
Siemens Sm@rtGear™ low voltage switchgear (LVS) is

pre-configured and pre-programmed low voltage metal-
enclosed switchgear that provides out-of-the-box remote
monitoring, configuration, and control of embedded intelligent
devices.
The Sm@rtGear™ LVS communication backbone is installed

and tested at the Siemens factory, and the user only has to
connect the three communication cables that connect the low-
voltage switchgear to the remotely-mounted touch screen
human machine interface (HMI).
The remote HMI allows the user to access the intelligent

devices embedded in the switchgear. Using the HMI, the user
can monitor, configure, and control the intelligent devices. The
Sm@rtGear™ LVS CPU acts as the local master and can also
be a remote slave tied into an upstream supervisory system.

Standard Features
Sm@rtGear™ LVS has the following standard features:
• Industrial computer with pre-programmed software to

remotely monitor, configure, and control embedded
intelligent devices and structural monitoring devices.
• 22-inch touch screen human machine interface (HMI) is
pre-configured and programmed with application-specific
graphics.
• Communication backbone links embedded intelligent
devices, CPU, and HMI.
• ETU776 trip units in all breakers support Dynamic Arc Flash
Sentry (DAS) that enables arc flash incident energy
reduction.
• Electrically-operated breakers with spring charge motor,
shunt trip, and remote closing coil.
• Metering and protective relaying functionality in all breakers.

Remote HMI
The remote HMI communicates with the entire system

architecture to monitor, configure, and control the Smart LVS
from a safe distance outside of the arc flash boundary. A
partial list of the preconfigured and built-in features available
with the Smart LVS includes:
• Remote configuration, monitoring and control

• Arc flash hazard calculation
• Self-diagnostic data
• Preventative/predictive maintenance data
• Environmental data
• Product documentation
• Maintenance/status reports that summarize data for all
installed devices.

Optional Features
Sm@rtGear™ LVS optional features include:
• Hot-swappable, redundant PLC

• Environmental monitoring (ambient temperature, humidity,
smoke, and water)
• Bus bar temperature monitoring
• Power cable temperature monitoring
• Autothrowover - When the primary power source does not
meet specifications, the system automatically switches to an
alternate source.
• Zone differential relaying
• Load shedding
• Open breaker door monitoring and alarm
• Control power monitoring
• Breaker trip coil monitoring
• Strip heater monitoring
• Remote breaker racking device
• Enhanced historical event logging
• High resistance grounding

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Course Completion
This course covered the following topics: This course has covered the topics shown on the left.
Thank you for your efforts. You can complete this course by
Chapter 1 - Introduction taking the final exam and scoring at least 70%.
• Overview
• WL Power Circuit Breakers

Basics of Low Voltage Switchgear

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Basics of Low Voltage Switchgear

A quickSTEP Online Course

© Siemens industry, Inc. www.usa.siemens.com/step

ANSI is a registered trademark of American National Standards Institute

UL® is a registered trademark of UL, LLC.

Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

© Siemens Industry, Inc. 2017 Page 1-2

Welcome to Basics of Low Voltage Switchgear.

© Siemens Industry, Inc. 2017 Page 1-3

Upon completion of this course you will be able to…

© Siemens Industry, Inc. 2017 Page 1-4

Virtual Instructor-led Learning - Classroom lectures delivered in the convenience of your

Simulators - World-class simulation systems available for training or purchase

© Siemens Industry, Inc. 2017 Page 1-5

Power from a power generating plant is distributed to

Medium voltage (MV) systems generally operate between

A large industrial facility receives electrical power

Switchgear is a compartmentalized system of

Siemens manufactures multiple types of MV

A Siemens WL low voltage (LV) metal-enclosed switchgear

Included in each assembly are components such as circuit

WL switchgear has horizontal and vertical bus rated for 6000

This course covers Siemens WL LV metal-enclosed switchgear

In large commercial, industrial, or institutional facilities, the

In the accompanying example, power is stepped down at the

One distribution branch is stepped down to 4.16 kV and another

In this example, the LV switchgear is incorporated into a

Some customers require an integrated assembly,

The incoming service to the primary switch is

© Siemens Industry, Inc. 2017 Page 1-10

Siemens WL circuit breakers are designed to address the

Siemens WL family of circuit breakers includes both insulated

One important characteristic of an LV power circuit breaker is its

The terms switchboard and switchgear are

The accompanying chart shows the most

© Siemens Industry, Inc. 2017 Page 1-12

© Siemens Industry, Inc. 2017 Page 1-13

LV switchgear and switchboards are similar in appearance

Another important difference relates to the different design

In summary, There are applications that can be handled

With Siemens online self-paced learning, you select the

You can choose from over 500 courses consisting of high-

Depending on the subscription purchased, you can choose

These courses are offered 24/7/365, so you can begin your

For additional information: www.usa.siemens.com/sitrain

© Siemens Industry, Inc. 2017 Page 1-15

This chapter covers the following

© Siemens Industry, Inc. 2017 Page 1-16

© Siemens Industry, Inc. 2017 Page 1-17

© Siemens Industry, Inc. 2017 Page 1-18

WL circuit breakers can be fused or unfused

• Manual operating mechanism with

As shown in the accompanying graphic, WL

© Siemens Industry, Inc. 2017 Page 1-19

One of the standard safety features of WL