Course Details

This course is appropriate for a wide range of professionals but not limited to:

• Electrical Maintenance Engineers
• Substation and Field Technicians
• Asset Integrity and Reliability Engineers
• Facilities and Plant Engineers
• Testing and Commissioning Specialists

• Expert-led sessions with dynamic visual aids
• Comprehensive course manual to support practical application and reinforcement
• Interactive discussions addressing participants’ real-world projects and challenges
• Insightful case studies and proven best practices to enhance learning

By the end of this course, participants should be able to:

• Explain the operating principles and key components of various circuit breaker types.
• Analyze switchgear construction and selection criteria across voltage levels.
• Perform detailed inspection and preventative maintenance procedures safely.
• Isolate, troubleshoot, and repair common circuit breaker and switchgear faults.
• Apply relevant international standards for design and testing.
• Manage life extension and upgrade strategies for aged equipment.

DAY 1

Fundamentals and Design Principles

• Welcome and Introduction
• Pre-test
• Functions and operating principles of circuit breakers
• Comparison of SF6, Vacuum, Air Blast, and Oil Circuit Breakers
• Design and construction of LV, MV, and HV switchgear
• Understanding arc extinction and interruption media
• Key international standards (IEC, ANSI/IEEE) for switchgear

DAY 2

Operation and Inspection

• Circuit breaker mechanisms and control circuits
• Understanding the role of interlocks and protection relays
• Safe operation and sequencing of switchgear operations
• Detailed visual and non-invasive inspection techniques
• Thermographic inspection for identifying hot spots
• Interpreting circuit breaker monitoring and diagnostic data

DAY 3

Preventative Maintenance and Testing

• Developing condition-based maintenance strategies
• Overhauling and lubricating mechanical operating mechanisms
• Insulation resistance and polarization index testing
• Contact resistance measurement and timing tests
• Primary and secondary injection testing of protective relays
• Procedures for gas handling and leakage detection (SF6)

DAY 4

Troubleshooting and Repair

• Systematic troubleshooting of electrical and mechanical failures
• Diagnosis of common coil, trip, and closing circuit issues
• Repair and replacement procedures for auxiliary components
• Analysis of insulation failures and partial discharge testing
• Safety procedures for isolating and racking out equipment
• Case studies on common switchgear failure modes

DAY 5

Power Distribution and Life Cycle Management

• Switchgear selection for power distribution system requirements
• Busbar arrangements and substation configurations
• Managing life cycle assessment and end-of-life decisions
• Retrofitting and upgrading aged switchgear assets
• Risk assessment and root cause analysis of failures
• Post-test
• Certificate ceremony