In electrical engineering, a vacuum interrupter is a switch which uses electrical contacts in a vacuum. It is the core component of medium-voltage circuit-breakers, generator circuit-breakers, and high-voltage circuit-breakers.

How does vacuum interrupter work?

A vacuum interrupter uses a high vacuum to extinguish the arc between a pair of contacts. As the contacts move apart, current flows through a smaller area. ... The arc is evenly distributed over the contact surface to maintain a low arc voltage and to reduce contact erosion.

What is vacuum fault interrupter?

Vacuum interrupter technology is used for repetitive switching, motor inrush current interruption, fault protection, overcurrent, and short-circuit protection. The vacuum interrupter is a pair of separable contacts (primary contacts), enclosed in a vacuum-tight envelope.