Profile P3 — circuit breaker analyzer based on coil current profile (first trip)
Profile P3 is a portable circuit breaker analyzer that assesses breaker condition from the coil current profile at the first trip. The instrument shows whether the breaker will operate in time in a real fault and points to a coil or mechanism defect.
- Method
- profiling of the trip/close coil current at the first operation
- Modes
- Total Trip Time (relay + breaker), multiple cycles, comparison of up to 4 operations
- Defects detected
- time outside tolerance (coil or mechanism), condition of coils, control supply circuits, sticking of auxiliary contacts
- Applicability
- circuit breakers of all voltage classes
Price, availability and lead time on request. We help with analogue selection, customs clearance and delivery.
Description
A circuit breaker must quickly isolate the fault location, and this is exactly the ability checked by the portable Profile P3 analyzer. An obsolete or poorly maintained breaker trips with a delay, and the delay leads to cascading development of the fault, loss of supply, equipment damage and penalties. A traditional test begins with taking the breaker out of service, and the very first operation often loosens the mechanism and hides the problem of slow tripping. This is why the instrument records the first operation of the breaker in its working state.
Non-invasive sensors are connected to the secondary control circuit, and P3 records the current profile of the trip or close coil. The shape of the curve shows how the breaker will operate in a real fault and where to look for the defect, in the coil or in the main drive mechanism. According to the manufacturer, about 80 % of defects are found precisely by first-trip profiling. In a sample where traditional tests found 82 % of breakers satisfactory, profiling confirmed this for only 37 %, and 67 % of slow-trip defects were in the first stage of the trip mechanism.
The instrument determines an operating time outside tolerance and its cause, the condition of the trip and close coils, the health of the control supply and wiring, and sticking of auxiliary contacts. The Total Trip Time mode measures the full trip time together with the protection relay. There is a multi-cycle mode and overlay of up to four consecutive operations for analysis on site. Profiles are automatically compared with reference ones, and the data goes to the Connected Insights and ReplayPro cloud services.
In the Ventus Energy case the instrument is used in the maintenance programme of offshore wind farms. In one example the MCON 3 time at the first trip was 52 ms against an allowed 30 ms. The second trip immediately after the first, without any maintenance, was much faster, because the grease in the mechanism had spread. The cause turned out to be a lack of grease on the main bearings. Without first-trip profiling such a breaker would have passed a standard test.
Profile P3 is suitable for circuit breakers of all voltage classes. It helps utilities and generation operators move from scheduled maintenance to condition-based maintenance and repair problem breakers during planned outages.
Technical specifications
| Method | profiling of the trip/close coil current at the first operation |
|---|---|
| Modes | Total Trip Time (relay + breaker), multiple cycles, comparison of up to 4 operations |
| Defects detected | time outside tolerance (coil or mechanism), condition of coils, control supply circuits, sticking of auxiliary contacts |
| Applicability | circuit breakers of all voltage classes |
| Software | ReplayPro, Connected Insights |
Request a price and lead time
Profile P3 — circuit breaker analyzer based on coil current profile (first trip). We reply within one business day.
Or email sales@usk.ua or call 044 339-50-20.
Customs codes
| UKTZED (Ukraine) | 9030 39 00 00 |
|---|---|
| HS, 6 digits | 9030 39 |
| CN (EU) | 9030 39 00 |
| HTSUS (USA) | 9030 39 01 00 |
| China customs tariff | 9030 39 00 00 |
Codes are for reference: the final code is determined at declaration for the specific model.
Questions and answers
Why is it necessary to record exactly the first trip?
The first operation after a period of inactivity loosens the mechanism and hides the problem of slow tripping. According to the manufacturer, about 80 % of defects are detected precisely by first-trip profiling.
Which voltage class of breakers is Profile P3 suitable for?
For breakers of all voltage classes. The sensors are connected to the secondary control circuit, without interfering with the main circuit.
Does the instrument check the protection relay together with the breaker?
Yes, the Total Trip Time mode measures the full trip time from the relay to the breaker. Up to 4 consecutive operations can be overlaid for comparison.
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