03-08-2011, 09:20 AM
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Vacuum circuit breakers are circuit breakers which are used to protect medium and high voltage circuits from dangerous electrical situations. In a vacuum circuit breaker, two electrical contacts are enclosed in a vacuum. One of the contacts is fixed, and one of the contacts is movable. When the circuit breaker detects a dangerous situation, the movable contact pulls away from the fixed contact, interrupting the current. Because the contacts are in a vacuum, arcing between the contacts is suppressed, ensuring that the circuit remains open. As long as the circuit is open, it will not be energized.
