Circuit breakers are a vital part of the power protection industry. This is according to the Transparency Market Research report: Circuit Breaker Market – global industry analysis, market size, share, trends, analysis, growth and forecast report, 2013 – 2019. The study finds that currently, the need for circuit breakers has gone up considerably with increasing concern for safety in electronic, electrical, automotive, and telecommunication equipment.
To cater to the needs of its comprehensive customer base in southern Africa, Schneider Electric, a global specialist in energy management, offers three EasyPact product ranges within its EasyPact family of air and moulded-case circuit breakers (MCCB), switch disconnectors, and motor starters.
Engineered to minimise downtime, lower the total cost of ownership and maximise efficiency in numerous applications, the three ranges comprise EasyPact CVS, EasyPact MVS and EasyPact EZC.
“The ranges offer an easy choice for the performance our customers require, at a cost-effective investment, with the quality demanded in each industry landscape. Specifically, these EasyPact ranges offer an easy straightforward selection for a complete system whether you are a panelbuilder and need circuit breakers that have the flexibility to cover the majority of applications, or if you are a designer who needs to meet the requirements for reliability, safety, and cost,” says Levy Moholola, low voltage product manager at Schneider Electric South Africa.
He says that the EasyPact CVS range of MCCBs is ideal for low-voltage applications from 100 to 630amps.
“EasyPact CVS is specifically designed to serve the requirements of medium-sized commercial and industrial buildings. This range of circuit breakers, with its compact, modular design, is simple and safe to install, operate and maintain. It also offers a high level of performance and protection at the most competitive price. The adjustable thresholds and a service breaking capacity rated at 100 percent of the ultimate breaking capacity make it one of the most durable products in the market,” explains Moholola.
EasyPact CVS complements Schneider Electric’s EasyPact MVS range of low-voltage power circuit breakers and switch disconnectors, which cover applications from 800 to 4000 A, and delivers a high current withstand rating (Icw) as well as a level of functionality unusual in its price range.
“Precision engineered to meet up to 90 percent of common protection applications in medium and large-sized commercial and industrial buildings, EasyPact MVS circuit breakers are designed to provide superior value throughout their lifecycle and to make installations safer and more reliable,” highlights Moholola. “The EasyPact MVS range has been designed for reliability and extended service life, with the flexibility to meet a wide range of common applications.”
Both the EasyPact CVS and MVS ranges are copper and aluminium conductor compatible and offer convenient horizontal or vertical terminal orientation.
The third range in the southern African EasyPact family is the EZC range, an easy energy efficient choice for simplicity in MCCBs.
Rated for 15 to 400 A, EasyPact EZC is ideal for feeders and sub-feeders in residential and commercial, as well as marine application.
“Schneider Electric has more than 90 years of experience in the marine industry and a strong presence in major shipbuilding countries. As such, the company’s products are 100 percent compliant with marine standards and integrate the latest technologies,” informs Moholola.
The EZC range offers multiple connection options: fixed front mounting, plug-in mounting, front connections, bare cables connected through cable lugs, screwed inside the breaker, and a unique “fish bone” connection, which saves a great deal of space.
“All circuit breaker ranges within the EasyPact family are designed to operate in close coordination with each other to localise the impact of a fault and maximise facility uptime,” says Moholola.
These ranges are also manufactured from premium materials in ISO 9001 and ISO 14000 certified production plants, and are fully tested to meet all relevant local and international safety standards.
“Reflecting Schneider Electrics holistic approach to environmental responsibility, the ranges also comply with the environmental standards for manufacturing, including RoHS and REACH. In addition, they are also engineered for easy disassembly and recycling,” he says.
