How to make sure when buying a machine in a store that it is working?

Modular circuit breakers can be found in every switchboard: at least in the apartment and entrance, at least in the workshop or office. Compact, easy to install, relatively inexpensive, reliable ... but how to make sure that they are really reliable?

Even the most famous manufacturers modular circuit breakers Do not exclude a certain percentage of defects among their products that fall on store shelves. The situation is aggravated by the fact that machines are a pretty hot commodity, which is why they are willingly forged by various artisan workshops. The owners and workers of such workshops, usually located in China, have peculiar views on electrical safety and the principles of maximum current protection.

The most unobvious malfunctions of defective and fake modular equipment are associated with the malfunctioning of releases (especially thermal), and they can only be detected under load. After all, it is not for nothing that it is supposed to load the circuit breakers before installation. Moreover, this should be done in laboratory conditions.

But the incorrect operation of the release and the inability to keep the setting is the most innocent thing that a Chinese counterfeit automatic machine can surprise. It is not uncommon for the acquired automatic machine ... to be completely free of any releases, being just an original switch in the case of the automatic machine.

The saddest thing is that when we buy a circuit breaker in the store, we cannot count on loading: we do not have an appropriate laboratory at hand. Nevertheless, I want to know that the purchased device will not fail and will protect our property and ourselves in case of overload or short circuit.

Unfortunately, there are no one hundred percent methods to ensure a security guarantee when buying and installing a machine. But it’s possible to take some measures that will allow you to make sure that the machines installed in your apartment panel are equipped with the necessary releases and keep the setting “close to the truth”.

1. When buying a circuit breaker

It’s better to refrain from the temptation to buy a machine for 30 rubles. Yes, legal copies of individual manufacturers can have such a cost, if we talk about devices with a small current rating. As an example, we can use the VA 47-29 IEK or DEKart machines. But the quality of these products is still in doubt: at such a low price level, the amount of rejects among automatic machines of “cheap” manufacturers is hardly impressive.

But even non-discarded cheap specimens are characterized by relatively low quality, visible "by eye". The most common drawback is a two-part housing with no mount at the installation location of the lag screws. This leads to the fact that when you try to tighten the wire in the clamp with an effort, the machine case simply diverges in two.

Marking of low-budget circuit breakers can be fuzzy, pale, difficult to read - these are also characteristic signs of fake or poor quality. The edges of the plastic case of such an apparatus may have a flash, the case may have any other defects. It can be decided that such trifles do not affect the operation of the machine. However, if the manufacturer is not able to provide even a decent look to his product, how likely is it that the releases of this device are able to accurately and reliably perform their functions?

The most reliable way to determine outright counterfeit among circuit breakers is to familiarize yourself with the filling of these devices.Of course, it is unlikely that anyone will be able to disassemble the machine case before purchasing it in the store. But this is not necessary. On the side of the VA modular circuit breaker case there is a viewing window on the side, closed by a lid with a large direct slot. This cover can be easily unscrewed and make sure that there is a bimetal plate on the thermal release. If such a plate is visible through the window, then in front of you is just some kind, and a circuit breaker. In the most obvious fakes, no plate is observed inside, or even there is no window on the case or there is only its imitation.

In addition, the fake can be determined by weight. Solenoid coil, a high-quality molded case, power contact clamps and conductors - all this provides the device with tangible weight even with small dimensions. This is especially true for machines of large denominations. And the weight of a fake can approach the weight of an empty plastic case - after all, the filling is practically absent there.

The summary is this: when buying a circuit breaker, you do not have to chase extreme cheapness, you need to pay attention to the appearance and weight of the switch. It’s not shameful to be interested in the “stuffing” of the device and certificates (although the latter do not give a 100% guarantee - after all, no one prevents the seller from “diluting” honest products with counterfeit products). All this is important also because they fake not only cheap modular equipment (TDM, EKF, IEK), but also grand products (ABB, Schneider Electric, Siemens). Therefore, focusing only on price, alas, will not help.

2. When installing a circuit breaker

The most reliable way to ensure your safety is to still hire specialists who have certificates and equipment for loading circuit breakers. The upload protocol is a kind of guarantee for which at least someone is responsible.

But if this is unacceptable, you can try to load the machines yourself with a known load. This method is not perfect, because household appliances and devices do not always work strictly on nominal parameters. No one will predict the level of deviations, and you may not find the necessary devices for checking in everyday life.

In addition, for loading devices of large denominations, for example, input ones, a high-power network with corresponding wires will be required. The test itself in such conditions becomes unsafe. Nevertheless, with regard to low-power devices, some conclusions can be drawn.

It is not necessary to check the electromagnetic release in everyday life - this will require very large currents. And here is the thermal release of the machine characteristics C can be checked by a load exceeding the rated current three times. In this case, the protection should work after a maximum of 80 seconds. If the machine worked during this time, then it can be installed in a shield with a light heart.