OVERCURRENT PROTECTION ALTERNATIVES FOR UNDERGROUND DISTRIBUTION-SYSTEMS

Pad-Mounted Switchgear that is applied on undergound distribution syst ems effects many aspects of electric utility service. Some of these in clude overcurrent protection characteristics, the ability of the line service crews to quickly restore service after a fault, the overall re liability of service to the customer, and, to some degree, the cost of the electric service to the customer. The user must develop a system design philosophy and then determine the equipment features needed to help meet the goals of the chosen system design. Since these goals may vary with the type of load being served, equipment features that may be selected will be discussed for single phase and three phase service s. The application benefits of pad-mounted sectionalizing switchgear, pad-mounted fused switchgear, and pad-mounted VFI switchgear will be c ompared in these applications.