A visual status indicator for an electrical apparatus is disclosed. The status indicator can be mounted within a lower cover of the electrical apparatus such that various display faces of the indicator are visible through one or more viewing windows of the lower cover. The status indicator can comprise a mounting base with protrusions and at least one wing, wherein the wing comprises at least one display face. At least one swing arm can be attached to the mounting base via the protrusions and the at least one swing arm can comprise at least one display face. The swing arm can be actuated such that either the display face on the wing or the display face on the swing arm is visible through the viewing window to indicate the status of the electrical apparatus.

A closed and open contact method to predict a usable life of vacuum interrupters in the field can include using computer instructions in the data storage to instruct the processor to position a calculated amp or calculated pressure on an ionic or current versus pressure calibration curve for the installed vacuum interrupter and identify trend data from a library of trend data corresponding to the installed vacuum interrupter and to the calculated pressure or calculated amp of the installed vacuum interrupter; thereby determining the anticipated life expectancy.

A dropout recloser is capable of in accordance with its operating programming after a predetermined number of fault interrupting operations, e.g., 1, 2, 3 or more but typically 3, to drop out of a cutout and hang freely in a hinge contact of the cutout providing sectionalization with an observable visible gap. The recloser includes fault interrupting and reclosing components, a drop out mechanism and a controller. The drop out mechanism may include a bi-stable actuator to affect fault interrupting operation and dropout operation. The device may include motion limiting structures. The recloser may have a number of operating modes or sequences.

A dropout recloser is capable of in accordance with its operating programming after a predetermined number of fault interrupting operations, e.g., 1, 2, 3 or more but typically 3, to drop out of a cutout and hang freely in a hinge contact of the cutout providing sectionalization with an observable visible gap. The recloser includes fault interrupting and reclosing components, a drop out mechanism and a controller. The drop out mechanism may include a bi-stable actuator to affect fault interrupting operation and dropout operation. The device may include motion limiting structures. The recloser may have a number of operating modes or sequences.

A recloser including a circuit interrupter including a first contact and a second contact movable relative to the first contact between a closed position and an open position and an actuator coupled to the circuit interrupter, the actuator including a plunger coupled to the second contact for closing and opening the circuit interrupter and a single coil used for driving the plunger. The recloser further includes a sensor board supported by the actuator, the sensor board including a plurality of position sensors for detecting a position of the plunger, an external indicator for indicating a condition of the circuit interrupter, the external indicator including a first display portion that indicates the closed position and a second display portion moveable relative to the first display portion and that indicates the open position, and a handle for mechanically opening and closing the circuit interrupter without any electrical assistance.

A recloser including a circuit interrupter including a first contact and a second contact movable relative to the first contact between a closed position and an open position and an actuator coupled to the circuit interrupter, the actuator including a plunger coupled to the second contact for closing and opening the circuit interrupter and a single coil used for driving the plunger. The recloser further includes a sensor board supported by the actuator, the sensor board including a plurality of position sensors for detecting a position of the plunger, an external indicator for indicating a condition of the circuit interrupter, the external indicator including a first display portion that indicates the closed position and a second display portion moveable relative to the first display portion and that indicates the open position, and a handle for mechanically opening and closing the circuit interrupter without any electrical assistance.

A dropout recloser is capable of in accordance with its operating programming after a predetermined number of fault interrupting operations, e.g., 1, 2, 3 or more but typically 3, to drop out of a cutout and hang freely in a hinge contact of the cutout providing sectionalization with an observable visible gap. The recloser includes fault interrupting and reclosing components, a drop out mechanism and a controller. The drop out mechanism may include a bi-stable actuator to affect fault interrupting operation and dropout operation. The device may include motion limiting structures. The recloser may have a number of operating modes or sequences.

A dropout recloser is capable of in accordance with its operating programming after a predetermined number of fault interrupting operations, e.g., 1, 2, 3 or more but typically 3, to drop out of a cutout and hang freely in a hinge contact of the cutout providing sectionalization with an observable visible gap. The recloser includes fault interrupting and reclosing components, a drop out mechanism and a controller. The drop out mechanism may include a bi-stable actuator to affect fault interrupting operation and dropout operation. The device may include motion limiting structures. The recloser may have a number of operating modes or sequences.

A cutout mountable recloser that remains latched to the cutout until the recloser is selectively mechanically unlatched via at least rotation of a driver by an operator. During installation, including while the recloser is being latched to the cutout, the recloser can be in an open condition. Latching of the recloser to the cutout can include increasing a tension force exerted by the cutout on the recloser by increasing a linear distance between first and second terminals of the recloser. With the opened recloser latched to the cutout, the recloser can be mechanically closed via a release of stored energy from a closing mechanism. The recloser can selectively be mechanically unlatched from the cutout by a subsequent reduction in the linear distance between first and second terminals of the recloser, which can reduce the tension force being exerted by the cutout.

The invention relates to a switching device for a MV electric power distribution network. The switching device comprises electric contacts, which are electrically connectable to a conductor of said electric power distribution network, and a control unit. The switching device comprises signalling means emitting visible light externally to said switching device, said signalling means being controlled by said control unit.