Disclosed is a method of reconditioning a vacuum interrupter that comprises determining whether the vacuum interrupter is suitable for reconditioning. Where the vacuum interrupter is suitable for reconditioning, the method comprises reducing pressure inside vacuum interrupter using magnetron pumping, and/or forming at least one hole in an endcap of a vacuum envelope of the vacuum interrupter, cleaning components of the vacuum interrupter inside the vacuum envelope by introducing at least one cleaning solution into the interior of the vacuum envelope through the at least one hole in the endcap, removing the cleaning solution from the interior of the vacuum envelope, installing a plug in the at least one hole, wherein the plug has getter material on a surface thereof facing the interior of the vacuum envelope, and vacuum sealing the plug to the at least one hole such that a vacuum is re-established in the interior of the vacuum envelope.

A vacuum interrupter includes: one movable contact fixed on a movable contact stem; and one fixed contact with a fixed contact stem. The fixed contact and the movable contact are located in a electrically insulating tube, which is vacuumtightly closed by metal lids at boths sides. The fixed contact stem is placed vacuumtightly on one of the metal lids, and the movable contact stem is guided trough an opening of the opposite metal lid via an axially extendable vacuumtight bellow. In order to create a twist protection of the movable contact stem, a ring disc shaped plastic part with a central opening, through which the movable contact stem is guided, is connected externally to the vacuum interrupter such that inner spanner flats inside the opening complementarily fit closely to external spanner flats of the movable contact stem.

Disclosed herein is a method of reconditioning a vacuum interrupter that comprises determining whether the vacuum interrupter is suitable for reconditioning. Where the vacuum interrupter is suitable for reconditioning, the method comprises optionally reducing pressure inside vacuum interrupter using magnetron pumping, and/or forming at least one hole in an endcap of a vacuum envelope of the vacuum interrupter, cleaning components of the vacuum interrupter inside the vacuum envelope by introducing at least one cleaning solution into the interior of the vacuum envelope through the at least one hole in the endcap, removing the cleaning solution from the interior of the vacuum envelope, installing a plug in the at least one hole, wherein the plug has getter material on a surface thereof facing the interior of the vacuum envelope, and vacuum sealing the plug to the at least one hole such that a vacuum is re-established in the interior of the vacuum envelope.

A vacuum interrupter includes: one movable contact fixed on a movable contact stem; and one fixed contact with a fixed contact stem. The fixed contact and the movable contact are located in a electrically insulating tube, which is vacuumtightly closed by metal lids at boths sides. The fixed contact stem is placed vacuumtightly on one of the metal lids, and the movable contact stem is guided trough an opening of the opposite metal lid via an axially extendable vacuumtight bellow. In order to create a twist protection of the movable contact stem, a ring disc shaped plastic part with a central opening, through which the movable contact stem is guided, is connected externally to the vacuum interrupter such that inner spanner flats inside the opening complementarily fit closely to external spanner flats of the movable contact stem.