Understanding Medium-Voltage Switchgear

Proper switchgear design and operation are critical to the safety and reliability of medium-voltage electrical distribution systems. This course covers switchgear types, applications, layouts, and protection systems, with a focus on real-world implementation and code compliance. Through lectures and hands-on exercises, participants will build confidence in interpreting schematics, evaluating system components, and applying best practices in testing, commissioning, and maintenance.

• Electrical design engineers and specifiers working with MV systems.
• Technicians, operators, and project managers involved in switchgear installation and maintenance.
• Utility, industrial, and commercial facility engineers responsible for electrical system reliability.

Introduction to Switchgear

• Types and applications
• Industry terminology and definitions
• Overview of switchgear standards

Switching Devices:

• Fault interrupting
• Load interrupting
• Isolating

Interrupting/Breaker Device Basics

• Vacuum, SF₆, air, oil
• Standard ratings
• Short-circuit current and considerations
• Transient impact: TRV, capacitor switching, etc.
• Operating endurance (# of operations)

Insulation (Dielectric) Materials

• Air, oil, SF₆, solid insulation

Physical Properties

• Pad-mounted / submersible
• Metal-enclosed / metal-clad
• Arc resistant / gas-insulated (GIS)

Device Layouts

• Bus configurations
• Breaker / interrupter / switch
• Voltage transformers
• Fuse / relays

Environmental and Installation Considerations

Protection Basics

• Fuse and time-overcurrent
• Buss differential options
• Line/feeder differential
• parallel generator protection
• Arc detection

AC Schematic Diagrams

• Three-line diagram overview
• Voltage transformer circuits
• Current transformer circuits
• Control power transformer
• Auxiliary devices

DC Schematic Diagrams

• Battery / DC control power
• Breaker / interrupter diagrams
• Trip / close circuits
• Protective relay circuits
• Auxiliary device circuits
• Wiring organization and considerations 

Automation / Control / Communications

• Control philosophies
• HMI / PLC systems
• Intro to communication protocols
• Commissioning process, plans, and staffing

Testing / Operations / Maintenance / Monitoring

Class exercises for solidifying understanding of fundamental concepts and calculations

“I thought this was a really well thought out course; I've taken a medium voltage course from a different provider where I walked away thinking 'What did I learn' because all the topics covered by that provider were essentially glossed over. I did not feel like that in this course and I appreciate that the topics had depth to them.
- Jake Parz, Holt Renewables, LLC, Design Engineer

Kevin Rogers

Kevin Rogers is an electrical engineer with a background in electrical power systems. He is a registered professional engineer, and his 18 years of industry experience spans across electric utility, government, commercial, and industrial applications. His technical responsibilities have included design and commissioning of mission-critical facilities, underground medium voltage distribution planning, design, and operations, high-voltage substation design, and relaying protection and control for complex interconnections.