Power utilities constantly try to cut costs, particularly those resulting
from equipment failure. Circuit breakers are used to
divide the power system into a number of dispersed load points,
in order to deal with the limitations of the system and the energy
demands of the customers. The reliability of circuit breakers
is therefore an important factor in the maintenance of modern
power supply systems. The cost of circuit breaker maintenance
is increasing due to aging, system expansion, and increased reliability
requirements. Effective monitoring techniques are necessary
to provide condition assessment, and thus to identify problems
and likely failures sufficiently far in advance.
In order to implement a monitoring system, it is necessary to
develop a diagnostic system which can be conveniently installed
and will accurately reflect the condition of each circuit breaker.
In this context, it is important to appreciate the importance of
circuit breaker age, operating environment, and risk management