Question

What is a load break switch?

Answer 1

A **load break switch** is a type of electrical switch used to disconnect or isolate a circuit under load, meaning it can safely turn off a circuit even when it’s carrying electrical current. It's typically used in medium-voltage systems, like in distribution networks or electrical substations.

In simpler terms, it’s a switch designed to safely interrupt the flow of electricity when there is a load (or electrical current) running through it. Normally, regular switches are only meant to open or close a circuit when there’s no current. But a load break switch can handle the electrical current while disconnecting the circuit, which makes it very useful for switching circuits on and off in live systems.

### Key Features:
- **Safe operation under load**: It can break the circuit while current is still flowing.
- **Common in distribution systems**: Used for isolating parts of electrical networks for maintenance or fault isolation.
- **Not for protection**: It doesn’t protect against overloads or short circuits—it's only for switching.

It’s different from a **circuit breaker** since a circuit breaker is specifically designed to protect the system by interrupting the current during faults (overload, short circuit), while a load break switch is mainly for controlled switching under normal conditions.