Motor Control

Eaton has designed and developed the industry's first ever Arc Flash Resistant Low Voltage Motor Control Centre (MCC). FlashGard™ addresses the dangers associated with an arc flash event and is the first in the industry to offer features to help prevent injury from electric shock, arc-flash burn, and arc-blast impacts. FlashGard focuses on four important factors including prevention, reduction of the time-available fault current, maintaining the unit door closed during testing and troubleshooting, and removing voltages dangerous to life from the unit.

In order to increase prevention, FlashGard offers an insulated horizontal bus, an insulated labyrinth vertical bus, shutters to isolate the vertical bus when a unit is removed, and finger-safe components inside the units. To reduce the time-available fault current FlashGard is offering an ARC Reduction Maintenance System (ARMS), applied to the breaker feeding the MCC to reduce trip time during an arc flash.

Maintaining a closed-door unit is instrumental in mitigating an arc event. FlashGard offers disconnect units from the vertical bus with the door closed and an optional remote operated racking device so an operator may advance and retract the stabs from a distance of up to 25 feet. For additional protection, FlashGard also includes an unrestrictive racking mechanism that prevents overtorquing, and an interlock that prevents removal of the buckets while the stabs are engaged on the vertical bus.

The three-position retractable stabs can be set in a “Connect”, “Test”, and “Disconnect” position. It offers an electronic-protected, fuseless, 24 volts DC control and an internal unit shutter to isolate from the vertical bus while in the “Test” position. When in “Test”, only finger-safe 24 volts DC are released, and in the “Disconnect” position, no voltage is present at all.

These features will allow for safe access into the unit without exposure to the main bus voltage and will serve to reduce the personal protective equipment required to complete routine maintenance. They will also protect the operator from other hazards that can occur during an arc-flash event such as arc-flash impacts and falls.

Eaton FlashGard MCC is now available through the worldwide Eaton distribution channel or by contacting your local Eaton sales office.