Loadbuster Disconnects®

S&C Loadbuster Disconnects are double-duty devices. They are unexcelled as straight disconnects and, when used with Loadbuster®, S&C’s portable loadbreak tool, they are the ultimate devices for low-cost, universal live switching. Loadbuster Disconnects are available in voltage ratings from 14.4 kV through 34.5 kV with continuous current ratings of 600 and 900 amperes, and a momentary rating of 40,000 amperes at all voltages. All styles, except Crossarm Vertical and Crossarm Inverted, are available with a choice of Cypoxy® or porcelain insulators.

As a Straight Disconnect
S&C Loadbuster Disconnects, in branch feeder, main feeder, and crossarm styles, are specifically designed to meet the high-performance requirements of today’s outdoor distribution systems. With their rugged station-type reliability, they accommodate the prevailing heavier loads and higher fault currents. Through excellence of concept and construction, Loadbuster Disconnects have stepped up the standard for hookstick-operated distribution-type disconnects.

The high, 40,000-ampere momentary ratings of Loadbuster Disconnects are made possible by the silver-to-silver contacts throughout the device. Silver is applied to the stationary tongue contacts by S&C’s Silver-Weld Process, in which molten silver particles of controlled size are deposited on the specially prepared contact surfaces in an inert-gas atmosphere. The contacts are then coined for hardness, contour, and low porosity. Blade contacts are clad with high-density, low-porosity silver. Differing surface structure of blade and tongue contacts prevents sticking, galling, and seizing. Contacts won’t weld, burn, or pit on overcurrents. Loadbuster Disconnects will carry rated load, and open and close without difficulty, even after long exposure of contacts to atmospheric contamination.

S&C’s disconnects feature double-member, hard-drawn, round-edged copper blades, formed for extra rigidity to ensure positive engagement with the stationary tongue contact when closing, even when closed from the side.

As a Low-Cost Load Switching Device
S&C Loadbuster Disconnects, when used with S&C’s Loadbuster, provide the ultimate in distribution live-switch-ing versatility, economy, and universality. Loadbuster Disconnects give you the operating flexibility of a system with multipoint interrupter switches, but without the cost associated with having an interrupting unit built into every switch.

Together, Loadbuster Disconnects and Loadbuster not only switch load currents through 900 amperes at distribution voltages through 34.5 kV . . . they break associated transformer-magnetizing currents, line-charging currents, and cable-charging currents. And they switch single capacitor banks typically found on distribution systems.

Loadbuster switching helps keep service interruptions to a minimum. There’s no need for complex dead-switching procedures. Loadbuster makes every disconnect a sectionalizing point, minimizing the length of planned outages and the number of customers involved. And Loadbuster operation is simple, positive—there’s no external arc, no contact burning.