Omni-Rupter ® Switches and Alduti-Rupter ® Switches

S&C Omni-Rupter Switches and Alduti-Rupter Switches provide no-external-arc circuit interruption for overhead distribution feeders and outdoor distribution substations. They’re specially designed for these live-switching duties:
v Line switching—load splitting (parallel or loop switching), load dropping . . . and associated charging currents.

• Transformer switching—load currents . . . and associated magnetizing currents.
• Cable switching—load splitting (parallel or loop switching), load dropping . . . and associated charging currents.

Overhead Distribution Feeders—Increasingly greater load densities have resulted in more load per mile of line, and more interconnections, laterals, and branches. To simplify switching procedures, curtail the scope of outages, and facilitate post-outage cold-load pickup, more and more sectionalizing points are being used. Since switching duties have far outgrown the capabilities of ordinary disconnects, interrupter switches have become the choice for most applications.

Omni-Rupter Switches are especially suited for overhead-line switching through 29 kV. These 900-ampere switches are offered in the integer style, with all three switch poles preassembled on a one-piece steel or insulated base, factory-assembled and adjusted . . . all necessary clearances are built in. A variety of mounting configurations are available, tailored to the most popular overhead-distribution line designs.
Omni-Rupter Switches bring unsurpassed live-switching performance to overhead distribution feeders. Manually operated switches offer two-time and three-time fault-closing capabilities of 20,000 amperes and 15,000 amperes RMS asymmetrical, respectively, plus ice-breaking capability on opening and closing, and substantial emergency overload capabilities. Omni-Rupter Switches are shipped as a single package and mount quickly and easily using two through-bolts and one or two pole bands. With the simple addition of the vertical operating mechanism and handle, installation is complete. Upright, vertical, and tiered-outboard mounted switches can alternately be furnished with economical three-phase hookstick operation by means of an operating lever, factory-installed on the switch base.

Integer style Alduti-Rupter Switches are also available for switching overhead distribution feeders at system voltages through 38 kV and 1200 amperes continuous. They can be power operated by S&C Type AS-1A or AS-10 Switch Operators or M Series® Switch Operators.

S&C’s switches provide the utmost flexibility in distribution system switching. Lines may be readily extended and additional load accommodated since Omni-Rupter and Alduti-Rupter Switches can handle heavier-duty loads—typically up through the emergency overload rating of the line conductor. S&C switches can drop or split the entire connected load without complicated breaker-and-switch sequencing. There’s no need to drop individual loads as a preliminary operation.

Outdoor Distribution Substations—The economics of power distribution have forced heavier loading of substation transformers, through the addition of new feeders and increased loading of existing ones. S&C’s Alduti-Rupter is the ideal switching device for these heavier duties—it can split load, and drop lines or cables or even the entire load. Its no-external-arc interrupting performance is essential in substations, where close phase spacings rule out the use of arc-producing disconnects. 

S&C Alduti-Rupter Switches are available in voltage ratings through 46 kV, in seven rugged group-operated three-pole styles that can be tailored to suit any configuration and mount on any structure. They’re offered in ratings of 600 amperes and 1200 amperes, continuous and interrupting. For applications where simultaneous three-phase switching isn’t needed, single-pole Alduti¬Rupter Switches are an excellent alternative; they’re conveniently operated with a conventional hookstick.

No-External-Arc Interruption—Every S&C Alduti-Rupter and Omni-Rupter Switch incorporates built-in interrupters . . . there’s no need to rig S&C switches with “add-ons.” Operation is simple and straightforward. Interrupter contacts separate at high speed, driven by a speed-multiplying straight-line linkage within the interrupter that’s directly powered by blade movement. S&C switches do not rely on “mousetrap” actuating schemes for interrupter operation. Interrupter contacts and blade are synchronized to coordinate dynamic internal dielectric strength with the interrupter’s external striking distance, eliminating any chance of flashover. Arc-extinguishing deionizing gases are quietly vented through a labyrinthine muffler. There’s no oil, no vacuum . . . no maintenance.

Exhaustively Tested, Utility Proven—Every S&C switch rating is based on full-scale testing: load splitting, load dropping, line and cable switching—all at maximum voltages and rated currents . . . and with test circuits tuned to duplicate the most severe transient recovery voltages likely to be encountered in service. Rated performance is assured for all live-switching duties. The validity of S&C’s testing has been confirmed by nearly 60 years of reliable operation of S&C switches on utility systems worldwide