NOARK Electric's molded case circuit breakers (MCCBs) have been rigorously tested to withstand extreme cold, ensuring they perform reliably in severe climates.
As a pioneer in low-voltage electrical components, NOARK Electric addresses the needs of industrial applications, safeguarding structures from electrical damage caused by short circuits or overloads. Tested down to an impressive −40°C, their products are designed for environments where standard equipment would fail.
Demand for Broader Temperature Ranges
Industrial applications often demand electrical equipment with a broad operational temperature range. NOARK Electric's customer base throughout Canada and the USA faces harsh weather conditions, driving the need for MCCBs that can handle prolonged cold periods that venture beyond typical temperature parameters.
Extreme conditions, such as those experienced in parts of Saskatchewan and the USA, frequently see temperatures plummet below −30°C or even reach as low as −50°C, necessitating robust solutions.
Challenges in Maintaining Functionality
NOARK Electric tackles this challenge by incorporating specialized lubricants in its MCCBs
When temperatures fall below −20°C, common lubricants in circuit breakers begin to freeze, impairing the mechanism's ability to safely interrupt faults. NOARK Electric tackles this challenge by incorporating specialized lubricants in their MCCBs, maintaining operative efficiency in temperatures below those suited for conventional equipment.
The M1 to M6 series of Molded Case Breakers, Switches, and Motor Circuit Protectors have passed stringent tests in cold-temperature chambers, proving their resilience at temperatures as low as −40°C.
Comprehensive Cold-Weather Testing
Maintaining a reliable and safe operation in cold environments is crucial for NOARK Electric, where the overall temperature rating of a control panel relies on its lowest-rated device. While additional measures like insulation or heaters can address temperature concerns, these solutions are costly.
NOARK's MCCBs, designed for extreme cold, provide an efficient alternative for safeguarding electrical systems in unheated or outdoor applications.
NOARK's Commitment to Safety and Functionality
NOARK Electric's commitment to safety and functionality in cold weather conditions is evident
NOARK Electric's commitment to safety and functionality in cold weather conditions is evident through their thorough testing processes, ensuring that MCCBs, along with accessories like Molded Case Breakers, Switches, and Motor Circuit Protectors, meet high-performance standards.
This dedication to excellence allows their equipment to deliver reliable service across cold-weather regions, avoiding safety risks and ensuring an uninterrupted power supply.
Trust NOARK Electric for Reliable Cold-Climate Solutions
For purchasing decision-makers and professionals in the electrical sector, NOARK Electric represents a trusted partner with a portfolio designed to meet the industry's highest standards, backed by a five-year limited warranty. Their products are tailored to solve electrical challenges, providing peace of mind even in the harshest environments.
Whether for OEM applications or industrial needs, NOARK's low-voltage electrical components continue to set the benchmark for quality and durability.
NOARK Electric manufactures top-quality low-voltage electrical components, including molded case circuit breakers (MCCBs) for many applications.
In heavy commercial applications and industrial facilities, MCCBs are relied upon to protect against electrical damage caused by short circuits or overload conditions.
Since they have a high interrupting capacity, they can handle larger loads than these processes require. Because of their importance in buildings and infrastructure, it is critical that they undergo and pass stringent testing to ensure they function properly when needed the most. In this blog, they look at why NOARK’s MCCBs are tested to −40°C ambient conditions.
Who needs a wider active temperature range for MCCBs?
They are a global manufacturer of low-voltage electrical components for industrial applications who specializes in motor controls and protection for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The mission is to provide the customers with the highest quality products at an exceptional value – backed by world-class service and support.
Every NOARK product is tested and certified to the highest industry standards and is covered by the five-year limited warranty. With a customer base in Canada and the USA, these products need to be tough enough to stand up to the harshest of conditions.
Ranges of electrical equipment
Average temperatures during the winter months are often within the normal operating ranges of much electrical equipment. However, there can be prolonged periods of extreme cold that fall outside of the standard temperature ranges of commonly used electrical equipment not specifically designed for low temperature environments.
In some areas, temperatures as low as –50°C can occur on a regular basis, with temperatures lower than –50°C occurring on occasion, but usually for short periods of time. Temperatures can also fluctuate quickly and vary from 10°C to 30°C in a single day.
NOARK responds to numerous customer requests
With these challenging environments in mind, NOARK responds to numerous customer requests for a wider operating temperature range for the MCCBs. Requests come from an Electric Motor Corporation in Saskatchewan, for example, where winter temperatures often fall below –30°C and have been recorded as low as –45°C or –50°C in mid-winter.
They also receive numerous requests for a wider operating temperature range for the MCCBs from the USA, where temperatures drop below the standard temperature ranges of commonly used electrical equipment.
What Is the Operating Temperature Range of NOARK’s MCCBs?
OEMs often ask the experts about the limits of operating temperature ranges. In cold climate regions across North America, many electrical power distribution products are applied in un-heated structures and outdoor applications, such as lighting kiosks, compact substations and more.
When ambient temperatures dip below –20°C, the standard lubricant used in most breakers begins to solidify, or freeze. This causes the breaker mechanism to operate more slowly, which in turn affects its safe interruption of a fault.
NOARK Electric’s Molded Case Circuit Breakers (MCCBs) come standard with a design suitable for extreme cold conditions. To achieve this, they use special lubrication in breakers that have a wide temperature range, where it meets viscosity specifications for use at temperatures below standard ranges for commonly used electrical equipment.
Rating of a control panel or power distribution
More specifically, they have completed testing in a cold-temperature chamber, which qualifies that the M1 to M6 series of Molded Case Breakers, Molded Case Switches, and Motor Circuit Protectors are safe to operate at temperatures down to –40°C.
It is important to note that the overall temperature rating of a control panel or power distribution assembly will be equal to that of its lowest-rated device. For example, a NEMA 3R enclosure with protection against ingress of water, ice formation, or snow and suitable for outdoor use may contain circuit breakers, switches, relays, and other electrical devices.
If these devices are only rated to –25°C, then the overall equipment would only be suitable for –25°C ambient. Adding insulation and separately powered heaters to the enclosure can be an expensive solution to keep components warm during extreme cold weather in this type of outdoor application.
NOARK Has Completed Testing Down to –40°C for these Products and Accessories:
- M1 to M6 series of Molded Case Breakers.
- M1 to M6 series Molded Case Switches.
- M1 to M6 series Motor Circuit Protectors.
Rely on NOARK Electric for Molded Case Circuit Breakers
Electrical equipment used in cold weather regions is subjected to different environmental conditions than those covered by most general standards. There are two main areas of concern for products used in cold weather: safety and function.
That’s why they ensure that the MCCBs are tested in a cold-temperature chamber to simulate their functionality in cold-weather applications. Moreover, they also test MCCB accessories such as Molded Case Breakers, Molded Case Switches, and Motor Circuit Protectors to ensure the safe operation of these devices and the entire electrical distribution system.
Solve the Electrical Needs with NOARK Electric
As a manufacturer of low-voltage electrical components, NOARK specializes in motor control and OEM protection. The products they manufacture and test meet or exceed the highest performance standards in the industry due to the world-class manufacturing.
Designed for manufacturing and assembly, NOARK’s product portfolio meets the strictest standards and is backed by a five-year limited warranty.
