Medium voltage disconnectors and safety

Abstract

Disconnectors on MV applications are often considered as providing a safe separation from a live network. This paper shows that the purpose of a disconnector is different, that its specification is not actually focused on safety, and that the installation conditions are highly influent on the actual safety level downstream. It seems relevant to consider these devices for what they are, and to deal with safety matters through a more global analysis of the physical installation and operation procedures. Awareness of all the players is needed in order to overcome many years of drifts and twists around the function provided by disconnectors, and to come back to an unbiased appreciation of these devices for the benefit of all users.