Eaton has launched a new circuit breaker maintenance solution that lowers the footprint of distribution equipment while making access easier for maintenance in mission-critical data center environments.

The solution comes in two models, a two- or three-pole molded-case circuit breaker (MCCB) for panelboards and switchboards.

The MCCB switchboard and MCCB panelboard has a technical drawout design suitable for any traditional application but designed to overcome particular issues seen with mission-critical environments including density and space.

According to Eaton, a molded drawout MCCB design can save valuable space, and as a result demand has been growing for such solutions as more data center operators take to hybrid offerings using drawout switchgear and plug-on MCCB offerings.

Eaton SVP and general manager for Commercial Distribution and Control Assemblies Clayton Tychkowsky said the new solution is the first to offer drawout design with two and three-pole MCCBs.

“The new drawout MCCB compatible distribution equipment will give businesses confidence that their mission-critical operations will experience lower downtime, decreased physical footprint and simplified maintenance,” Tychkowsky said.

Both units can offer between 20 Amps to 600 Amps. To provide greater density, breakers on the drawout MCCB units are inserted and removed using a mechanical removal system similar to other drawout designs seen with switchgear, but in this case the breakers are mounted horizontally in a traditional panelboard group mounted manner for greater density.

The drawout cassette has two distinct parts: a base designed to ensure permanent lineside connections to the panel board or switchboard’s vertical bus and loadside connection to the feeder conductors and drawout cassette which allows breaker accessory connections to be removed.

The breaker status can also be inspected using a viewing window on the drawout cassette while an external racking port has been added to draw out the breaker.