July 31, 2006

Loadbuster^® Loadbreak Tool: 50 Years and Still Going Strong.

S&C is known throughout the industry as an innovator, with recent new product introductions including the IntelliRupter® PulseCloser and TripSaver™ Dropout Recloser. S&C has continually launched such breakthrough products throughout its history, and one such product was the Loadbuster Loadbreak Tool. The Loadbuster tool, introduced 50 years ago, revolutionized the way utilities could perform switching of distribution equipment installed on their system. Today, Loadbuster can be found switching loads on utility systems around the world.

As Loadbuster celebrates 50 years of service, this article recaps the many benefits of the original lightweight, easy-to-use portable loadbreak tool.

Benefits of the Loadbuster Tool

S&C’s Loadbuster — unlike loadbreak cutouts or hookstick-operated interrupter switches — brings load switching capability through 34.5 kV and 600 amperes nominal, 900 amperes maximum to your overhead distribution system. You can even switch ungrounded transformers at 27 kV or 38 kV. You do not need to labor under an assumption of a limited voltage spectrum or a limited current spectrum for load switching devices on your distribution system. And with Loadbuster the dollar savings are big.

Having an arc-interrupting means built into every disconnect, cutout, power fuse, and fuse limiter on your overhead distribution system is a prohibitive luxury — it simply costs too many dollars. In contrast, S&C’s Loadbuster gives you the operating flexibility of a system with multipoint interrupter switches — but without the cost.

How? Loadbuster, S&C’s portable loadbreak tool, brings the interrupter to the disconnect, cutout, power fuse, or fuse limiter whenever loadbreak switch capability is needed . . . instantly — but only when needed. The rest of the time the devices remain S&C Loadbuster operable disconnects, cutouts, power fuses, and fuse limiters matched to the economics of the system. In short, Loadbuster is S&C’s unique method of providing low-cost, positive, and convenient load-switching capability for those devices designed for Loadbuster operation.

The concept is simple. The advantages are many.

The beauty of it all is that Loadbuster can be instantly reset for repeated use . . . so you limit your investment to only one Loadbuster tool for each line truck, you spread an acceptable minimal cost across your system, and you gain the capability of speeding restoration of service to power consumers.

Not only can Loadbuster switch load currents up through 600 amperes nominal, 900 amperes maximum at distribution system voltages up through 34.5 kV . . . it can break the associated transformer-magnetizing currents, line-charging currents, and cable-charging currents. And it can switch single capacitor banks typically found on distribution systems within its voltage rating.

Loadbuster brings switching capability to suitably “hook-equipped” disconnects, cutouts, power fuses, and fuse limiters. And it thus eliminates the need for loadbreak cutouts or hookstick-operated interrupter switches . . . even group-operated disconnects or interrupter switches where group operation is unnecessary.

View additional information on the Loadbuster tool here. Or contact your nearest S&C sales office to learn more about this product.