Eaton VacClad-W metal-clad switchgear with VCP-W breakers (5-38 kV)
Manufacturer: Eaton
Eaton VacClad-W metal-clad switchgear, the ANSI staple whose VCP-W breakers price the used MV market
This model is part of SecondWatt’s switchgear research catalogue. Specifications and price observations are included where supported by sources. Equipment availability and commercial terms require confirmation.
Eaton VacClad-W dossier: ANSI metal-clad 5-38 kV with VCP-W breakers priced 3,850-37,500 USD and lineups to 75,000 USD, four-tier analysis, inspection.
VacClad-W is the ANSI-market workhorse: Eaton's metal-clad MV switchgear with draw-out VCP-W vacuum breakers, Westinghouse heritage still visible in every dealer listing that says 'Eaton/Cutler-Hammer/Westinghouse.' The 5-15 kV family rates 4.76 and 15 kV, 1,200-3,000 A naturally cooled (4,000 A forced-air), interrupting to 63 kA, BIL 60/95 kV, per IEEE C37.20.2 with arc-resistant builds to IEEE C37.20.7 Type 2B, in 36-inch and narrow 26-inch designs; VacClad-HD extends to 38 kV, 1,200-3,000 A, 40 kA, BIL 150 kV.
The secondary market trades at the breaker level with real prices: an unused 150VCP-W500 at 37,500 USD (2 available, tested with report), the eBay product page for the same model spanning 3,850 USD Westinghouse-era units to 24,000-28,500 USD standard examples, a 50VCP-W350 at 10,500 USD with 9 units in dealer stock, and a used 3-section 7.5 kV lineup at 75,000 USD OBO.
Renewal-parts liquidity is deep (published VCP-W parts catalog, distributor component stock), which is why 30-year lineups keep trading as going concerns rather than scrap.
Why it matters
VacClad-W is the clearest four-tier pricing story in MV switchgear: 3,850 USD as-is to 37,500 USD unused on one breaker model, and a 75,000 USD used lineup against 35,000-75,000 USD per new section at 60-80 week leads. That spread, with each price tied to a live listing, is what a buyer should benchmark any VCP-W quote against.
Who buys it
Data centers, utilities and industrials with VacClad lineups buy VCP-W breakers and spares continuously; EPCs buy used lineups to beat 60-80 week metal-clad leads; reconditioners stock the breaker frames in depth. One sourcing note: Eaton's current US pages document the 5-15 kV family and the 38 kV VacClad-HD, while a 27 kV class appears in the full-line catalog TB02201001E rather than on those pages, so confirm the class against the catalog before quoting it.
Role in the data center
Campus medium-voltage distribution switchgear at the 5-15 kV class with VCP-W mains and feeders, sitting between the utility intake and the unit substations feeding hall-level low-voltage gear. The used lineup channel is what rescues schedules that 60-80 week new metal-clad leads would otherwise break, which is why this platform trades at both the breaker and the lineup level.
Key specifications
| 5-15 kV ratings | 1,200-3,000 A (4,000 FA) / to 63 kA |
|---|---|
| BIL (5-15 kV) | 60 / 95 kV |
| VacClad-HD 38 kV | 1,200-3,000 A / 40 kA / BIL 150 kV |
| Standards | C37.20.2; C37.20.7 Type 2B; NEMA SG-5 |
| Observed unused 150VCP-W500 | 37,500 USD OBO (qty 2, tested) |
| Observed model price band | 3,850-37,500 USD (150VCP-W500 page) |
| Observed 50VCP-W350 | 10,500 USD (9 in stock) |
| Observed used lineup | 75,000 USD OBO (3 sections, 7.5 kV) |
| Renewal parts | published VCP-W parts catalog |
| Indoor section dimensions | 36 x 96.25 x 95 in |
Technical summary
KV family: 4.76 / 15 kV; 1,200-3,000 A (4,000 A FA). Interrupting: up to 63 kA. BIL: 60 kV (4.76 kV) / 95 kV (15 kV). VacClad-HD: 38 kV / 1,200-3,000 A / 40 kA / BIL 150 kV. Standards: IEEE C37.20.2; arc-resistant C37.20.7 Type 2B; NEMA SG-5; CSA C22.2 No. 31. Designs: 36-in and narrow 26-in; indoor and outdoor aisle types. Breakers: VCP-W draw-out vacuum family. Bus: epoxy fluidized-bed insulated. Section (indoor): 36 x 96.25 x 95 in.
Major variations
36-inch standard and 26-inch narrow designs, indoor and outdoor aisleless and sheltered-aisle builds, and arc-resistant variants tested to IEEE C37.20.7 Type 2B, with the 38 kV VacClad-HD extending the range at 1,200-3,000 A, 40 kA and 150 kV BIL. VCP-W breaker generations span Westinghouse-era units through current enhanced-pole builds documented in instruction booklet IB131029EN, effective January 2025, and the generation gap is visible in the price data: Westinghouse-era frames trade near a tenth of unused current ones.
Configurations and options
Two designs and two voltage families set price. The 5-15 kV family is built in 36-inch standard and 26-inch narrow sections, indoor or outdoor in aisleless and sheltered-aisle arrangements, rated 4.76 and 15 kV at 1,200-3,000 A naturally cooled or 4,000 A forced-air, interrupting to 63 kA with BIL of 60 or 95 kV. VacClad-HD is the separate 38 kV build at 1,200-3,000 A, 40 kA and 150 kV BIL. Arc-resistant construction to IEEE C37.20.7 Type 2B is a distinct order item. On the breakers, VCP-W generation is the value axis: Westinghouse-era frames trade near a tenth of unused current ones.
Compatibility and dependencies
Draw-out VCP-W breakers and their cells are a matched pair, so a replacement has to be the right rating, pole spacing and generation for the cubicle, and Eaton's enhanced-pole instruction booklet IB131029EN, effective January 2025, documents the current build. Bus continuous rating and interrupting duty must be coordinated with the upstream transformer and any paralleled generation. Physical fit is fixed at order: an indoor section is 36 inches wide, 96.25 inches deep and 95 inches high in the standard design, with a 26-inch narrow alternative, and rear access plus breaker withdrawal both need their working space. Standards are IEEE C37.20.2 with NEMA SG-5 and CSA C22.2 No. 31, and arc-resistant builds hold their rating only with the tested clearances and exhaust path.
Pricing and availability
Published price range: $3,850 - $37,500 (breakers); lineups to $75,000. Trend: rising MV switchgear is up 50% since 2021, and VCP-W breakers carry the curve with a condition ladder visible on one model: Westinghouse-era 150VCP-W500s at 3,850 USD, standard tested units 24,000-28,500 USD, unused-with-warranty at 37,500 USD. Used lineups near 25,000 USD per section run 29-67% below new-section benchmarks with immediate delivery. Lead time, new: 60-80 weeks (15 kV metal-clad); 78-104 weeks (38 kV). Lead time, used or refurbished: 1-8 weeks (breakers); lineups opportunistic. Warranty, used: 1-year typical from reconditioning dealers.
Lifecycle and maintenance
Metal-clad MV switchgear routinely serves 40+ years: vacuum interrupters rated for 10,000-30,000 operations far outlast the mechanical duty standby service imposes, so lineup life is governed by insulation condition and relay/controls vintage. Breakers recondition readily and trade as units, while lineups modernize in place with digital relays and retrofit breakers. ANSI/NETA MTS acceptance testing at purchase plus PD surveys in service are the condition gates.
Thermal and emissions profile
Switchgear produces no combustion emissions; the regulatory profile is electrical safety and materials. NFPA 70B became a standard in its 2023 edition, making maintenance programs mandatory rather than recommended, and arc-flash rules (NFPA 70E) govern work practices. LV air-insulated gear carries no F-gas exposure, and construction standards (UL 891, UL 1558, IEEE C37.20.1) plus arc-resistant options under IEEE C37.20.7 define the safety envelope buyers should verify.
Common failure points
- Vacuum interrupters — Loss of vacuum ends interrupting capability with no external sign
- Insulation tracking and PD — Partial discharge across dusty or damp insulation progressing to flashover
- Racking and interlocks — Damaged racking screws and defeated interlocks from forced operation
- Protection relays — Obsolete or drifted relays mis-operate under fault
- Instrument transformers — CT/VT failures disable metering and protection inputs
- Space heater failure — Condensation-driven tracking in unheated outdoor or humid gear
Inspection checklist
Vacuum integrity: hipot test each interrupter per OEM procedure (e.g., 36 kV test on 15 kV class). Insulation resistance: megger bus and breakers at 2,500-5,000 V; compare to ANSI/NETA MTS tables. Contact resistance: micro-ohm each pole; investigate imbalance beyond 50% between phases. Partial discharge: ultrasonic and TEV survey; investigate any reading 6 dB above baseline. Contact erosion: measure vacuum interrupter erosion marks against the OEM wear allowance. Racking mechanism: cycle connect/test/disconnect positions 3 times each; verify interlocks and shutters. Mechanism timing: verify open/close times; closing beyond 5 cycles flags mechanism trouble. Bus insulation: inspect epoxy and boots for tracking or corona; clean and torque joints. Instrument transformers: verify CT/VT ratios, insulation, and fusing.
Procurement channels
Bullock (firm-priced breaker stock), NAS/eBay (unused and tested units), Circuit Breaker Sales NE and Lenmark (quote-gated), Surplus Record's metal-clad category for lineups; Eaton publishes renewal parts and enhanced-pole instruction books for acceptance work.
Regional notes
The ANSI staple of this category: built to IEEE C37.20.2 with NEMA SG-5 and CSA C22.2 No. 31 for 60 Hz North American practice, with no IEC equivalent, which is why it and Powell PowlVac are the two ANSI platforms with real North American used supply at both breaker and lineup level. Eaton, Cutler-Hammer and Westinghouse all appear on dealer listings for the same hardware because of the brand chain rather than because they are different products. Renewal parts are published in catalog PL01301011E, which is what keeps 30-year lineups serviceable in-market.