Schneider Electric PIX air-insulated metal-clad switchgear (to 24 kV)
Schneider PIX metal-clad switchgear to 24 kV, 4,000 A, and 40 kA on the HVX vacuum breaker platform
Schneider Electric PIX air-insulated metal-clad switchgear (to 24 kV) is one of 41 data center switchgear tracked in the SecondWatt catalogue, each with specifications, lead times and indicative secondary-market pricing.
Schneider PIX dossier: metal-clad AIS to 24 kV, 4,000 A, and 40 kA with HVX vacuum breakers, IEC market structure, spares channels, inspection points.
Why it matters
PIX and MCset together carry a large share of the IEC metal-clad installed base, and distinguishing the two (HVX versus EXE breakers, current versus legacy generation) is table-stakes accuracy for a credible catalog. The used-supply vacuum is the datapoint: IEC AIS lineups do not trade, so value tracking belongs at the breaker level.
Role in the data center
Primary MV distribution in IEC-market campuses and imported package substations; HVX breaker spares are the serviceability item for US-landed lineups.
Key specifications
| Voltage class | to 24 kV |
|---|---|
| Continuous current | to 4,000 A |
| Short-circuit withstand | to 40 kA |
| PIX Standard tier | 24 kV / 31.5 kA / 3,150 A (300 mm tunnel) |
| Switching device | EvoPact HVX vacuum circuit breaker |
| Construction | Air-insulated, metal-clad; internal-arc classified cubicles |
| Rated frequencies / range | 12, 17 and 24 kV cubicles |
Technical summary
Voltage classes: 12 / 17.5 / 24 kV PIX Standard: up to 3,150 A / 31.5 kA (300 mm tunnel) High-rating builds: 4,000 A / 40 kA at 17.5 kV (1,000 mm panels) Breaker: withdrawable HVX vacuum Cable tunnels: 300 mm (Standard) and 600 mm options Construction: air-insulated metal-clad, SeT Series Status: current production (IEC markets) Catalogs: NRJCAT20023SWEEN / NRJCAT20023EN US channel: repair/quote only (GES observed)
Pricing and availability
Trend: up Lead time, new: 60-80 weeks (metal-clad class). Lead time, used or refurbished: Repair/quote channel only. 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.
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 Protection relays — test to calibration cycle; electromechanical relays need 1-2 year intervals Arc rating — confirm arc-resistant construction class (IEEE C37.20.7 Type 2B) matches the installation Heaters — verify space heaters work; condensation drives tracking failures in unheated gear Nameplate — confirm voltage class, BIL (60-150 kV by class), and interrupting rating against the application Standards — verify IEEE C37.20.2 construction and UL/CSA labels; run ANSI/NETA MTS acceptance tests Records — factory test report, maintenance history, and operation counts; missing history reprices as-is