Schneider Electric Premset shielded-solid-insulation MV switchgear
Schneider Premset switchgear, shielded solid insulation to 17.5 kV with no gas at all and a UL/IEEE US version
Schneider Electric Premset shielded-solid-insulation MV switchgear is one of 41 data center switchgear tracked in the SecondWatt catalogue, each with specifications, lead times and indicative secondary-market pricing.
Schneider Premset dossier: shielded-solid-insulation switchgear to 17.5 kV and 25 kA with zero insulation gas, IEC and US versions, inspection checklist.
Who buys it
Utilities, buildings, and data centers wanting gas-free MV switching in tight rooms specify Premset; coastal, humid, and polluted sites value the sealed solid insulation. US buyers get the IEEE C37.20.3/UL version; there is no used channel yet on either side.
Role in the data center
Gas-free MV distribution in tight electrical rooms and harsh-environment sites; the US version brings SSIS into ANSI-market campus designs.
Key specifications
| Voltage classes | 7.2 / 12 / 17.5 kV |
|---|---|
| BIL range | 60-95 kV |
| Busbar ceiling | 1,250 A |
| Fault ratings | to 25 kA / 1 s |
| Internal arc | IAC A-FLR 21-25 kA / 1 s |
| Insulation system | shielded solid (SSIS), gas-free |
| Unit widths | 375 / 750 mm (630 / 1,250 A) |
| US version | IEEE C37.20.3 + UL Listed |
| Status | COMMERCIALIZED |
Technical summary
Voltage classes: 7.2 / 12 / 17.5 kV BIL: 60-95 kV by class Busbar: up to 1,250 A Short-time/breaking: up to 25 kA / 1 s Internal arc: IAC A-FLR 21-25 kA / 1 s (IEC 62271-200) Insulation: shielded solid (SSIS/2SIS), no gas Unit widths: 375 mm (630 A) / 750 mm (1,250 A) US version: IEEE C37.20.3 metal-enclosed, UL Listed Design benefit: no live parts in free air; insulation resists aging Status: COMMERCIALIZED
Pricing and availability
Trend: up Lead time, new: 52-72 weeks (metal-enclosed class). Lead time, used or refurbished: No used supply exists. 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