How To Distinguish Between Electrical Switchgear And Ring Main Unit?

What is a electrical switchgear, what is a ring main unit, and what are the similarities, differences and connections between the two? To know the relationship between electrical switchgear and ring main unit, we should start with the respective definitions of these two devices.

In the power system, electrical switchgear is a kind of electrical equipment, which is mainly composed of circuit breakers, isolating switches, load switches, operating mechanisms, transformers and various protection devices, which are used for switching, controlling and protecting electrical equipment. Electrical switchgear can also be used to disconnect equipment. This electrical device is used for direct connection power supply reliability.

Ring main unit is a group of transmission and distribution electrical equipment (high voltage switchgear) installed in metal or non-metal insulating cabinets or assembled with spaced ring network power supply units. The compact, sealed and enclosed electrical equipment is suitable for medium voltage distribution. It is a complete switch device in itself. In the entire ring network system, if any one of the lines is interrupted or fails, the other line can continue to work.

In general, there are various types of electrical switchgear and ring main unit, and the ring network cabinet is actually a switchgear for each distribution branch, and the busbars of each switchgear are connected to form a ring trunk line, which forms a "Ring network", and each outlet cabinet is called a ring main unit.