What is the difference between an isolation switch and a circuit breaker?

1. Isolating switches and circuit breakers are both main circuit switching appliances and distribution appliances.

2. The isolating switch is a passive component, and the circuit breaker is an active component.

When a short-circuit current occurs in a line, components that can actively cut off the short-circuit current are called active components, and components that can only passively withstand the electrodynamic impact and thermal shock of the short-circuit current are called passive components. The isolating switch is a passive component, while the circuit breaker and fuse are both active components.

3. The task of the isolation switch is to construct a clear breakpoint in the circuit, that is, to achieve the isolation task in the disconnected state

4. Both the isolating switch and the circuit breaker must have the ability to withstand the electric power impact generated by the impact short-circuit current peak Ipk, and both must have the ability to withstand the short-circuit current thermal shock within a certain period of time.