Bolted pressure switches can often replace which type of equipment?

Bolted pressure switches are commonly used in applications where controlling high voltage and current loads is necessary, and they can indeed replace circuit breakers in specific scenarios. The primary function of a circuit breaker is to protect electrical circuits from overload conditions and short circuits by interrupting the flow of electricity when a fault is detected. Similarly, bolted pressure switches can be used to disconnect power in high-current situations.

These switches work by creating a secure connection that can handle heavy loads without arcing or overheating, similar to how circuit breakers operate when protecting circuits. The key difference is that bolted pressure switches may be used in applications where a manual or controlled interruption of the power supply is acceptable and does not require automatic tripping in response to overloads.

This ability to provide a secure, high-current connection makes bolted pressure switches a viable replacement for circuit breakers in specific industrial settings or for particular applications in motor control systems, where they can handle the same functionalities in terms of disconnection and protection under specific conditions. Other equipment types like fuses, contactors, and transformers serve different purposes, which is why they are not suitable replacements in this context.