The OMICRON CIBANO 500 combines a micro-ohmmeter, a timing analyzer and a supply for coils and motor in one unit, so medium- and high-voltage circuit breakers (live tank, dead tank or GIS) can be tested even without the station battery. With the CB MC2 module it also measures dynamic contact resistance. It is a measuring tool: which tests apply to each breaker is defined by the test plan.
What the CIBANO 500 is
The OMICRON CIBANO 500 is what the manufacturer calls a 3-in-1 system for power circuit breakers: a micro-ohmmeter, a timing analyzer and a power supply for coils and motor. It weighs about 20 kg and is used on medium- and high-voltage live tank, dead tank and gas-insulated (GIS) breakers.
The reason for putting the three instruments together is practical. Testing a breaker normally takes a micro-ohmmeter, a timing analyzer and a supply to operate the device without depending on the station battery, each with its own wiring. According to the manufacturer, its connection technology cuts wiring effort and time by up to 50%, which also lowers the chance of connection errors. To understand the device under test, see power circuit breaker.
Which tests it supports
The manufacturer’s datasheet lists these tests:
- Operating times. Measures from the command signal to the change of state of the main contact. It detects incorrect mechanical adjustments or wear. What each time means, pole synchronism and how it relates to the standard are covered in circuit breaker timing test.
- Static contact resistance. Verifies that the main current path has low resistance and therefore low losses at load current. This is the contact resistance test.
- Dynamic contact resistance. Records the resistance during the operation; the manufacturer states that it reports on wear of the main and arcing contacts. It requires the CB MC2 module.
- Close and trip coil current. The current signature of each coil is recorded during the operation. Deviations point to electrical or mechanical defects in the control circuit and the mechanism; the circuit breaker control cabinet and the operating mechanism explain what is behind them.
- Mechanism travel. A motion transducer is used to check the whole mechanical chain. How to read it is covered in travel and contact speed test.
- Undervoltage and minimum operating voltage. The adjustable supply delivers a precise voltage to check how the breaker behaves under undervoltage and what the minimum voltage is at which it will open and close. This matters because a low battery is a real operating condition.
What the CB MC2 module adds
The CB MC2 is the main contact module of the CIBANO 500: it does not work on its own and needs a unit with an EtherCAT port. According to the manufacturer, it enables the dynamic resistance test and timing tests with both sides grounded, as well as timing of pre-insertion resistors where they exist. It connects directly at the interrupter chambers to keep the high-current leads short, and the digital link to the unit reduces interference on long cables.
Up to 15 modules can be connected at the same time, and each one measures two main contacts that share a common ground, as on T-shaped live tank breakers. The manufacturer highlights this on live tank breakers and GIS: measuring times with both sides grounded, which improves personnel safety against induced voltages. On dead tank breakers and GIS, the unit can also demagnetize the built-in current transformers.
Why the safety of the setup matters
A switchyard breaker is tested de-energized, but with voltages induced from neighboring circuits that may still be live. Being able to keep both sides grounded while measuring is a safety advantage that depends on the procedure and on each company’s electrical safety rules. The unit does not replace the risk analysis or the coordination of the clearance; it makes them easier.
Standard and criteria
The tests and the time and resistance limits of a breaker are set by the product standard, IEC 62271-100 for high-voltage alternating-current circuit breakers, and by the breaker manufacturer’s values. The acceptance criteria for a given test come from that documentation and from the factory protocol, not from the test equipment.
Reports and traceability
The unit is controlled with the Primary Test Manager (PTM) software and its circuit breaker test library (CBTL). The manufacturer states that it delivers a single combined report for all the tests performed. For clients who audit their suppliers, a single report per breaker, with the equipment, date and results, is part of the traceability they can require.
How to read the results, in general terms
An opening time on its own says little; what informs is the comparison: against the factory value, between the three poles and between chambers of the same pole, and against earlier measurements of the same breaker. A dynamic resistance trace with spikes in one zone of the stroke points to the arcing contact or the main contact, depending on where it occurs. A coil current signature that changes between measurements points to a control or friction problem in the mechanism, before the breaker fails in service.
Acceptance numbers come from the breaker manufacturer’s datasheet and its factory protocol. If the breaker is old and there is no protocol, a baseline is set at the first measurement and the trend is monitored.
Circuit breaker testing on request
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Related guides
- Substation primary equipment testing
- Circuit breaker auxiliary contacts
- Pole discrepancy test on circuit breakers
- The circuit breaker does not open
References
- OMICRON electronics, datasheets for CIBANO 500 and CB MC2 (omicronenergy.com/en/products/cibano-500 and /cb-mc2).
- IEC 62271-100, High-voltage switchgear and controlgear – Alternating-current circuit-breakers.
- IEEE Std C37.09, Standard Test Procedure for AC High-Voltage Circuit Breakers.
Frequently asked questions
Which circuit breaker tests can be done with the OMICRON CIBANO 500?
According to the manufacturer: operating times, static and dynamic contact resistance, close and trip coil current analysis, mechanism travel with a motion transducer, and undervoltage and minimum operating voltage tests. Which of them apply to a given breaker depends on its type, its voltage level and whether the work is commissioning or maintenance.
What does dynamic contact resistance add?
The static test confirms that the main current path has low resistance. The dynamic test records the resistance while the breaker operates and, according to the manufacturer, gives information on wear of the main and arcing contacts, which the static test cannot see.
Can a breaker be tested without the station battery?
Yes. The unit includes an adjustable DC supply to power the coils and the motor, so tests can be run even when the station battery is not available. It also allows testing how the breaker behaves under undervoltage.