What's the difference between a switchgear and power distribution cabinet?

In addition to different functions, installation environment, internal structure, controlled objects, etc., power distribution cabinets and switchgear are distinguished by different dimensions and small size, which can be hidden in the wall or stand on the ground. However, the switch cabinet is large in size and only installed in the substation and power distribution room.

Switchgear is a kind of electrical equipment. The outer line of the switchgear enters the main control switch in the cabinet first, and then enters the sub-control switch, and each branch is set according to its needs. Such as instrumentation, automatic control, motor magnetic switch, various AC contactors, etc. Some are equipped with high-voltage room and low-voltage room switch cabinets, with high-voltage busbars, such as power plants, and some are also equipped with low-frequency protection for main equipment Load shedding.

The main function of switchgear is to open and close, control and protect electrical equipment during the process of power generation, transmission, power distribution and electrical energy conversion in the power system. The components in the switch cabinet are mainly composed of circuit breakers, isolating switches, load switches, operating mechanisms, mutual inductors and various protection devices. There are many classification methods for switch cabinets. For example, the installation method of circuit breakers can be divided into removable switch cabinets and fixed switch cabinets; or according to the different cabinet structure, they can be divided into open switch cabinets, metal enclosed switch cabinets, and metal Enclosed armored switchgear; according to different voltage levels, it can be divided into high voltage switchgear, medium voltage switchgear and low voltage switchgear. It is mainly suitable for various occasions such as power plants, substations, petrochemicals, metallurgical steel rolling, light industry and textiles, factories and mining enterprises, residential quarters, and high-rise buildings.

The power distribution cabinet (box) is divided into power distribution cabinet (box), lighting distribution cabinet (box), and metering cabinet (box). It is the final equipment of the power distribution system. The power distribution cabinet is the general term for the motor control center. The power distribution cabinet is used in the occasions where the load is relatively dispersed and there are fewer circuits; the motor control center is used in the occasions where the load is concentrated and there are more circuits. They distribute the electric energy of a certain circuit of the upper-level power distribution equipment to the nearby load. This level of equipment should provide protection, monitoring and control of the load.