Metal Clad vs Metal Enclosed

The selection of the type of switchgear to be used in a project is a tedious job. Design engineers
need to know what are the requirements of the project to be able to specify what type of
switchgear is needed. In a project with a highly skilled personnel and requires monitoring, a
metal-clad switchgear is recommended.
Metal-Clad vs Metal-Enclosed
Metal-clad
Metal-enclosed
Main Interrupting
Fixed Switch and fuse
Drawout circuit breakers
Device
combination
Bus works Insulated
Bare
No exposed live parts even when
Exposed live parts when cover is
Live Parts
cover is removed
removed
Cost High
Low
Maintenance High
Low
Auxiliary Power Yes
No
Single Phasing
Standard
Options
Protection
Communication
Available
None
Interface
Additional features of metal-clad switchgear are:

The main interrupting device is removable and arranged with a mechanism for moving it
physically between connected and disconnected positions. It is equipped with selfaligning and self-coupling primary and secondary disconnecting devices.
The interrupting devices, buses, voltage transformers, and control power transformers,
are completely enclosed by grounded metal barriers, which have no intentional openings
between compartments. A metal barrier in front of the interrupting device ensures that
when, in the connecting position, no live parts are exposed by the opening of an
enclosure door.

All live parts are enclosed within grounded metal compartments.

Automatic grounded metal shutters cover primary circuit elements when the removable
element is in the disconnected, test, or removed position.

Primary bus conductors and connections are covered with track-resistant insulating
material throughout.

Mechanical interlocks are provided to maintain a proper and safe operating sequence and
to ensure matching ampacities between circuit breaker and cell.

Grounded metal barriers isolate and ground instruments, meters, relays, secondary
control devices, and their wiring from all primary circuit elements. If a short circuit or
fault occurs, all damage is contained within the metal-clad enclosure.