MV Switchgear Servicing & Maintenance
Scheduled maintenance contracts and reactive servicing for medium voltage switchgear – all brands, nationwide.
Why Switchgear Servicing Cannot Be Overlooked
Medium voltage switchgear is unlike most other electrical and mechanical equipment. It can remain inactive for extended periods, called upon to operate only during fault conditions — sometimes just a handful of times over its entire lifespan. And yet, when that moment comes, it must perform flawlessly.
The critical reality is this: without a structured maintenance programme, there is no guarantee that your switchgear will function within its design specification when a fault occurs. No building monitoring system, no SCADA facility, and no remote status indicator can confirm that the apparatus will initiate, trip, and clear a fault safely and effectively. Only physical testing can.
The consequences of failure on a system feeding a critical load — a data centre, hospital, bank, airport, or container depot — are severe. Downtime is costly. Safety is compromised. And the damage is rarely limited to the switchgear itself.
MSD provides professional MV switchgear servicing and maintenance across South Africa, for both Tamco switchgear and all other brands. Whether you require a scheduled annual service, a formal maintenance contract, or a reactive callout, our technical team is equipped and ready.
Our Switchgear Servicing Scope
MSD offers two primary service arrangements depending on your operational requirements:
Scheduled Maintenance Contracts
A proactive maintenance contract is the most cost-effective approach to managing your switchgear over the long term. MSD offers formal annual and bi-annual maintenance agreements tailored to your site, your equipment inventory, and your operational schedule.
Benefits of a maintenance contract:
- Planned outages that minimise disruption to operations
- Consistent documentation and service records for compliance and insurance purposes
- Priority scheduling and guaranteed response times
- Early detection of developing faults before they become failures
- Reduced long-term costs through preventative care rather than emergency repair
Note: Several South African insurance companies require annual switchgear maintenance to be carried out as a condition of compliance with their insurance contracts. A formal maintenance agreement with MSD satisfies this requirement and provides the necessary documentation.
Reactive & Emergency Servicing
When unplanned faults occur, speed of response is everything. MSD provides reactive switchgear servicing on request, with 24/7 emergency callout capability for critical situations.
Our technical team carries a comprehensive range of Tamco spares and commonly required components, reducing on-site downtime and minimising the need for return visits.
What Our Service Visits Cover
A standard MSD switchgear service visit is a structured, methodical process carried out by trained technicians using calibrated specialist equipment. The following procedures are conducted as part of our standard maintenance scope:
Visual Inspection
A thorough visual examination of all switchgear components to identify any signs that may lead to malfunction — including panel distortion, discolouration from heat, circuit breaker misalignment, and distorted or discoloured primary contacts.
Operation & Functionality Checks
A series of checks to verify that all switchgear functions are operating correctly, including:
- Opening and closing of the circuit breaker, both mechanically and electrically
- Circuit breaker racking mechanism — smooth and direct operation confirmed
- Earth switch operation
- Status indication — mechanical and electrical
- Spring charge sequence — confirmed correct and within the specified time frame
- Mechanism latching
- Verification that all three vacuum interrupters and actuators are functioning
- Trip counter functionality
Secondary Injection Testing
One of the most important tests in the maintenance process. Secondary injection testing verifies the accuracy and functionality of the protection relay, the overall tripping time of the circuit breaker, and the integrity of the tripping circuit.
This test simulates a fault condition — from relay pickup through to fault clearance — logging the complete operation time. The relay’s actual tripping time is compared against the manufacturer’s standard tripping curve to confirm it remains within specification. Ammeter and voltmeter accuracy is also verified during this process.
Speed Tracing on Circuit Breakers
Speed tracing determines the opening time of all three poles of the circuit breaker, as well as the energising and de-energising of the trip coil. This test confirms that the circuit breaker will operate within its design parameters under fault conditions.
Contact Resistance Testing
The resistance of the vacuum interrupter contacts and all joints in the primary circuit are measured using a Ductor tester to confirm good surface contact throughout the primary circuit.
Power Frequency Testing
The integrity of the vacuum (open gap test) in the vacuum interrupter and the insulation resistance of the primary circuit insulation are verified using a high AC voltage of 17–28kV. This test confirms the insulation is sound and the vacuum interrupter is performing within specification.
Partial Discharge Testing (Optional)
An additional conditional monitoring procedure that can be offered alongside the standard maintenance scope. This test identifies whether partial discharge is being emitted from the primary insulation or cable terminations. Any discharge recorded above a specified threshold indicates a potential flashover condition — one that can be identified and rectified before failure occurs.
Post-test procedures
Once all testing is complete, the switchgear is cleaned and all dust is vacuumed from the chambers. Necessary components are lubricated. Voltage transformer secondary voltages are recorded to confirm they are within specification. A written service report is issued detailing all findings and recommendations.
Specialist Equipment. Calibrated Annually.
Accurate switchgear testing requires specialist instrumentation — not general-purpose electrical test equipment. MSD operates a comprehensive suite of dedicated test instruments, including:
- Secondary injection tester — for protection relay and tripping circuit verification
- Speed tracer — for circuit breaker pole timing and trip coil analysis
- Ductor tester — for contact and joint resistance measurement
- High voltage AC test set — for power frequency and vacuum integrity testing
- Partial discharge analyser — for conditional monitoring (optional)
- Mag Curve and primary injection tester — available for specialist fault diagnosis where required
This equipment represents a combined investment of over R1 million and is calibrated annually by a registered independent calibration specialist — ensuring that every test result MSD produces is accurate, reliable, and defensible.
All Brands. All Models.
MSD services medium voltage switchgear from all major manufacturers, including but not limited to:
Tamco · ABB · Schneider Electric · Siemens · Eaton · Actom · GE · Lucy Electric
Our technicians have hands-on experience across a broad range of panel types, configurations, and vintages — including older equipment where original manufacturer support may no longer be readily available.
Lets Discuss Your Servicing Requirements
Whether you need a once-off service visit, an annual maintenance contract, or emergency support — MSD’s technical team is ready to assist. Complete the enquiry form or call us directly and we will respond within one business day.
Phone: 011 298 1800
Email: reception@malaysianswitchgear.co.za