Frequently Asked Questions from TANO CABLE

Low voltage electrical products are devices and equipment that operate at voltages typically below 1000 volts (V) for alternating current (AC) and 1500 volts for direct current (DC). These products are widely used in residential, commercial, and industrial settings for various applications. Here are some common categories and examples of low voltage electrical products:

 1. Switching and Protection Devices
   - Circuit Breakers: Protect electrical circuits from overloads and short circuits.
   - Fuses: Provide overcurrent protection by melting when current exceeds a certain level.
   - Residual Current Devices (RCDs): Protect against electric shock by detecting leakage currents.
   - Isolators/Switch Disconnectors: Manually disconnect circuits for maintenance or safety.

 2. Control and Automation Products
   - Relays: Electrically operated switches used for control and signaling.
   - Contactors: Control high-power loads like motors and lighting systems.
   - Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs): Automate industrial processes.
   - Sensors: Detect changes in the environment (e.g., motion, temperature, light).

3. Wiring and Connection Products
   - Cables and Wires: Conduct electricity in circuits.
   - Terminals and Connectors: Secure and connect wires.
   - Cable Trays and Conduits: Organize and protect cables.
   - Distribution Boards: Distribute electrical power to circuits.

4. Lighting and Power Products
   - LED Drivers: Regulate power for LED lighting.
   - Dimmers: Control the brightness of lights.
   - Power Supplies: Convert and regulate voltage for devices.
   - Socket Outlets and Switches: Provide access to electrical power and control.

5. Energy Management and Monitoring
   - Smart Meters: Monitor and record energy consumption.
   - Energy Management Systems: Optimize energy usage in buildings.
   - Power Quality Devices: Improve the quality of electrical power (e.g., surge protectors, voltage regulators).

6. Safety and Security Products
   - Emergency Lighting: Provides illumination during power outages.
   - Surge Protection Devices (SPDs): Protect equipment from voltage spikes.
   - Fire Alarm Systems: Detect and alert occupants of fire hazards.
   - Security Systems: Include CCTV cameras, access control, and intruder alarms.

7. Renewable Energy Products
   - Solar Inverters: Convert DC power from solar panels to AC power.
   - Charge Controllers: Regulate the charging of batteries in solar systems.
   - Battery Storage Systems: Store energy for later use.

8. Communication and Networking Products
   - Data Cables: Transmit data signals (e.g., Ethernet cables).
   - Network Switches: Connect devices in a network.
   - Modems and Routers: Enable internet connectivity.

9. Heating and Ventilation Products
   - Thermostats: Control heating and cooling systems.
   - Electric Heaters: Provide localized heating.
   - Ventilation Fans: Improve air circulation.

 10. Consumer Electronics and Appliances
   - Chargers: Power up devices like smartphones and laptops.
   - Adapters: Convert voltage for different devices.
   - Household Appliances: Include refrigerators, washing machines, and microwaves.

These products are essential for ensuring the safe, efficient, and reliable operation of electrical systems in various environments. They are designed to meet specific standards and regulations to ensure safety and performance.

Power transmission refers to the process of moving electrical energy from a power generation source, such as a power plant, to an electrical substation and then to the end users, such as homes, businesses, and industries. This process is a critical component of the electrical grid, which is the network that delivers electricity from producers to consumers.

The transmission of power typically involves the following steps:

1. Generation: Electricity is produced at power stations using various energy sources like coal, natural gas, nuclear power, hydroelectric dams, wind turbines, or solar panels.

2. Step-up Transformation: The generated electricity is usually at a relatively low voltage, so it is first passed through a step-up transformer at the power station to increase the voltage to a level suitable for transmission over long distances. High-voltage transmission reduces energy losses that occur as heat due to the resistance of the transmission lines.

3. Transmission: The high-voltage electricity is then transported over long distances through a network of power lines known as the transmission grid. These power lines can be overhead, on towers or poles, or they can be underground or underwater cables.

4. Substations: Along the transmission network, there are substations that contain equipment to control the flow of electricity and to step down the voltage from transmission levels to distribution levels using step-down transformers.

5. Distribution: Once the voltage is stepped down, the electricity is sent through the distribution network, which consists of smaller power lines that deliver electricity to local areas.

6. Final Transformation: Before entering homes or businesses, the voltage is stepped down again to a safe level for use by consumers.

7. End Use: Finally, the electricity is used by consumers to power appliances, machinery, lighting, and other electrical devices.

Power transmission is a complex and highly engineered process that requires careful management to ensure a stable and reliable supply of electricity. It involves not only the physical infrastructure of power lines and substations but also sophisticated control systems to manage the flow of electricity and to respond to changes in demand and supply in real-time.

VCB(Vacuum circuit breaker) is an electrical switching device mainly used in power systems. It can quickly cut off the current when a circuit fault occurs, thereby protecting the circuit and equipment from damage. Vacuum circuit breakers are named because both the arc extinguishing medium and the insulating medium of the contact gap after arc extinguishing are high vacuum. Its core characteristics include small size, light weight, suitable for frequent operation and no maintenance. ‌

Working principle
The main working principle of vacuum circuit breakers is to cut off the current by removing the arc energy from the circuit breaker contacts. When the contacts of the circuit breaker are opened in a vacuum, an arc is generated, but due to the high insulation strength of the vacuum, the arc is easily extinguished. The ions, metal vapors and electrons in the arc can quickly condense above the contact surface area, thereby increasing the strength of the dielectric.

Application
Vacuum circuit breakers are widely used in indoor power distribution devices in 3 to 10kV, 50Hz three-phase AC systems. They are particularly suitable for industrial and mining enterprises, power plants and substations as protection and control of electrical equipment. Due to their oil-free and low maintenance characteristics, vacuum circuit breakers perform well in places where frequent operation is required.

Advantages
‌Small size and light weight‌: easy to install and maintain.
‌Suitable for frequent operation‌: no frequent maintenance is required, reducing maintenance costs.
‌Oil-free design‌: avoids safety hazards such as oil leakage or fire.

Structural composition
The important components of vacuum circuit breakers include pull rods, flexible connections, terminals, vacuum indicators, operating rods, locking cams, circuit breaker springs, main connections, load springs and support insulators.

RUM (Ring Main Unit) is a switchgear used in secondary power distribution systems, mainly used between distribution substations and end consumers to ensure continuous power supply and isolate the faulty part from the network. The basic components of the ring main unit include circuit breakers, load break switches, fuses, grounding switches, busbars and metering units, etc. These components work together to achieve functions such as circuit control, isolation and protection.

Main functions
‌Circuit control‌: The ring main unit is used to switch the circuit from one feeder to another in the circulating network.
‌Isolation‌: Separate the faulty part from the rest of the circuit to ensure the stable operation of the system.
‌Protection‌: Provide overload, short circuit or ground fault current protection through circuit breakers, fuses and other devices.

Application
Ring main units are widely used in urban and industrial areas, especially in places where continuous power supply is required. It is often used in distribution stations and box-type substations in load centers such as urban residential areas, high-rise buildings, large public buildings, factories and enterprises. The ring main unit has a simple structure, small size and low price, which can improve power supply parameters and performance and ensure power supply safety.

Types and characteristics
According to the insulating medium used, the ring main unit can be divided into the following types:
1. Air insulated ring main unit: simple structure, easy maintenance, suitable for residential areas, small factories and commercial buildings.
2. Gas insulated ring main unit: small size, light weight, suitable for occasions requiring high reliability and compact design.
3. Gas insulated cabinet: gas insulation is used, the size is greatly reduced, it is not affected by the environment, and is often used in the main distribution system.

AIS(Air Insulated Switchgear) is a traditional open-type electrical equipment. The busbar of AIS equipment is directly exposed to the air, relying on air and insulators to isolate the live parts from the ground and the insulation between phases.

Main components
‌Circuit breaker‌: used to cut off or connect the circuit.
‌Voltage transformer‌: used to measure voltage.
‌Current transformer‌: used to measure current.
‌Isolating switch‌: used to isolate the power supply.
‌Lightning arrester‌: protect the equipment from lightning strikes.
‌Ice melting switch‌: selected according to the local ice cover conditions, used to prevent the equipment from freezing‌.

‌Advantages‌:
1. ‌Low price‌: Compared with GIS equipment, the initial investment cost of AIS equipment is lower.
2. ‌Easy maintenance‌: On-site maintenance is relatively easy, and subsequent expansion intervals are convenient.
3. ‌Clear layout‌: The equipment layout is clear, which is convenient for daily maintenance and overhaul‌.

‌Disadvantages‌:
1.‌Low safety‌: Multiple live parts of the equipment are exposed to the outside, which is less safe.
2.‌Large maintenance workload‌: More maintenance work is required.
3.‌Long construction period‌: The construction period is long, the area occupied is large, and it is easily affected by weather factors‌.


Application 
AIS equipment is widely used in scenarios such as new energy power generation projects and power grid substations. In new energy power generation projects, due to the small number of inlet and outlet line intervals, the price advantage of AIS equipment is not obvious, but in power grid substations, due to the large number of inlet and outlet line intervals, the price advantage of AIS equipment is more obvious, so it is widely used. 

GIS (Gas Insulated Switchgear) is a gas-insulated fully enclosed switchgear, which usually uses SF6 gas as the insulating medium and integrates high-voltage components such as circuit breakers, disconnectors, grounding switches, busbars, current transformers, voltage transformers, and lightning arresters.

Main functions
The main function of GIS equipment is to serve as a primary device in a substation to control and manage the current and voltage of the power system. It is enclosed in a metal grounded shell and filled with SF6 gas at a certain pressure to ensure the insulation and arc extinguishing ability of the equipment.

Advantages
GIS equipment has the following advantages:

1.‌Small footprint‌: Due to the excellent insulation properties of SF6 gas, GIS equipment can greatly reduce the size of the substation.
2.‌High reliability‌: The live parts are sealed in inert SF6 gas, which improves the reliability of the substation.
3.‌Good safety‌: The live parts are enclosed in a grounded metal shell, reducing the impact of the external environment on the equipment.
4.‌Low maintenance workload‌: The fully enclosed structure reduces the impact of the external environment, has a long maintenance cycle, and has low maintenance workload.


Disadvantages
Although GIS equipment has many advantages, it also has some disadvantages:

1.‌Complex single maintenance‌: Due to the fully enclosed structure, once a fault occurs, the maintenance work is relatively complicated.
2.‌Lack of detection means‌: Currently, the detection means of GIS equipment are relatively poor, which increases the difficulty of maintenance.
3.‌Environmental erosion problem‌: If the enclosed structure is eroded and damaged by the external environment, it may cause water ingress, air leakage and other problems.