Hoyle Pond Mine, Timmins, Ontario – Breaker Repair and Retrofits

Project Summary

Our team carried out a full assessment, retrofit, and commissioning of a medium-voltage circuit breaker. The project involved replacing a damaged breaker with a new Schneider VAA Type unit, ensuring mechanical and electrical compatibility, and performing extensive testing to restore reliable operation. The scope of work included:

• Initial Fault and Damage Assessment
• Design and Compatibility Verification
  • Critical dimensions and technical specifications were confirmed to ensure the new breaker would fit and function correctly within the existing switchgear.
• Custom Jig and Retrofit Preparation
  • A switchgear jig was fabricated using the old breaker to align the new components accurately. Damaged parts were removed, and reusable components were salvaged.
• Fabrication and Assembly
  • New bus bars and finger clusters were custom-manufactured and tin-plated. All necessary hardware was replaced, and the new breaker was mounted to the refurbished truck.
• Mechanical and Electrical Integration
  • Mechanical interlocks were remanufactured and tested. Control wiring was adapted and verified for compatibility with the new breaker.
• Comprehensive Testing
  • The new breaker underwent extensive testing, including:
    • Contact resistance and insulation resistance tests.
    • Heat run at 80% load with infrared scanning.
    • Mechanical and electrical function checks.
    • Hi-pot testing at 27kVAC.
    • Grounding and signaling verification.