The Aging of the Power Contacts Caused by Switching Current

This paper presents methodology of research and presentation of the selected measurements' results of electrical power contacts aging on multiple high current switching which were carried out by the authors. The research was carried out for composite materials used in low voltage circuit breakers. The research covered arc erosion, change of contact resistance as well as analysis of contact surface degradation in a model condition with a testing current range: 1-16 kA.