Triggered Vacuum Switch Testing For Millisec Pulses

Triggered vacuum switches, produced in the USSR, have been tested in San Diego on a 250 kJ capacitor discharge circuit. Parallel operation at voltages from 40 V to 11 kV was demonstrated with total currents up to 130 kA. Also single switches were tested at currents up to 130 kA. The switching delay at 1 kV of operating voltage was less than 500 nanosec.