Design and implementation of the optimal magnetron test for a low voltage small diameter vacuum interrupter with a fixed shield

Vacuum interrupters are increasingly being used for applications outside the field of traditional medium voltage circuit breakers. One of these applications is low voltage distribution systems. Vacuum interrupters used in low voltage are intrinsically more compact and tend to have a fixed shield, a smaller contact gap and a simpler design, among other characteristics. In order to guarantee their quality in manufacturing, the magnetron test is used to assure a good vacuum level. This paper analyses the design and implementation of a magnetron test in low voltage vacuum interrupters, evaluating different parameters to find the most convenient ones to make an effective test that can then be implemented in serial production. These parameters will be compared with various vacuum interrupters having floating shields in different sizes.