Single Contact Arm for MV Switchgear

Single contact arm, individual arm sold one at a time, for MV breaker mechanisms that use one arm per phase or for replacement orders where only one side needs to be swapped. Most compact 12 kV VCBs use a single-arm design; many refurbishment scenarios need only one replacement even on dual-arm breakers.

For matched-pair orders (two arms from same lot, coordinated geometry), see Contact Arm Pair. For category overview, see Contact Arms.

Specifications

Property	Value
Configuration	Individual arm (one piece)
Material	ETP copper C11000 (default); aluminum or bimetal on request
Form	Machined contact arm (length, cross-section, bends per drawing)
Tolerance	Per drawing
Surface Treatment	Silver-plated contact zones; bright-machined elsewhere
Contact Face	Bare, silver-plated, or pre-brazed CuW tip
Conductivity	100% IACS (C11000); 40–43% IACS (aluminum)
Working Voltage	Common MV ratings: 12 / 24 / 40.5 kV
Working Current	Sized per breaker design rated current

Exact certified properties for your lot are available with material documentation on request.

Applications

• Single-arm VCB designs at 12 / 24 / 40.5 kV (compact breakers, distribution-class)
• Replacement orders where only one side of a dual-arm breaker needs replacement
• Sub-supply to VCB OEMs assembling single-arm contact systems
• Refurbishment programs working with installed single-arm breaker fleets

Technical Notes

A single-arm VCB mechanism puts all current through one path on the moving side. This simplifies the operating mechanism (one arm, one CuW tip, one current path), reduces parts count, and works well at 12 kV distribution-class currents. As current ratings increase, the arm cross-section grows and at some point splitting to a dual-arm design becomes more practical. That's where Contact Arm Pair takes over.

For refurbishment where only one arm needs replacement, ordering single is correct. If the breaker design is dual-arm and both sides are at end-of-life, ordering the matched pair gives better consistency.

Sourcing & OEM

Custom single contact arms to your drawing are routine. Specify material, geometry, plating, and any pre-brazed CuW tip; contact us for a project-specific quote.