Electronic – this high power switch symbol

mainspower electronics

I am a medical physicist, and I program software for MRI scanners as well as develop electronic devices that interact with them. Because of the way MRI works, it is necessary to use very large power amplifiers (~300 kVA) to drive large currents through low resistance coils of wire, producing a precisely controlled magnetic field that varies linearly in space (and is in addition to that produced by the main, static magnetic field). These devices are called "gradient sets", and there are three of them, each with an associated power amplifier. The load is almost entirely reactive.

I recently had cause to look at the wiring of one of these amplifiers into the wall. Its isolator is a large three phase supply mechanical switch, a photo of part of which is below. There are two electrical symbols on the box for a switch — one with a square on it and a 160 A rating, and one without.

What do these symbols mean? Not being an electrical engineer, I've never seen them before, and some quick googling hasn't shown anything up. Is one stating that there is a 160 A RMS fuse present (at three phase 415 V), but that the instantaneous current might be up to 315 A?

Best Answer

The symbols imply Fuse switch disconnector and switch disconnector as shown in figure.

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OptoIsolator Circuit

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When LED turns on ,  collector and emitter are short circuited

You can also use high power MOSFETS for isolation as no current will drawn from the controller due to very high input gate impedance, but this option depends how much current is drawn by the load through the Drain and Source terminals of mosfet .You can operate to maximum of 30A as suggested by Id vs Vds Graph in this link HERE but datasheet should be referenced for specific products

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