Multichannel spectroscopic measurement system and its application to measurement of the temperature in breaking are of electrical contact

In order to measure the temperature of a breaking are, the authors developed a multichannel spectroscopic measuring system (MSMS) in combination with a multichannel spectrometer and a CCD linear image sensor, then used it to confirm the thermal equilibrium of a breaking are and to measure are temperatures between Cu, Ag, and Pd contacts in de 50 V/2.5-5.0 A circuits using the relative intensities of many spectra. It was found that Cu and Ag are temperatures were high in the middle period of a breaking are but low in the latter period. The interrupt current and Ag are temperature were correspondingly higher in the middle period of the breaking are, but the differences in the are temperatures were small at extinguishment. The Pd are temperature was higher than the Cu or Ag are temperature. (C) 1997 Scripta Technica, Inc.