doublebreak

Doublebreak is a term used in electrical engineering to describe a type of contact arrangement in switches, relays, and circuit breakers in which the circuit is opened at two separate breaking points rather than a single point. In a double-break contact, the moving contact separates from two fixed contacts that are positioned with a deliberate gap. As the contact opens, current is interrupted at two locations, increasing the effective separation and aiding arc extinction and isolation.

This arrangement can reduce wear on individual contacts and improve opening performance, particularly for higher currents or more demanding switching conditions. It can be implemented in both low-voltage and medium-voltage equipment. Double-break designs are typically chosen to enhance arc control and reliability when rapid interruption is required or when greater isolation between circuits is desired.

Double-break terminology is often contrasted with single-break arrangements, where the moving contact interrupts only one fixed contact. Other related concepts in switching technology include break-before-make and make-before-break, which describe the temporal relationship of opening and closing contacts in rapid-switching devices. The term can vary by manufacturer and regional practice, and different devices may employ hybrid or mixed contact configurations.

Common applications include contactors, protective switches, and circuit breakers in industrial power distribution and control systems. The choice between single-break and double-break depends on current levels, desired isolation, mechanical complexity, and arc-management requirements.