Method for reconditioning of vacuum interrupters

A method of reconditioning a vacuum interrupter comprising:

• forming first and second holes in an endcap of a vacuum envelope of the vacuum interrupter;
• cleaning components of the vacuum interrupter inside the vacuum envelope by introducing at least one cleaning solution into an interior of the vacuum envelope through the first hole in the endcap and receiving outflow of the at least one cleaning solution through the second hole in the endcap;
• electropolishing an interior surface of the vacuum envelope in such fashion so as to not damage a fixed contact and a moving contact carried within the vacuum envelope, using a first electropolishing solution;
• electropolishing the fixed contact and the moving contact, using a second electropolishing solution different than the first electropolishing solution;
• installing a first plug in the first hole and a second plug in the second hole, wherein the first plug has getter material on a surface thereof facing the interior of the vacuum envelope and wherein the second plug has getter material on a surface thereof facing the interior of the vacuum envelope;
• and
• vacuum brazing the first plug to the first hole and vacuum braze the second plug to the second hole such that a vacuum is re-established in the interior of the vacuum envelope.

A method of reconditioning a vacuum interrupter comprising:

• determining whether the vacuum interrupter is suitable for reconditioning;
• where the vacuum interrupter is suitable for reconditioning:
• applying a magnetic field to the vacuum interrupter with a moving contact of the vacuum interrupter moved away from a fixed contact of the vacuum interrupter to break electrical contact;
• and
• applying a voltage to the vacuum interrupter to reduce pressure inside the vacuum interrupter.