What does MCD mean in CONTACT

MCD stands for Maximum Contact Drop, and describes the maximum voltage a contact may sustain without causing an arcing fault.

The MCD measures how much a contact can be depressed, or dropped, to maintain safety from arcing currents. As such, it is important to properly test contacts prior to use in order to ensure they are functioning at the correct level of safety.

MCD is typically measured using a spark tester that applies voltage to contacts until a breakdown occurs. Once the contact has broken down, the resulting current flow through the gap created by the depression in contacts provides information about its functionality within electrical products and systems.

Higher MCD levels indicate better quality contacts which can withstand higher voltages before breaking down. These higher quality contacts are preferable when used in circuits with high energy demands as they are less prone to cause safety issues due to their increased ability to control voltage and current flows effectively.

Yes, because MCD requires electricity to test properly, there are certain risks involved and specialized equipment may be needed depending on circumstances. Additionally, if tested too frequently this could reduce the life of any product due to accelerated wear on components over time due to increased testing cycles.