When does a 24 kV switchgear line-up stop being enough, and when do you need 36 kV? It comes down to the service voltage of your network, and in Colombia 34.5 kV circuits are common in solar farms and regional grids. That is where the CGM3 36 kV switchgear from Ormazabal (written CGM.3 in its catalog) comes in: modular, medium-voltage and SF6-insulated. This guide covers when you need it, which functions it offers (L, P and V with RAV reclosing) and what to verify before you specify it.

What the Ormazabal CGM3 36 kV switchgear is

The CGM3 36 kV switchgear is a modular, compact medium-voltage (MV) system for secondary distribution. According to Ormazabal's catalog, the switching and connection elements and the busbar sit inside a sealed stainless steel tank insulated with SF6 gas. That integral insulation makes it insensitive to humidity and dust; the catalog cites an immersion test at 3 meters of water column for 24 hours.

It complies with IEC 62271-200 (metal-enclosed switchgear above 1 kV and up to 52 kV). It is the bigger sibling of the 24 kV CGMcosmos, which we covered in our article on the CGMcosmos 24 kV switchgear, and it fits into our guide to Ormazabal medium-voltage switchgear (in Spanish).

When you need CGM3 36 kV switchgear instead of 24 kV

You need it when the service voltage of your network is above 24 kV, as in 34.5 kV circuits. A 24 kV unit has a rated voltage below that of the network; the CGM3 36 kV switchgear, rated at 36 kV, does cover that class.

In Colombia, the Colombian electrical code (RETIE) defines medium voltage as the range from 1 kV to 57.5 kV. Under CREG Resolution 097 of 2008, level 2 runs from 1 kV to below 30 kV (such as 11.4 and 13.2 kV networks) and level 3 from 30 kV to below 57.5 kV, which is where 34.5 kV sits. The connection level is assigned by the grid operator. The Bosques Solares de Bolívar complex (100 MW), for example, exports its power through a line of five 34.5 kV circuits over 9 km, according to Energías Renovables (July 2024).

L, P and V functions: what each module does

The CGM3 36 kV switchgear is assembled from single-function or compact modules. The most common functions:

The L function receives or delivers the line and sectionalizes the network. The P function protects the transformer with current-limiting fuses. The V function uses a vacuum circuit breaker, able to operate even under fault conditions, controlled by a protection and control unit from the ekorSYS family.

The RAV mechanism is the spring-operated mechanism of the circuit breaker with reclosing. The catalog classifies it as M2 (IEC 62271-100) and declares fast reclosing sequences such as O-0.3 s-CO-15 s-CO. Its value is that it recloses automatically after a transient fault, without waiting for a manual operation.

Why modular: CGM3 36 kV switchgear and ORMALINK

Modular means that each function is a module and the modules are joined with the ORMALINK assembly, patented by Ormazabal in 1991. Extensible units have lateral sockets that connect the busbars, and the catalog states extensibility on both sides.

The practical benefit shows up at commissioning and during later expansions. Because each function keeps the same sealed tank design and the same interface, the engineering team can standardize drawings, spare parts and operator training around one platform. For a developer with several 34.5 kV collection points, standardizing on CGM3 36 kV switchgear also simplifies tender comparisons, since every offer can be checked against the same rated voltage, busbar current and function list.

Picture a solar farm built in phases: today you install two lines and one transformer protection; tomorrow you add a V function with reclosing for a new circuit, without replacing what is already there. With modular CGM3 36 kV switchgear you reduce the risk of over-specifying or under-specifying.

Specification lesson. Before ordering CGM3 36 kV switchgear, define the service voltage (34.5 kV implies the 36 kV class), the busbar current (400 or 630 A), the short-circuit rating (16, 20 or 25 kA depending on the version, according to the switchgear datasheet; the 20 kA tests were run at 21 kA; confirm on the nameplate) and which positions need reclosing.

Operating safety and the SF6 debate

The switchgear is designed and tested against internal arc according to Annex A of IEC 62271-200. It comes with interlocks as standard (they prevent closing the switch-disconnector and the earthing switch at the same time) and adds the ekorVPIS voltage indicator, the ekorSAS audible alarm and padlocks. One nuance: in the older edition of the catalog, the V function with RAV mechanism is listed with a tank arc test and not with the IAC AFL class of the other functions; confirm that classification in the current datasheet.

On the environmental side, SF6 is a very potent greenhouse gas. In the European Union, Regulation 2024/573 bans putting into service new MV switchgear with SF6 up to 24 kV from 2026 and, from 1 January 2030, units above 24 kV and up to 52 kV, according to ESB Networks. It is a European rule, not a Colombian one, but it signals the direction of the market: document the insulation type in your specification and require responsible gas handling at end of life.

CGM3 36 kV switchgear applications and how Ectricol integrates it

For the CGM.3, Ormazabal cites transformation and distribution substations, industrial facilities, cogeneration, wind farms and photovoltaic farms. If your utilities and renewable energy, mining or Oil & Gas project connects at level 3 (34.5 kV), CGM3 36 kV switchgear is a route for the secondary switchgear.

Every installation in Colombia must comply with RETIE, which was updated by Resolution 40284 of 2026 of the Ministry of Mines and Energy (published on 1 July 2026). Industrias Ectricol integrates the solution from Funza, Cundinamarca. See the CGM.3 switchgear datasheet.

Frequently asked questions

What voltage does the CGM3 36 kV switchgear reach?

Its rated voltage is 36 kV (IEC class). The current catalog also includes versions up to 40.5 kV; for 34.5 kV networks, the 36 kV version is the reference.

Can I use 24 kV switchgear on a 34.5 kV network?

No. The rated voltage must be equal to or higher than the service voltage of the network: for 34.5 kV you need CGM3 36 kV switchgear or an equivalent 36 kV class unit.

What is the RAV reclosing mechanism of the CGM.3?

It is the spring-operated mechanism of the circuit breaker with reclosing (class M2, IEC 62271-100). It allows the breaker to reclose after a transient fault on a line.

Does the CGM3 36 kV switchgear require maintenance?

According to Ormazabal, the SF6 tank is sealed and the live parts need no maintenance. Mechanisms, interlocks and connections should still be inspected according to the operator's plan.

Is it available for immediate delivery?

Ectricol handles Ormazabal CGM3 36 kV switchgear with availability for immediate delivery in Colombia. Ask about stock for the function you need.

A plus for your schedule: we have Ormazabal CGM.3 36 kV switchgear available for immediate delivery in Colombia, which avoids the long lead times of an import. Ask us about your function and configuration, and we will help you match the CGM3 36 kV switchgear to your single-line diagram.