SWITCHGEAR HAVING A MOUNTING BASE WITH AN INTERNAL ARC PATHWAY

A mounting base or a riser base for a switchgear is provided with side interior openings to provide an internal arc pathway through which arc gasses or plasma are safely discharged to an outside air. The mounting base includes a front wall having a first end and a second end, a rear wall having a first end and a second end, a first side channel connecting the first end of the front wall to the first end of the rear wall, a second side channel connecting the second end of the front wall to the second end of the rear wall, and forming the mounting base having a central open area in a first section of a switchgear that is adjacent a second section of the switchgear. The mounting base further includes at least one opening in the first side channel for the passage of an arc from the first section of the switchgear to the second section of the switchgear, and thereby forming the mounting base with the internal arc pathway.