A three-phase electromechanical switching device, comprising: three single-phase switching devices (82; 84) mechanically and electrically coupled in parallel with one another, wherein each of the single-phase switching devices comprises: a direct current electromagnetic operator configured to receive a direct current control signal from control circuitry, wherein the direct current control signal instructs the single phase switching device to open or close a single current carrying path in the single phase switching device at a desired time, wherein each single current carrying path comprises a single line-side conductor, a single load-side conductor, stationary contacts, movable contacts, and a movable conductor; a device housing (90, 92) for housing the stationary contacts; a movable assembly coupled to the movable conductor and configured to be displaced by energizing or de-energizing the electromagnetic operator, wherein the movable assembly comprises the movable contacts configured to, with the stationary contacts, open and close the single current carrying path; a plurality of splitter plates coupled to the device housing and adjacent to the movable contacts, wherein the plurality of splitter plates is configured to cool hot gas and plasma produced during operation of the device and to break an arc generated during operation of the device into smaller arcs, and wherein the housing comprises an interior surface having venting channels adjacent to the splitter plates configured to facilitate channeling the hot gas and plasma, wherein each of the plurality of splitter plates comprises a recess configured to channel the hot gas and plasma between the splitter plate and the interior surface; and turnbacks on each of the conductors, to at least partially span a contact pad of the corresponding conductor and being fitted adjacent to the plurality of splitter and the hot gas and plasma is routed upwardly through passageways and the splitter plates and then downwardly through grooves in the housing. a direct current electromagnetic operator configured to receive a direct current control signal from control circuitry, wherein the direct current control signal instructs the single phase switching device to open or close a single current carrying path in the single phase switching device at a desired time, wherein each single current carrying path comprises a single line-side conductor, a single load-side conductor, stationary contacts, movable contacts, and a movable conductor; a device housing (90, 92) for housing the stationary contacts; a movable assembly coupled to the movable conductor and configured to be displaced by energizing or de-energizing the electromagnetic operator, wherein the movable assembly comprises the movable contacts configured to, with the stationary contacts, open and close the single current carrying path; a plurality of splitter plates coupled to the device housing and adjacent to the movable contacts, wherein the plurality of splitter plates is configured to cool hot gas and plasma produced during operation of the device and to break an arc generated during operation of the device into smaller arcs, and wherein the housing comprises an interior surface having venting channels adjacent to the splitter plates configured to facilitate channeling the hot gas and plasma, wherein each of the plurality of splitter plates comprises a recess configured to channel the hot gas and plasma between the splitter plate and the interior surface; and turnbacks on each of the conductors, to at least partially span a contact pad of the corresponding conductor and being fitted adjacent to the plurality of splitter and the hot gas and plasma is routed upwardly through passageways and the splitter plates and then downwardly through grooves in the housing.