The　arc　generated　during　the　breaking　of　DC　switchgear　is　the　key　to　determine　its　breaking　performance　and　electrical　life.　Because　there　is　no　natural　zero　crossing,　it　is　difficult　to　extinguish　the　DC　arc.　Considering　the　influence　of　transverse　magnetic　field　and　contact　breaking　speed　on　DC　arc,　the　self-designed　contact　simulation　test　device　based　on　eddy　current　repulsion　mechanism　is　used　to　carry　out　breaking　test　under　resistive　load.　The　arc　waveform　is　collected　by　data　acquisition　system　and　processed　to　obtain　arc　duration　and　arc　energy.　At　the　same　time,　the　arc　image　is　collected　by　high-speed　camera　and　processed　to　obtain　the　arc　area.　The　effects　of　magnetic　field　strength　and　breaking　speed　on　arc　duration,　arc　energy　and　arc　area　are　studied.　The　results　show　that　with　the　increase　of　magnetic　field　strength　and　breaking　speed,　the　arcing　duration　and　arc　energy　show　a　power　function　downward　trend.　When　the　magnetic　field　is　large,　the　arc　area　does　not　appear　a　relatively　stable　stage,　and　its　growth　rate　increases　with　the　increase　of　breaking　speed.　Adopting　appropriate　transverse　magnetic　field　and　breaking　speed　can　greatly　reduce　arc　duration　and　arc　energy,　reduce　contact　erosion　and　prolong　service　life　of　electrical　appliances.　©　2022,　The　Author(s),　under　exclusive　license　to　Springer　Nature　Singapore　Pte　Ltd.