A system includes memory that stores pre-determined high voltage circuit breaker contact travel distance information and a processor that estimates a travel curve for at least one of a closed, an open or a combination of closed and open operations for the contacts based on both one or more travel distances of the stored travel distance information and one or more time values corresponding to state transitions of switches between closed and open states, wherein the switches are affixed to the contacts so as to transition between closed and open states as the contacts move between closed and open positions.