Preventative Maintenance with
Infrared Thermography
Infrared is the best diagnostic tool available for finding hot connections in the early stages of deterioration. Performing regular infrared inspections is the key to running an efficient and safe operation. The scans should also be combined with timely, effective repairs.
If you are installing, upgrading or maintaining your commercial power system, feel free to give us a call and set up an electrical infrared scan of your site.
If you are installing, upgrading or maintaining your commercial power system, feel free to give us a call and set up an electrical infrared scan of your site.
Benefits of infrared inspections
- Reduce unscheduled down time
- Increase equipment life and performance
- No service interruption during inspection
- Lower risks
- Lower repair costs
- Prevent catastrophic failures
- Lower insurance premiums due to reduced losses
- Saves money
Detectable conditions
- Loose/deteriorated connections
- Overloaded circuits
- Unbalanced loads
- Defective breakers
- Damaged switchgear
- Faulty fuses
- Defective equipment
Preventative Maintenance
Arc Flash
Arc flash risk assessments are a critical part of the electrical pre-work being performed by Kevco Electrical on every job every day. The assessment will determine the likelihood of creating an arc, the arc flash boundary, the available incident energy at the working distance, and the PPE required for all portions of the workers body within that boundary. Each electrical apparatus and electrical equipment shall have an Arc Flash label installed on the front cover identifying Arc Flash requirements are defined in various standards and regulations set forth by NFPA 70e, OSHA, and other groups committed to electrical safety and safeguarding employees.
We are asking all of our customers to help us comply with these requirements by having these Arc Flash labels install on all of their electrical equipment. Kevco Electrical has the engineering and expertise in furnishing and installing these Arc Flash labels.
We are asking all of our customers to help us comply with these requirements by having these Arc Flash labels install on all of their electrical equipment. Kevco Electrical has the engineering and expertise in furnishing and installing these Arc Flash labels.
According to NFPA 70E, there are 7 main steps that need to be taken on a study like this:
1. Acquire As-Built documentation
As-builts, One Line Diagram
2. Field verify
Equipment covers need to come off so we can visually inspect and acquire PD (protective device) manufacturer/types/sizes/settings, cable type/lengths, transformer impedance values, and KVA sizes.
3. Load information
4. Run a short circuit study
We review the 3 phase and single line to ground fault currents against the protective device “duty rating” to ensure the device can clear the fault. If the available fault current is less than the duty rating of the device, the device will do what it is intended and manufactured to do (clear it).
5. Perform a coordination study
In a properly coordinated system, the nearest protective device upstream of the fault will clear the fault without affecting protective devices further upstream. This will limit the impact of a fault on the overall electrical distribution only to where the fault is located.
6. Evaluate ARC flash
Provide recommendations to lower the incident energy levels including maximizing coordination.
7. Evaluate the system
Generating and applying the Arc, Flash labels, Training of the electrical staff, PPE requirements
Source: https://www.hallam-ics.com/blog/the-7-steps-to-complete-an-arc-flash-analysis
1. Acquire As-Built documentation
As-builts, One Line Diagram
2. Field verify
Equipment covers need to come off so we can visually inspect and acquire PD (protective device) manufacturer/types/sizes/settings, cable type/lengths, transformer impedance values, and KVA sizes.
3. Load information
4. Run a short circuit study
We review the 3 phase and single line to ground fault currents against the protective device “duty rating” to ensure the device can clear the fault. If the available fault current is less than the duty rating of the device, the device will do what it is intended and manufactured to do (clear it).
5. Perform a coordination study
In a properly coordinated system, the nearest protective device upstream of the fault will clear the fault without affecting protective devices further upstream. This will limit the impact of a fault on the overall electrical distribution only to where the fault is located.
6. Evaluate ARC flash
Provide recommendations to lower the incident energy levels including maximizing coordination.
7. Evaluate the system
Generating and applying the Arc, Flash labels, Training of the electrical staff, PPE requirements
Source: https://www.hallam-ics.com/blog/the-7-steps-to-complete-an-arc-flash-analysis
Short Circuit Analysis and
Breaker Coordination
In a properly coordinated system, the nearest protective device upstream of the fault will clear the fault without affecting protective devices further upstream. This will limit the impact of a fault on the overall electrical distribution only to where the fault is located.
In order to be assured that all over current protection devices are coordinated, it is necessary to look at the time vs. current characteristics of each device and compare it to the characteristics of any upstream devices.
In order to be assured that all over current protection devices are coordinated, it is necessary to look at the time vs. current characteristics of each device and compare it to the characteristics of any upstream devices.
Poor coordination
Ideally, where a fault occurs the localized protective device should clear the fault, otherwise, the fault travels back through the system and may trip the building main service device, thus losing power to the entire facility.
Improved coordination
By making adjustments to the settings of those protective devices that cross over on the time current curve, we are able to clean up the coordination issues. The fault clears at the fault location. Adjustments that we typically make on a protective device (i.e. circuit breaker with these options) include long time delay, short time pickup, short time delay, and instantaneous.
Updated panel schedules
Circuit Mapping/Coordination
Where does your circuit breaker go in your office? Believe it or not, you probably can’t tell even after you open the breaker panel door. Most panel schedules are either non-existent or out of date and impossible to read.
Your electrical breaker panel schedules are one of your buildings most important pieces of equipment. Without them, you have absolutely no idea where each individual circuit breaker goes. Good luck next time you reset one and you find out poorly marked yours really are. When you hear the scream from the next office you know you hit the wrong one!
It is important to take care of your electrical breakers annually or bi-annually, update your panel schedules to ensure a smooth running building. Schedule routine maintenance like IR (infrared) scans to make sure that there is no overheating, check to make sure the panels are clean, dry, no holes that critters can crawl into, bi-annual regular breaker torquing to keep them running properly. Take care of your breaker panels and they will keep you powered up!
Ensure that your electrical infrastructure is organized and working as efficiently as possible. Contract needed to make site visit to provide quote.
Your electrical breaker panel schedules are one of your buildings most important pieces of equipment. Without them, you have absolutely no idea where each individual circuit breaker goes. Good luck next time you reset one and you find out poorly marked yours really are. When you hear the scream from the next office you know you hit the wrong one!
It is important to take care of your electrical breakers annually or bi-annually, update your panel schedules to ensure a smooth running building. Schedule routine maintenance like IR (infrared) scans to make sure that there is no overheating, check to make sure the panels are clean, dry, no holes that critters can crawl into, bi-annual regular breaker torquing to keep them running properly. Take care of your breaker panels and they will keep you powered up!
Ensure that your electrical infrastructure is organized and working as efficiently as possible. Contract needed to make site visit to provide quote.
Where does your circuit breaker go in your building?
Our new Tasco CMT42DS 42 Remote Circuit Tracer Mapper is a unique and game changing tester and wire tracer, which enables us to trace multiple circuits and their branches at the same time. This circuit tracer mapper system greatly reduces man-hours spent when locating branch connections of electrical circuits.
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