New panel board required?

atm84 · Jun 10, 2014

So I went to look at a job today in an engineering workshop. They are stripping out the existing machinery and having a reshuffle.

The bus bars are being altered to suit the new arrangement.

The bus bars are fed from a 6 way panel board which was installed in the 1960's.

Would you suggest upgrading the panel board as isolators for it are now obsolete and so old? Ill post some pictures in a bit.

I'm thinking that the existing isolators won't meet current disconnection times etc but don't have any info on it other than the photos.

Many thanks

atm84 · Jun 11, 2014

Tony said:
The worrying thing is an engineering company has asked a novice to carry out specialist work.

atm84 said:

It isolates the circuit does it not?

Click to expand...

Is not the answer I’d expect from a switchgear engineer.

I’ve asked what type of gear it is, I’m still waiting for an answer. You will not get “Oh it’s old, get rid of it” from me or most of the experienced guys on here.

Yeah it's worrying isn't it. Good job I have a senior engineer above me too assist. Thought I may have got some advice off here. A few ppl get their teeth into a thread and the OP goes out the window as everyone fights to get the last word in and prove their worth.

Guest77 · Jun 11, 2014

Looks like JRC is still trying to find the fault on that outside cable he had a wet leaf wrapped around, someone needs to tell him it is only buried 6" deep lol

Darkwood · Jun 11, 2014

atm84 said:
Yeah it's worrying isn't it. Good job I have a senior engineer above me too assist. Thought I may have got some advice off here. A few ppl get their teeth into a thread and the OP goes out the window as everyone fights to get the last word in and prove their worth.

Its what happens when you open a thread reply a few times then dissapear for 8 hours at a time... yes I expect your working like the rest of us but its just in-house banter the best way to learn is to pit your knowledge to each other while we patiently wait... I do query if you have an Engineer above you and he's most likely over-viewing you work, why ask on here if he has on-site knowledge of your task in hand clearly the best person to ask, where-as we have to kinda of guess your set-up ?

GMES · Jun 11, 2014

I have to agree with Darkwood on this, unless i have missed it, have you even told us what Make the panel board is, even if it is old, it doesn't make it wrong!. have you done any calc's or test to ascertain whether it is still fit for purpose.
If you can prove without doubt that the old board is unsafe in anyway, then crack on and swap it, but you have to justify it.

Darkwood · Jun 11, 2014

As Tony earlier implied .. old panel boards and switchgear was built to last and I personally would happily leave the old in in favour of putting in new if the only reason is because its dated.... You can still get all the parts and gear for most of the recognised systems out there even if its 50+ years old... thats how reliable they still are.

atm84 · Jun 11, 2014

darkwood said:
atm84 said:

Yeah it's worrying isn't it. Good job I have a senior engineer above me too assist. Thought I may have got some advice off here. A few ppl get their teeth into a thread and the OP goes out the window as everyone fights to get the last word in and prove their worth.

Click to expand...

Its what happens when you open a thread reply a few times then dissapear for 8 hours at a time... yes I expect your working like the rest of us but its just in-house banter the best way to learn is to pit your knowledge to each other while we patiently wait... I do query if you have an Engineer above you and he's most likely over-viewing you work, why ask on here if he has on-site knowledge of your task in hand clearly the best person to ask, where-as we have to kinda of guess your set-up ?

Why not ask on here? The. more the merrier I say. So are you calling me a lier then?

Guest77 · Jun 11, 2014

atm84 said:
Why not ask on here? The. more the merrier I say. So are you calling me a lier then?

or a liar even PMSL

Knobhead · Jun 11, 2014

I'll ask the question again. What make and type is the gear?

GMES · Jun 11, 2014

[ElectriciansForums.net] New panel board required?

atm84 said:
Why not ask on here? The. more the merrier I say. So are you calling me a lier then?

Whatever makes you think that !

Darkwood · Jun 11, 2014

atm84 said:
Why not ask on here? The. more the merrier I say. So are you calling me a lier then?

I merely expressed as you posted you are under the wing of an experienced Engineer that because he is familiar with your jobs and possible the one in question that he would be the best person to ask as oppose to asking on here... At no point did I call you a liar or give the impression I was suggesting you were.

Although your overly defensive response does now make me wonder whereas before it didn't cross my mind ... but that's only because of your sharp reaction and accusationel response...... Keep it calm please lets not get into a childish slanging match

GMES · Jun 11, 2014

Tony said:
I'll ask the question again. What make and type is the gear?

Tony I have tried asking , You may be wasting your time.

Knobhead · Jun 11, 2014

MDJ said:
Looks like JRC is still trying to find the fault on that outside cable he had a wet leaf wrapped around, someone needs to tell him it is only buried 6" deep lol

I lifted the picture from an Australian documentary. Is that deep enough?

High Tower · Jun 11, 2014

Who needs calcs to ascertain if it's fit for purpose?? Shall we keep it simple ?

Visual inspection time.......

Is the ip rating intact
Is the condition of the panel satisfactory
Are all the exposed conductive parts enclosed
Is there any corrosion
Is there a suitable number of ways for the new configuration
Is it a weird obscure make
Is the incomer sized accordingly for the new load and if not will it accept a larger case
Are all the doors present

It's fairly basic stuff really mate.

I'm tearing out a square d panel in the near future, a nice one too with a 800a incomer but it's only 6 way and I need at least 8, so no choice really

UNG · Jun 12, 2014

atm84 said:
So I went to look at a job today in an engineering workshop. They are stripping out the existing machinery and having a reshuffle.

The bus bars are being altered to suit the new arrangement.

The bus bars are fed from a 6 way panel board which was installed in the 1960's.

Would you suggest upgrading the panel board as isolators for it are now obsolete and so old? Ill post some pictures in a bit.

I'm thinking that the existing isolators won't meet current disconnection times etc but don't have any info on it other than the photos.

Many thanks

43 posts in and still no pictures

atm84 said:
Yeah it's worrying isn't it. Good job I have a senior engineer above me too assist. Thought I may have got some advice off here. A few ppl get their teeth into a thread and the OP goes out the window as everyone fights to get the last word in and prove their worth.

So the senior engineer is assisting you !!!!!, so are you the senior senior engineer?

You want advice then wind everyone up with a lack of info and no pictures to support your original, yes I would agree you have let the OP go out the window because you haven't offered anything to the thread so it has drifted. Beginning to think you are just a troll