New panel board required?

[atm84]

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

 

[bigdavs83]

It is a terminology area it isolates a db therefore it's a bloody isolator but on the authorised persons course when making switching programmes we got told off for calling it an isolator it was a switch disconnector. As for making and breaking loads I'd much rather disconnect a full db with a load that's faulty than reconnect a full db with a load that's faulty. Good luck with that one.

 

[davesparks]

Seriously?
If you close a switch onto a fault you stand back and let the fault protection deal with it,
If you open a switch on a fault then goodbyeeeee.

Obviously i'm talking about serious currents and/or voltages here, not the little stuff.

 

[Engineer54]

The vast majority of so-called isolators are generally classed for Off Load operation. Devices that are made to break loads or make loads, tend to be far more expensive...

 

[Pete999]

What the last two said

 

[tlangdon12]

To go back to the OP's original question;

If the regulation can be met by the kid board, i would leave the decision to the client but provide them with the pros and cons of leaving the old board in place and the cost of the new.


The main issue with leaving a very old board in place is the availability of spares for repairs and expansion. Explain to the client that if one of the 'isolators' fails his kit will be down for days rather than hours while you find a spare. And they are more likely to become unreliable as they age. The kit is 50 year old so owes them nothing.


Good luck

 

[bigdavs83]

I'm talking db's obviously max 415v not playing about with that 11kv buzzing thing in the locked room!! Merely just stating how terminology can be such a factor.

 

[atm84]

Thanks guys. For clarification when I say isolators in my OP I actually meant MCCB's which feed the bus bars.

 

[Guest77]

We can give opinions all day long bud, however next time take a photo or 2 of the kit your talking about, a picture paints a thousand words.

 

[Engineer54]

Thanks guys. For clarification when I say isolators in my OP I actually meant MCCB's which feed the bus bars.

Jesus, since when have MCCB protective devices ever been called isolators?? Switch disconnectors i can understand being called isolators, but MCCB's Never!!!

 

[Knobhead]

This is where the American “left-hand rule” comes in to play, plus it saved my life.

If the switch handle is to the right, stand to the right and use your left hand.

A switch room fire, the incomer is a DMO isolator, the lid blew off when I cut the power.
I’m not very pretty but I’d have been pretty dead had I stood in front of it.

The isolator, switch, switch fuse, fused switch, on load, off load, fault making / load breaking, fault making / fault breaking and every combination in between argument has rumbled on long before I started in the trade.
Like Damian, I was told different versions by different tradesmen. I’m still confused.com.

BTW the Americans refer to the incoming isolator to a MCC as a “bucket” ? ? ? ?
Just thought I’d throw that one in

 

[bigdavs83]

Seen a few buckets in my time right enough

 

[atm84]

Thanks guys. For clarification when I say isolators in my OP I actually meant MCCB's which feed the bus bars.

Jesus, since when have MCCB protective devices ever been called isolators?? Switch disconnectors i can understand being called isolators, but MCCB's Never!!!

It isolates the circuit does it not?

 

[davesparks]

It might isolate the circuit, but that is not it's only or even primary function.
It is an MCCB, the manufacturers call it that and everyone in the trade should understand exactly what you are talking about if you call it an mccb.

 

[Knobhead]

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

It isolates the circuit does it not?

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.

 

[GMES]

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


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.

Tony is that is what you call an uphill gardener!!,