Issue10 eMagazine v2 - Flipbook - Page 13
• Manufacturer’s recommendations concerning
equipment maintenance (e.g., frequency of
inspection and maintenance, ideal temperature,
humidity requirements, etc.)
• Any information from previous inspections, repairs
and parts replacement
With this data, you can determine how often electrical
maintenance needs to be done — whether several
times a week, weekly, every month, bimonthly,
quarterly, bi-annually or annually.
It must be noted, however, that these inspections
usually take place with the equipment in a
de-energised state, except when the assets have
infrared (IR) windows. But when switchgear have IR
windows, missing critical connection points is possible
as there are sections the operator cannot see and
which the IR camera cannot detect.
This is why performing preventive thermographic
inspections or temperature checks is necessary. With
thermographic assessments being done, even
low-voltage electrical installation fire-causing failures
(that can’t be detected with conventional protection
devices) can be diagnosed correctly. Any faults,
failures and irregularities detected can then be
addressed by licenced electricians or the facility
technical team safely and promptly.
Additionally, conducting temperature inspections
allows you to catch a critical issue that could manifest
itself between inspection schedules and to sort it out.
One common example would be finding equipment
working above the right or rated temperature —
something that could likely reduce the functional
lifespan of that particular asset.
Other Aspects to Consider in
Determining Machinery Reliability
One other way of reliability checking is by monitoring
the voltage of medium and low-voltage switchgear,
motor control centres (MCCs), transfer switches and
other similar equipment. This is because power quality
is a critical component that has a direct impact on your
equipment and not simply on whether your business
will be operational on the whole.
The power provided should meet the needs of each
piece of equipment to prevent equipment failure and
subsequent downtime. Other consequences of poor
power quality include the need for expensive repairs,
damage to work in progress, workplace incidents,
reduction in or lost productivity, reputational damage
and customer loss.
Some common examples of power quality problems
include voltage transients, voltage sags or swells,
under-voltages, over-voltages, outages, electrical
noise, and harmonics voltage. When you experience
power quality problems, you need to have them
corrected as quickly as possible to reduce or prevent
equipment deterioration.
Aside from regular temperature checks and voltage
monitoring, other failure-contributing causes you need
to monitor are:
• Humidity or the presence of water
• Partial discharges in medium-voltage equipment
• Intrusion or motion
• Vibration of rotating apparatus
• Bus or cable connection point-temperature sensors
• Load current, heater, and fan circuit currents
• Dust trending and the detection of smoke
• Temperature trending (i.e., cubicles, critical cable
joints, bus connections, etc.)
Martin Thomas, European Marketing Manager at
Radwell International Ltd explains more. “Having
real-time insights into the condition of your equipment
allows you to issue alerts when unusual temperatures,
power quality problems or other failure-contributing
causes are detected.
By keeping a close watch on the health
of your assets, your maintenance team
can schedule routine maintenance,
repair or parts replacement whilst
preventing equipment breakdowns,
unnecessary shutdowns and
downtime.
Staying on top of electrical maintenance needs also
enhances workplace safety and helps your business
avoid all the consequences of business interruption,
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