6 PREVENTION TIPS FOR ELECTRICAL CONTROL PANEL FAILURE

1. 6 PREVENTION TIPS FOR ELECTRICAL CONTROL PANEL FAILURE Electrical instrument panel failure is one among the dreads of plant maintenance managers. Usually, the control panels during a factory aren't just electrical in nature; they typically incorporate programmed PLCs and motor drives that need industrial field service beyond the scope of most general electricians. Electrical instrument panel failure: fried wires Industrial electrical panel failure has many causes. Yet many are preventable. Regardless of age, electrical instrument panel failure occurs for various reasons. Knowing what to seem for first can assist you avoid major electrical instrument panel failure before any major production or questions of safety arise. Here are some common reasons for electrical instrument panel failure: Power Spikes and Surges Many manufacturers design their electrical control panels without line reactors or surge suppressors to protect against electrical spikes and surges. Unexpected electrical events from the facility company or the weather can damage panels, resulting in lost controller programs, faulted VFDs and damaged electronics. Sadly, much of the damage are often instantaneous. If you've got AC drives in your cabinets, you almost certainly should consider exploring how line reactors can help your maintenance program. Tripped breakers or blown fuses Depending on how an circuit is protected, an overload will cause a breaker trip or a blown fuse. If your electrical system is acting funky, check for tripped breakers or blown fuses first. These circuits are isolated therefore the system could appear to be functioning normally but a part of the systems process won’t function. Cut or grounded wires within the conduit systems Electrical contractors will often use Electrical Metallic Tubing (EMT) conduit or flexible conduit in places where they are stepped on or damaged by contact. When damaged, the conduit can break away the wires and dig them causing them to ground on the conduit or cut in half. this will cause tripped breakers, blown fuses, shorted power supplies and unexpected computer operation that would seriously injure personnel. to stop this, perform routine inspections of conduit systems. Tripped overloads on power circuits Most motor starters are protected using an overload set to the complete Load Current of the motor. If the electrical load on the motor is excessive or the motor windings short, the present will exceed the motors rated full load amps causing a visit. In most cases, the overload is wired using the neutral so when trouble shooting, measure from the neutral on the contactor and not the bottom. Additionally, most overloads have an indicator on the front that alerts you when it’s tripped. Correct the matter then use the overloads push button to reset the device. Loose or disconnected wires Many manufacturers use screw terminals to lock their electrical wires. These sorts of terminals are vulnerable to vibration which will cause loosening over time, eventually resulting in an circuit that's difficult to troubleshoot thanks to the looks of a connected terminal. Regularly inspecting your screw terminals for tight connections will prevent this. Alternatively, many companies, including Innovative IDM, offer spring clamp terminal technology that won’t loosen and infrequently has got to be checked. Carbon builds abreast of relay or contactor contacts Carbon naturally accumulates on contacts that arc when opening and shutting. Over time, carbon will cover the contact, blocking conductance through the contactor or relay. a simple thanks to check is to energise the relay and use a volt meter to live across the contacts to verify the contacts are conducting. If voltage is read across the contacts, you’re OK. If not, there’s your problem: Use contact cleaner to get rid of the carbon or replace the component if beyond cleaning. Electrical Control Panel failure is often mitigated by following the above troubleshooting measures. While complete failure isn't inevitable, maintenance professionals also should keep up of the newest technologies and consider modernizing their equipment with a retrofit.