Do You have an Effective Emergency Backup System?

Erika Thorson

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September is National Preparedness Month.  Is your business ready in the event of an emergency? We can mitigate risk, both to our lives and our property, by being proactive and planning ahead for a disaster.

As a business owner, being prepared means having an effective emergency backup system.  An important step in implementing this system is selecting a manual transfer switch that can quickly and safely be connected to a generator should utility power be out for a prolonged period of time. In ESL’s blog, 6-Ways to Select a Manual Transfer Switch we cover the factors that should be considered when determining which type of transfer switch is most suitable for your business.

Ensure your business will be the one to have the lights on in the aftermath of an emergency…

In addition to a reliable back up system, your company should have a plan. Determine how you’ll get your business back up and running. Make a Check list! Assign responsibilities and determine if additional training is necessary to perform the tasks assigned. Include a backup person responsible for a task if your primary is off site.

Plan regularly scheduled maintenance. Keep your equipment up to standards and ready at a moment’s notice. NEC regional standards provide guidelines for regularly testing electrical equipment. ESL’s TripleSwitch —  a 3-way manual transfer switch —  simplifies load bank testing procedures and also provides a safe way to connect a backup generator in the event a permanent generator malfunctions. Read more about this process in our recent blog on how to Streamline Load Bank Testing.

Ensure your business will be the one to have the lights on in the aftermath of an emergency, ready to serve your customers at a time when demand is high!

Remember, it’s never too late to make sure that you’re prepared for an emergency or loss of power!

Streamline Load Bank Testing

Erika Thorson

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Load bank testing is necessary for facilities such as water wastewater plants, data centers, high rise buildings, and nursing care centers.

According to NEC Article 708 and NFPA 110, automatic transfer switches are required to be regularly tested. These regulations are in place to ensure that when utility power goes down, the backup equipment will effectively support the facility’s electrical requirements.

The time and cost associated with load bank testing procedures, which have to be repeated at regular intervals, can be arduous.

ESL’s TripleSwitch, a safety-interlocked 3-way manual transfer switch, is UL 1008 Listed up to 3000A and significantly reduces the time needed to make required connections and disconnections when load bank testing. The TripleSwitch was specifically designed for two purposes:

  1. To streamline load bank testing procedures.
  2. To provide a redundant and safe way to connect a backup generator in the event the permanent generator malfunctions, requires routine maintenance, or if utility power fails during load bank testing.

ESL’s TripleSwitch provides 4 primary benefits for facilities that have an automatic transfer switch and permanent generator:

  1. Reduces time required for making the necessary connections for load bank testing
    Load bank testing can be challenging and time consuming. With multiple connects and disconnects of electrical connectors between the permanent generator and ATS this process can tie up manpower. From start to finish, it can take 2 people up to 10 hours to complete a full load bank test. With ESL’s TripleSwitch system, the resources required to load bank test are minimized netting a considerable time savings.  With cam-style connectors, load bank connections can be made in minutes.
  1. Provides portable generator connection for redundant backup
    Since the permanent generator is disconnected from the system during load bank testing or for repairs, the facility’s power systems are now susceptible to power loss in this time. ESL’s solution minimizes this risk.  Since the TripleSwitch has dual functionality, a portable back-up generator can quickly be connected to ESL’s 3-way manual transfer switch in the event utility power fails or the permanent generator has performance issues.
  1. Mitigates risk of making faulty or incorrect connections when reconnecting the permanent generator and/or ATS after load bank testing is complete
    The permanent generator and ATS are directly wired to the TripleSwitch, allowing connections to be made to the load bank or emergency back-up generator via color-coded cam-style connectors instead of the traditional hardwiring method.
  1. Reduces wear and tear of ancillary equipment
    It is not uncommon to damage wire conductors when making frequent connects and disconnects of the cables. With ESL’s TripleSwitch, connections to the load bank are made with cam-style connectors, preventing unavoidable wear and tear of cables and termination lug threads.

ESL’s unique UL 1008 Listed TripleSwitch system simplifies the traditional connection/disconnection process required for load bank testing of permanent standby generators for facility power systems. It also combines generator quick connects for redundant backup portable power at a much lower cost, smaller footprint, and can virtually eliminate wiring mistakes.

Additional TripleSwitch resources, such as specifications, spec sheets, and case studies, can also be found here.

Eight Things to Consider When Selecting a Company Switch

Bill Hallemeyer

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There are a number of options to consider when selecting and installing a company switch. Below is a list of 8 key items to answer before purchasing your unit.

1. What is the incoming wire size to be accommodated?
It is important to match the incoming wire size; you don’t want to have lugs on the company switch that are too small to accept the feed wires available at the installation. Make sure to indicate where the conduit will enter the enclosure.

2. Is 200% neutral required?
If unbalanced power is a problem, then an oversized neutral can be specified. If the company switch will be feeding more than one set of equipment, dual neutrals may be necessary. Depending on the amperage, there could be six cam-lock receptacles instead of five.

3. Is isolated ground required?
If the company switch will feed a sound system it is common to isolate the ground from the equipment ground in order to provide a noise-free ground return. If this is the case, an isolated ground is recommended.

4. Are direct-wire lugs needed?
If the equipment that is to be connected to the company switch does not have cam connectors available, direct-wire lugs will allow bare-wire ends to be connected.

5. Is a digital ammeter required?
An ammeter will allow quick and easy reading of the current being drawn through the company switch at a given time.

6. Is an interior work light required?
This option is very useful in dark theater environments, providing a lit chamber makes for easier connections.

7. Will the switch be inside (NEMA Type 1 enclosure) or outside (NEMA 3R enclosure)?
Standard ESL company switches are NEMA Type 1 however, if your unit will be installed outside, NEMA 3R should be specified.

8. Will the company switch use an electrical interlock or a mechanical interlock?
A mechanical interlock is more reliable; an electrical interlock can fail and expose live parts, while a mechanical interlock is a rock-solid way to ensure power is off to the company switch.

Interested in learning about ESL Company Switch features? Watch our ShowSwitch – Company Switch video here!

ESL Power Systems would be happy to discuss these options with you and ensure you get the right company switch for your venue! Contact us at 1-800-922-4188 or info@eslpwr.com for more information.

What is a Company Switch?

Bill Hallemeyer

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Many engineers may know that during the planning and design stages of a project, an electrical disconnect will be needed. However, do you really know what you’re specifying, and what the differences are between your disconnect options? A question not so rarely asked by many engineers is, “What is a Company Switch?”

Here’s your short, to-the-point answer if you are one of the many who aren’t quite sure:

A Company Switch is a specialized type of electrical disconnect that is used extensively in the entertainment industry for set stage applications (such as lighting) by entertainers, road-shows, media personnel and the like. Company Switches include cam lock receptacles to allow single-pole cam connections to be made quickly and easily. Company Switches incorporate safety features and ease-of-use features that are not found in simpler electrical disconnects. These include safety-interlocked circuit breakers and lights to indicate which phases are live.

Any time there is a need for safe and easy connections to facility power, a Company Switch is the obvious choice.

ESL is here to help:

ESL Power Systems’ Company Switches utilize a mechanically interlocked safety scheme. This prevents access to live parts inside the Company Switch by interlocking the circuit breaker with the door handle. In order to plug in cams it is necessary to open the access door, which in turn disconnects the breaker.

ESL Power Systems’ Company Switches have lights to indicate when cams are inserted, and when power is available (circuit breaker is on). These lights are easily visible even in darkened theaters and performance spaces.

For a more in depth look at Company Switches, stay tuned for part two, “Eight Things to Consider When Selecting a Company Switch.”

Let us make your job easy, Download our Company Switch Standard Specifications or contact us if you have additional questions.

 

Be Proactive: Help Prevent Container Drive-offs

Erika Thorson

PORT SAFETY
Many key factors play a role in getting cargo in & out of ports and on the road to their final destination. In the process of getting reefer containers from one destination to the next, it is important that precautionary measures are taken to mitigate the occurrence and impact of accidents and safety hazards.

WHAT IS A DRIVE-OFF?
Drive-offs in a port terminal happen when an operator moves refrigerated cargo containers while they are still connected to an electrical source such as a rack mount reefer outlet assembly (Fig. 1 & 2). When a drive-off occurs, the plug or receptacle are in danger of breaking away. This breakaway can result in damage to equipment and infrastructure. In addition, and more importantly, it could also create hazardous conditions.

MONETARY LOSS
Aside from being dangerous, damage to refrigerated cargo containers can also be costly. In addition to repair or replacement cost, disruption to operations due to the unavailability of the reefer container slot corresponding to the damaged reefer outlet should be considered. Drive-offs are especially disruptive in automated container terminals. For safety reasons the automated operation must be stopped in the all or part of the stacking row while repairs are performed. Units must be repaired quickly in order to allow operation to continue and reduce financial loss.

Port Drive-off

SOLUTIONS
In order to minimize drive-offs, ESL recommends plug sensing devices which can be added to Reefer Outlet assemblies. This solution contains a dry contact micro switch powered by a secondary source which can be used to help trigger a warning system (visual or integrated to TOS). This proactive option helps limit damage caused by human error which in turn, reduces operational costs and the need for replacement receptacles.

When it comes to breakaways, ESL offers receptacles made from polyamide, a non-metallic material designed to break easier under stress, preventing further damage to other components of the Reefer Outlet Assembly. This allows for easy replacement of broken receptacles and less operational time lost.

With increased education about the dangers of port drive-offs, and implementing precautions such as Safety-interlocked cord connected devices, injury and cost can be minimized. Learn more about ESL and how we can help keep your port safe by visiting our Intermodal page or contact us!