What is a Company Switch?

Bill Hallemeyer

Company Switch Banner

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

Patrick Evans

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!

ESL’s Watertight Plug Install Video

Erika Thorson

ESL’s complete line of refrigerated container plugs and connectors are designed to withstand wet marine environments and ensure a watertight seal. Watch our recent video to learn how to correctly install ESL’s watertight plugs and connectors.  Visit ESL’s Reefer Plugs, Connectors & Accessories page for further information on our product.

Want to see more videos like this? Watch ESL’s Magic Watertight Plug Video and see ESL’s playful take on a water ingress test.

Importance of Emergency Power

Patrick Evans

Frequency of weather-related power outages across United States

Impact of weather-related power outages

The reliability of power over the past 15 years has been strained by increased demand by growing populations, aging infrastructure and more frequent occurrences of extreme weather. As seen in bar graph [a] on the right, the number of weather-related power outages has doubled every five years since 2000. Although the timing of when these outages happen fluctuates from day to day, season to season, and year to year, the data shows that weather-related power outages are steadily on the rise.

The estimated costs of weather-related power outages, by year, are provided in graph [b]. The variations in cost change considerably year to year. These cost estimates are dominated by the impact of large storms and the numerous costs associated with power outages. These costs include lost output and wages, spoiled inventory, inconvenience and the cost of restarting industrial operations. Although weather is a major factor in the cost of power, the costs associated with power outages are influenced by the amount of time that the power is out as well. The pie chart [c] shows the average length of reported power outages in the digital economy, continuous process manufacturing and fabrication/essential services sectors of the economy. Regardless of what industry your business is in, the longer the power is out the more money you are losing.

As the climate changes and infrastructure ages, the economic and social impacts of power outages may be unavoidable. However, the effects can be mitigated by being diligent and taking appropriate steps to minimize operational downtime. ESL’s emergency power connection equipment is very cost-effective, especially when compared to the cost of being without power for extended periods of time. In addition, our emergency power products provide users with safe and simple operation so that grid-tied facilities can quickly connect to portable power when it matters most.

For more information on how ESL can help you be prepared for the next major power outage, contact us.

Sources:
1-Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters
2-Power Outages On The Rise Across The U.S.
3-Economic Benefits of Increasing Electric Grid Resilience to Weather Related Outages
4-The Cost of Power Disturbances to Industrial & Digital Economy Companies

2016 Hurricane Season Forecast

Erika Thorson

2016 Hurricane Season

The 2016 Atlantic hurricane season forecast released from Colorado State University in April calls for the number of named storms and hurricanes to be near historical averages. A total of 12 named storms, five hurricanes and two major hurricanes are expected this season. These numbers do not include Hurricane Alex, a rare occurrence that hit the Azores in mid-January. The official hurricane season spans from June through November. However, as illustrated by Hurricane Alex, the formation of tropical cyclones is possible at any time of the year.

“the number of storms and when they strike doesn’t particularly matter. Because it only takes one.”

Most forecasting groups have called for this season to be an above average season, due to a combination of factors including a transition to La Niña and warmer than normal sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico. But as pointed out by Eric Fisher,Chief Meteorologist at CBS Boston, whether the forecast is in line with the average or above it “the number of storms and when they strike doesn’t particularly matter. Because it only takes one.”

Take Hurricane Isaac for example in 2012. Isaac was a deadly and destructive tropical cyclone that came ashore in the state of Louisiana during August 2012. The ninth named storm and fourth hurricane of the annual hurricane season caused $2.39 billion USD in damage and led to 41 fatalities (breakingnews.com).

It’s never too late to make sure that you’re prepared for an emergency or loss of power. As a business owner, planning for an emergency power situation requires choosing a standby power solution. While some solutions can be quite costly, ESL’s pre-wired UL 1008 emergency quick connect equipment is very cost-effective. In addition, it provides users with a safe and simple operation to connect portable power in minutes minimizing the interruption of business operation and associated costs.

We can’t stop hurricanes, but we can mitigate risk, both to our lives and our property, by being proactive. Plan ahead. The first step is to evaluate what type of transfer switch is most suitable for your application. Be prepared. Learn more about manual transfer switches and emergency power preparedness statistics. Then contact ESL for a quote.