Switchgear equipment can be expensive, which is why you want to make sure that you take good care of your switchboard equipment. With the right maintenance, you can prevent your switchgear equipment from degrading and needing major repairs.
#1 Operate Circuit Breakers Once A Year
At least once a year, you need to test out the circuit breakers on an individual basis. Have your electrician manually operate each circuit breaker for your entire facility at least once a year. Manually operating each circuit breaker is a great way to make sure that the mechanisms are operating cleanly. This will also help make sure that all of your switchgear contacts are clean and working freely. It is also a great way for your electrician to identify problem circuit breakers and make upgrades before you really have any issues.
#2 Use Thermal Imaging
Thermal imaging is a great way to take care of your switchgear equipment. To use thermal imaging on your switchgear equipment, have some infrared viewing windows installed over the top of your switchgear equipment. Infrared viewing windows are a great way to keep a constant eye on your equipment and to make sure that inspections using the infrared are done quickly and effectively.
Thermal imaging can allow your electrician to spot loose bus connections well before they cause your equipment to go out. When done on a regular basis, loose bus connections can be fixed long before they cause any damage to your system. Thermal imaging can be a great way to catch loose connections in advance.
#3 Recondition The Equipment
Finally, it is a smart idea to recondition your switchgear equipment when you have parts that are not meeting industry standard regulations. When any part of your switchgear and circuit breaker are not meeting industry standards, you need to have your equipment taken apart, cleaned and inspected. From there, any damaged parts need to be replaced with new or refurbished parts. All pivot points in the system should be lubricated again before everything is put back together. Once that is complete, the equipment should be tested again to ensure that it meets industry standards. Recondition the equipment will help keep your equipment in good working order. Reconditioning your equipment will also help you identify and deal with problem areas before they really become a major issue.
Take the three preventative steps above should help extend the life of your expensive switchgear equipment.
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