How to Select the Ideal Transformer for Your Company
Many businesses only function efficiently because of transformers. This critical equipment performs a fundamental function in many industries, transferring power and controlling voltages to ensure safe and productive workflows. If your business relies on electricity, you know how damaging a blown transformer can be to your operations. Choosing a transformer can be tricky, but with […]
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DOE Efficiency Standards for Transformers
Jump To: What Are the DOE Efficiency Standards? Benefits of Efficiency Standards to the Customer and the Industry How to Comply With Efficiency Standards Impacts of DOE Regulations and Compliant Transformers Transformers Exempt From DOE Efficiency Standards The Future of DOE Efficiency Standards More than 40% of the energy used in the United States is consumed by […]
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Guide to Transformer kVA Ratings — How to Determine What Size Transformer You Need
In many industries, including health care, manufacturing, electrical contracting, higher education and corrections, reliable, high-quality transformers are essential for keeping operations running efficiently. Large facilities and industrial processes require substantial amounts of power, and they need dependable transformers to convert the energy coming from the power plant into a form they can use for their […]
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Guide to Oil-Filled Transformer Maintenance
Regular maintenance is a major part of keeping your oil-filled transformers in good working condition. Without scheduled upkeep, your transformers will be more likely to experience issues that can snowball into larger operational problems, like system failure. You don’t have to rely on reactive or condition-based maintenance when taking care of your machinery. Staying ahead of any and […]
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Should You De-Energize Transformers When Changing Taps?
Since the input power fed into a transformer may be lower or higher than the intended rate, transformers require adjustments to produce the correct secondary voltage. These fluctuations can occur for various reasons, including a power drop across a long distribution line or excessive consumption from one or more facilities. Since it is impractical and […]
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Do Oil-Filled Transformers Need a Containment Pan?
If your facility uses oil-filled transformers to convert energy and they contain more than 1,320 gallons of oil, you may be subject to the Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) Rule. The primary goal of the SPCC Rule is to contain oil discharges and prevent these discharges from reaching navigable waters and adjoining shorelines. Specific rules apply […]
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“Crime Scene Investigator” Identifies Usual Suspects of Premature Transformer Failure
Evidence reveals how to avoid transformers that wind up dying well before their time. Spoiler alert: There’s no substitute for quality. When it comes to big-ticket items, power transformers come near the top of the list. So, when they fail prematurely, it is a painful experience with damages that can far exceed the cost of a […]
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The Cost of Transformer Failure in Manufacturing
Recent surveys have reported the cost of a single hour of manufacturing downtime to be anywhere between $500,000 and $5 million. The survey participants were very large, high-volume manufacturers in automated industries such as automotive, steel, chemical and pharmaceuticals. The estimates of hourly downtime costs were reported by respondents to the surveys without definitions, supporting details […]
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Custom Bus Work on Transformers
When you purchase a replacement or retrofit transformer, most likely its high-voltage and low-voltage connections will not line up perfectly with your existing infrastructure due to differences in transformer models, ratings or designs. Low-voltage bus bar connections must line up perfectly with matching bolt holes and fasten together without distorting forces to ensure maximum conductance and prevent arcing. Each installation configuration is […]
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How Reliable Is Your Transformer?
Most of the time, your transformer may seem like an inert apparatus tucked away in a cabinet. However, when energized, it is a vibrant, living thing, transforming and feeding electrical power at 60 Hertz to your facility. In addition to the metal windings and core, it contains organic materials in the form of insulation. However, like all living things, transformers age over time […]
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