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
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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Investing in a High-Quality Transformer Design
Replacing a failed transformer comes as an unwelcome surprise with an unanticipated and unavoidable expense. Facilities managers are immediately faced with two urgent questions — “How soon can we get power back?” and “How much is this going to cost?” The answers depend on some key decisions made in replacing the transformer, but the urgency of the questions implies that […]
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Why Do Transformers Hum? Understanding Transformer Noise
Loud equipment is often a nuisance, but it can also be a safety issue if it contributes to excessive noise levels. Transformers often hum or buzz, but it usually doesn’t mean anything is wrong with them. Humming can be a sign of normal operations and magnetic forces at work. Still, too much transformer noise can […]
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Industries That Use Transformers the Most
Many industrial and commercial operations depend on transformers to convert high voltages of electricity into smaller voltages they can use. Depending on the specific application, different transformer types with various ratings and capacities work better than others. ELSCO Transformers offers the high-performance dry type and padmount transformers that businesses nationwide trust the most. Top Industries That Utilize Transformers Examples […]
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When Do Most Transformers Begin to Fail?
Aside from regular maintenance requirements, most operations only pay attention to their transformers once they begin failing. In a perfect world, a new transformer will provide continuous, uninterrupted service for several decades. However, lesser-quality builds often produce much shorter life spans, resulting in power interruptions and unwanted downtime. Initials Signs of Transformer Failure When a […]
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