“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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Should Dry Type Transformers Be Installed Indoors or Outdoors?
Dry type transformers are typically one of a power system’s most critical and costly components. To achieve an optimal return on your investment, it’s critical that you select a transformer with the proper voltage and rating while following the appropriate installation protocols. Choosing a location that complies with all safety codes while not interfering with […]
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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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Different Degree C-Rise Options for Dry Type Transformers
Transformers are electromagnetic devices that change the voltage levels in a circuit. Most dry type transformers contain primary and secondary windings around a magnetic steel core. Power from the incoming voltage source flows through the primary winding, while the secondary winding converts the energy and transmits it to the load. The core supports the windings […]
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Why ELSCO Uses Class 220 Insulation in its Dry Type Transformers
ELSCO uses DuPont Nomex® Type 410 insulation exclusively in the windings of its medium-voltage dry type transformers because it provides the strongest protection against temperatureinduced failure for the longest period of time. Nomex® 410 is a NEMA/IEC Class 220 insulating material, for which the maximum allowable exposure temperature for safe use is 220°C. Insulation Has […]
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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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