Commercial Electrical Maintenance: Simple Tips for Switchboard Servicing
The switchboard is a critical module in the commercial electrical system. Therefore, you should ensure that the component is maintained appropriately by your contractor or in-house serviceperson. Basically, this type of module is the combination of the circuit breakers and other disconnect components. The switchboard is important in isolating, protecting and controlling the electrical equipment. Here are simple guidelines on switchboard maintenance that you should ensure are upheld in your business premises.
Cleaning of Components
The electrical switchboard will develop inconsistencies, even if the level of usage in your premises is light. These unexpected faults can be attributed to the environment in which they are placed. Negligence will allow slow deterioration and eventual breakdown. In simple terms, if the switchboard elements are covered in general dirt, moisture, mould and dust, they will fail. Therefore, you should make certain that the module is cleaned and dusted regularly. In addition, the environment should be protected from harmful conditions.
Assessment of the Switchgear
The servicing process of the electrical switchboard is fairly easy, but there are many components. If some are overlooked, the switchboard will still fail unexpectedly. Therefore, you should make certain that an official preventive maintenance checklist is provided by the electrical contractor. The list should outline the common components like instrument transformers, ammeters, multimeters and protection devices. The contractor should ensure that these are present and operation and where necessary, perform replacements. In addition, you should request the service person to inspect the lifting mechanism for large circuit breakers.
Protection and Operation Testing
When maintenance is performed, you should always ask the electrician to test the switchboard for operational function and potential problems. There are two types of primary tests that can be conducted on the switchboard devices: insulation and operation. The insulation test is performed to test the protection provided by the attached components. Basically, the service person will ensure that the circuit breakers, fuses and other protectors will cut of power supply in case of faults. Operation testing is performed after any repair or replacement. It involves connecting the switchboard to isolated power supply to ensure that it can function normally during regular applications.
Update of Maintenance Records
Finally, it is important to make sure that the maintenance records are updated after the actual switchboard servicing. This process will provide future reference for electricians on any updates and modifications performed on the module. In addition, the results of the insulation and operation tests should be recorded so that you can monitor the performance of your electrical system.