The maintenance of low voltage switchboards
Maintaining low voltage switchboard isn’t too difficult and has countless benefits. It’s an important part of your household, keeping electricity flowing at crucial moments. Always make sure to call a professional maintenance company to check your switchboard and use this article as a rough guide.
What are the benefits of a well-maintained low voltage switchboard?
- Your switchboard has a longer life and you won’t need to spend too much on replacements. Without maintenance, your costs will mount up.
- Even if there are repairs, they will take less time to fix and you can also schedule repairs in advance.
- You’ll have peace of mind with fewer power outages, enabling you to carry on with your daily activities without distractions.
- An expert can pinpoint any improper functioning in the system that needs immediate action.
In which conditions should maintenance be more frequent?
Certain conditions require regular maintenance compared to others,such as:
- Areas where there is high humidity and extreme temperatures.
- The atmosphere is corrosive.
- Places such as Dubai where dust is the norm.
- The older the equipment, the more maintenance it requires.
- If your systems stop working often.
- If they tend to take a lot of electrical loads.
What type of records should you have on hand?
- A concise record of switchboards that have been installed and what their maintenance schedule is.
- Data and information of your equipment and components such as instruction books, bulletins, drawings, and more.
- A record of items that need to be inspected and against which adjustments.
- Document which has the results of past inspections.
Types of tests that should be conducted during maintenance
Maintenance tests are super important. They check if all your low voltage switchboards are in working condition. Expert inspections will involve these tests:
- An insulation resistance test checks the switchboard’s bus and breakers along with how well the switchboard is insulated. Regular tests lead to accurate results. It’s important that the professional who checks your system keeps records (you should have a copy too) and compares results from one session to the next. If readings become lower after each test, it tells you that something is wrong.
- High potential tests aren’t really necessary and only done during special circumstances as recommended by your professional. These should be done after repairs or changes to the equipment.
- Once the switchboard is operational and adjusted after servicing, it’s important to test it.
Your professional should always have the following maintenance equipment:
- Spare parts or parts of the switchboard that are necessary for its functioning.
- A test cabinet and inspection rack to test power circuit breakers.
- Test instruments such as multimeters, instrument transformers, and more.
- Means lifting large breakers.
- Insulation resistance tester
Safety guidelines professionals must follow:
- They must be authorized or licensed to handle the switchboard.
- All safety protocols should be followed such as wearing gloves and insulation-friendly clothes.
- Switchboards should be de-energized and tested for any hazards before accessing them.
- Breakers must be opened and springs should be discharged efficiently.
What should be the frequency of a test or inspection?
-Once the equipment is operational, it’s advisable to get it inspected every three to six months. After that, once a year is good. Do remember to make it a part of your annual maintenance contract.
Octopus professionals are well versed with all aspects of low voltage switchboard maintenance. For any questions on the maintenance of low voltage switchboard, call our toll-free number 800 3993.
