Bus Plug Neutral – You see it on the nameplate, but its not there
We asked MIDWEST’s Switchgear Shop for an example of a replacement bus plug problem or defect that would not be picked up by standardized reconditioning and testing procedures. Procedures that might be found in published data. We were looking for something that went directly to the value of experience. The value of quality workmanship. Here’s a quick example from one of MIDWEST’s switchgear Engineering Technicians.
He spoke of a Federal Pacific bus plug, catalog number LSP 1436SN, 600 volt, 400 amp, just as an example. He said it could just as well be a Cutler Hammer Bus Plug catalog number HD 1364N, or a replacement Square D bus plug or Westinghouse bus plug. It didn’t make a difference. A service company could simply test, or repair or completely recondition a bus plug. Then perform the tests that look for current or voltage related problems. Do the quality control physical and mechanical inspection. The reconditioned Square D bus plug could look and perform so well that you might think it was brand new. But as part of the quality control, veteran Engineering Technicians
Cutler Hammer HD1364N Bus Plug For Sale by MIDWEST
know to double check the nameplate of the reconditioned bus plug with what they actually have. They said this could very easily be missed, because the nameplate is always correct, almost. The last error he found was a bus plug that had a neutral indicated in the catalog number on the nameplate, like the two just mentioned, but actually did not have the neutral bus. It had been removed. It came into the Switchgear Shop that way, as was determined by inspecting other bus plugs in the same lot. Just a detail, a really big detail. So standardized tests can not replace experience and quality workmanship.