Electrical Preventive Maintenance

Electrical
Preventive
Maintenance
(EPM)
Prepared/Compiled by:
Engr. William J. Juan, pee/rmp/me
 Short Resume of Resource Speaker/ Lecturer:
Engr. William Jacinto Juan, pee, rmp, mepf
0915 292 8668 / 0922 501 5770 / 0919 605 4873

Admin/Founder SOLARSAFE PHILIPPINES, a FB Group

Dep.Gen.Sec/Co-Founder E.N.G.I.N.E.E.R., Inc.
Training Director/Co-Founder MEPF Engineers Co.
Gen.Manager/Proprietor of FEMP Safety Engineering Construction, 2013-present
President/CEO/Founder of Versatech Consultants & Mngt.Corp., 1985-2013
President, Phil.Integrated Plumbing Engineers Society (PIPES), 2014-present
Founding President, Phil. Society of United Master Plumbers (PSUMP), 2013
National President, Pro-Change NAMPAP, 2012-present
Former IIEE Natl Treasurer/ Natl Auditor/ Governor-at-Large
Former Chairmen, IIEE Balik Liwanag Committee & Electrical Safety Committee
Was Electrical Consultant/ Designer for PICOP/ SMC/ Parsons Intl/ AEP Intl/
Caltex/ Petron/ Coca Cola/ Selecta/ Avida / DMCI-UPDI/ Motolite Projects
Former EE Professor @ National U, 1979-1991
PEE-Top 1 (Oct.1980)/ Asso.EE-Top 3 (Sept.1979) / Asst.EE-Top 8 (Aug.1976) /
RMP-Top 5 (Sept.1989) / Amateur Radio License DU1-ICH (94.5% rating)
BSEE 1976 - NU/ BSME 1987 NU
National President - Pugad Lawin Philippines, Inc., 2009,2010,2011
President Rotary Club of Pasig North, RID3800, 2005-2006
Broadcaster/ Co-Anchor Talakayang Pinoy, DWAD 1098Khz
Electrical Preventive Maintenance

What is the definition of

Electrical Preventive Maintenance or
EPM?

It is the scheduled
inspection, testing and maintenance
of the critical electrical components of
an electrical system!
Substations Must be Well-kept,
Well-maintained
Purpose of EPM

Purpose:
To assure that tested
electrical equipment and
systems are operational
.and are suitable for
continued service
When a substation looks like this, it may
have been years since the last PM..
The Bottom line of EPM
EPM factor for High Reliability
Percentage of Failure Caused from Inadequate Maintenance
Versus Months Since Maintained
All Electrical
Failure Equipment Classes Circuit Open Trans-
(months since maintained) Combined Breakers Motors Wire formers

Less than 12 months ago 7.4% *12.5% 8.8% *0 *2.9%

12-24 months ago 11.2% 19.2% 8.8% *22.2% *2.6%

More than 24 months ago 36.7% 77.8% 44.4% 38.2% 36.4%

Total 16.4% 20.8% 15.8% 30.6% 11.1%

*Small sample size; less than 7 failures caused by inadequate maintenance. Table 44, IEEE Std 493-1990
Proper EPM
can prevent
this!
 Electrical Preventive Maintenance

. . . Must be Scheduled!!!

1) Start with a plan or schedule.

2) Depending on the type of maintenance and the
environment, the frequency can vary from one to
five years.
3) Be Proactive versus Reactive.
4) Never on rainy or humid days. Better if it is on a
sunny day.
Avoid an Arc Flash Accident!
Avoid an Arc Flash Accident!
 Electrical Preventive Maintenance

Sources of guidelines for Inspection,

Testing & Maintenance
1) IEEE - The Institute of Electrical and Electronic
Engineers various handbooks/ standards.

2) Manufacturers Instruction Manual.

3) PEC - Philippine Electrical Code.

4) Good common sense.

 Electrical Preventive Maintenance

CRITICAL!!!!
1) No guarantees, reduce your probability of an electrical
crisis or outage.

2) Does it cost you or your company money or

is it just inconvenient?

3) Time period for evaluation, typically one hour.

4) How is the electrical distribution system designed?

Electrical Preventive Maintenance

High Voltage versus Low Voltage

Low Voltage- 220 to 600 volt equipment

(usually high magnitude load amperes)

High Voltage - over 600 volt equipment

(usually lower magnitude load amperes)
 Electrical Preventive Maintenance

High Voltage versus Low Voltage

1) Different types of testing, contact versus non-contact.
(megger, hi-pot, resistance tests, trending, thermal scanning)

2) Energized cleaning, tightening.

(utmost safety must always be observed)

3) Critical versus Non-Critical

(of course, non-critical portion is low priority)

4) Typically different types of deficiencies.

Electrical Preventive Maintenance

Typical Low Voltage Deficiencies

1) Overloading

2) Code violations

3) Loose connections

4) Trash, contamination or storage

5) Harmonics
Electrical Preventive Maintenance

What do
you think
are
violated
in this
low
voltage
situation?
Electrical Preventive Maintenance

Typical High Voltage Deficiencies

1) Corona or tracking

2) Stress cone failure

3) Loose connections

4) Dirt or contamination
Electrical Preventive Maintenance

Deterioration
due to arcing,
due to
corrosion,
and due to
long service
requires
eventual
replacement.
Electrical Preventive Maintenance

But
sometimes, it
is better to
upgrade to a
higher rated
equipment
when need
be.
Electrical Preventive Maintenance

When doing HV
line maintenance,
a telescopic bucket
facilitates the job
faster, easier and
safer. Make sure
to rent one or hire
the services of a
good service
contractor.
Electrical Preventive Maintenance

Harmonics
1) Caused by the switching of rectifiers or
disruption of the normal 60 cycle sine wave.

2) Tripling harmonics.

3) Motor rotation.

4) Annoying versus destructive harmonics.

Checking for Harmonics in the
Electrical System..
Electrical Preventive Maintenance

Infrared Analysis
1) Imaging versus scanning.

2) Measures infrared wave emissions not temperature.

3) Emissivity

4) Is not a cure-all, do not use a screwdriver when

you need a hammer.

5) High voltage versus low voltage.

Infra-red Scanning to Determine
Loose Connections
Electrical Preventive Maintenance

Ultrasound Leak Detection

1) Microphone

2) High voltage

3) Pole leads

4) Motor bearings
Electrical Preventive Maintenance
Transformer Oil Testing
1) Dissolved Gas Analysis (DGA)
Atmospheric Gases: hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen
Oxides of Carbon: carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide
Hydro Carbons: acetylene, ethylene, methane and ethane
2) Oil Quality Profile
3) PCB Analysis (Polychlorinated biphenyl w/c is
long-time ago banned)
4) Taking samples, in clean glass bottles
5) Frequency
Transformer Oil Dielectric Test

Automatic
Oil
Dielectric
Breakdown
Voltage
Tester
Electrical Preventive Maintenance

Polarization Index Testing

1) Megger Test (mega-ohms or megohms)
2) DC Hi-potential or Hi-Pot Test
(high voltage DC, at least twice the rated voltage,
leakage current in micro-amperes, destructive)
3) Insulation Power Factor or IPF Test
(AC high voltage test, to determine the insulation
capacitance in microfarad)
4) Transformer Turns Ratio Test (TTR)
Electrical Preventive Maintenance

HV
Megohmeter

or

Megger
Electrical Preventive Maintenance

Automatic
Transformer
Turns Ratio
Tester
or
TTR Tester
 Substation Inspection
Inspections performed at least once a week.
Suggested Items:
Transformers - temp, oil level, pressure, explosion relief, fans,
bushing & paint condition.
Breakers - oil level, counter readings, bushings.
Switches - glass, jaws, blades & connections.
Batteries - sp. gravity, temp, voltage, amps, grounds.
Yard - debris, weeds, fence & danger signs.
Check for unusual smells or sounds
Check for Clearance of Foreign Material
Watch for Water
Pipes & Drains
Rain runoff
Check Enclosures and Locks to Restrict Access
SUBSTATION SURVEY
CHECKLIST - 1
A. CLEARANCES: B. STATION:
1. Phase-to-Phase 1. Surfacing
2. Phase-to-Ground 2. Lightning Masts
3. Vertical 3. Fence and Gates
4. Safety 4. Locking provisions on
5. Working space gates & main disconnect
5. Accessibility
6. Danger Signs
7. Customer has operating equipment,
personnel & Maintenance/Test procedures
SUBSTATION SURVEY
CHECKLIST - 2
C. SERVICE:
1. Main Disconnect Switch
2. Protective Equipment __Fuses __Ckt. Breaker __HV Fault Interrupter
3. Surge Protection
4. Insulators and connections
5. Power Transformer(s) - N.P. Data
6. Control circuits and battery system functional
7. Protective Relays - Settings issued & devices calibrated & functionally tested
D. GROUNDING:
1. Ground Grid Resistance Test
2. Station Equipment and Fence
3. Main Disc. Switch Handle and Potential Equalizing Grid
Electrical Preventive Maintenance

Relay Test
Set,
(Secondary
Current
Injector)
CB Rated Current Injection
Check for improper ways of
grounding connections
Grounding Resistance Tester

Digital Low
Resistance
Ohmmeter
(DLRO)
SUBSTATION SURVEY
CHECKLIST - 3
F. METERING:
1. V.T.s and C.T.s
2. Secondary Conduit
3. Meter Panel
G. OTHER:
1. Final set of drawings & nameplate info.
2. Transformer Test Report
3. Switching Operating Procedure (see Part 4 of the NESC)
4. Generator Characteristics Data (applicable to parallel generation projects)
 Thank you & Good luck!

Ref: Preventive Maintenance/ Electric Service Equipment By Neil LaBrake, Jr., PE