Rules and Guidelines
Want to participate in the discussions? Please read our Community Rules and Guidelines. Need some help? Visit Support and Answers.

  • Replies 2 replies
  • Subscribers 15 subscribers
  • Views 292 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
You may also be interested in

Panel Build Standards

Sean Pretlove

Colleagues

I recently attended a UK FAT  test of a piece of equipment and opened one of the on machine panels to find very poor wiring standards.
My initial reaction was horror as this is a brand new piece of equipment, but as I punched further into the requirements and standards I couldn't find significant fault ?
Is there a national standard for quality of panel build that on machine panels should be measured against?

I am giving a little away by admitting I've consulted 60204 & 60204 part 32 and it becomes a matter of opinion in certain areas.

However for a newly supplied piece of equipment to be CE UKCA marked for industrial use I'm a little shocked by the suppliers remarks that its their standard "of the shelf" quality standard for new equipment. ?

When challenged the supplier seemed quite confident in the quality provided so assume had been challenged previously.

I could pick up some on machine wiring issues versus the 18th edition but I'm a little stumped:-
BS EN 61439 (many parts) 2009 - 2012 Low-voltage switchgear and control gear assemblies
BS 5424 Parts 2 and 3, also IEC 60158 part 3 1985 - 1988 Specification for low voltage control gear
BS EN 60947 Parts 1-8 2001 - 2011 Specification for low voltage switch gear and control gear

Cheers
Sean Pretlove

Parents

  • It may be that I swim at the shallow end too much, but that photo does not look that bad to me ;-)   The thing that would worry me most is if suitable de-rating factors have been used for the tightly bundled sections, and there are some beautiful looking installations out there with that fault.

    I agree its not neat, but that on its own is not a hazard.  It also partly depends which standards the manufacturer has decided that CE marking requires.

    Seeing lots of red and black I'm wondering about the voltage bands, and labeling of conductors ?

    IF the kit vibrates, as a control panel on a genset might,  then the retention of the wiring may not be adequate....

    Mike.

  • in reply to mapj1

    With a little time to reflect, I’m also softening a little to the extent I would present this query to the group. I do think it’s poor and below my standard but is it wrong ? Possibly not. 
    The red wires are 110v ac but not centre tapped to earth, so technically okay to bundle together with 3 ph. At the moment I’m having a problem accepting it 

Reply
  • in reply to mapj1

    With a little time to reflect, I’m also softening a little to the extent I would present this query to the group. I do think it’s poor and below my standard but is it wrong ? Possibly not. 
    The red wires are 110v ac but not centre tapped to earth, so technically okay to bundle together with 3 ph. At the moment I’m having a problem accepting it 

Children
No Data

Join us to get the best from IET EngX.

Joining EngX lets you personalise your experience so you stay up to date on the topics that interest you, plus you’ll be able to make connections who are looking to collaborate, exchange ideas and more.

Join us Not now

Community Rules & Guidelines