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11kV equipment

I cant find this with the old Google, but when we went to 11kV, we were advised that we needed a licensed/trained person to manage it, and anyone without such qualification could not enter the transformer compounds or RMU rooms. We subcontracted it to a third party and as such, we have no keys or access. 

 

Turns out, our other sites which have 11kV transformers, one is using the substation as a maintenance stores, and while it is big, and the stores is across the room from the transformer, its still the same room, and you could walk over and start pulling on levers on the RMU, tap changers etc. 

 

Another site has them caged in properly, but no appointed person. 

 

I'm trying to avoid making a huge fuss, but would like to advise them accurately, and I cant start that off with ‘I think I remember’, and ‘we do it like this’ 

Parents
  • If there are 11kV switches that can  be pulled, then there is clear scope for unskilled hands to wreak havoc. In practice the risk is low, as folk with any sense will leave well alone, but it is not the way things are supposed to be done, and as you suspect, access really should be formally limited to those who know what they are doing. 

    And depending exactly what, storing ‘stuff' in the space that is supposed to be left clear for a good  reason may be very unwise. High power kit has vents and arc chutes that must not be blocked.

    What you describe seems a bit surprising, so further enquiries are certainly in order. 

    To have a locked up room or box with no-one on site authorised to open it is not that uncommon, especially DNO transformers and similar kit, and that may have been the original intent, but the keys got left behind or the lock changed at some point.

    Mike

     

Reply
  • If there are 11kV switches that can  be pulled, then there is clear scope for unskilled hands to wreak havoc. In practice the risk is low, as folk with any sense will leave well alone, but it is not the way things are supposed to be done, and as you suspect, access really should be formally limited to those who know what they are doing. 

    And depending exactly what, storing ‘stuff' in the space that is supposed to be left clear for a good  reason may be very unwise. High power kit has vents and arc chutes that must not be blocked.

    What you describe seems a bit surprising, so further enquiries are certainly in order. 

    To have a locked up room or box with no-one on site authorised to open it is not that uncommon, especially DNO transformers and similar kit, and that may have been the original intent, but the keys got left behind or the lock changed at some point.

    Mike

     

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