Extending the Life of Your Industrial Electrical Equipment

Reliable electrical switchgear systems are vital to your facility's safety and operational success. Your switchgear's lifespan depends on its voltage rating, working environment, hours of use, quality of maintenance, and quality of its electrical components. While most switchgear systems are built to withstand decades of regular use, the equipment will age and eventually need to be replaced. Aging equipment is more vulnerable to failure, resulting in downtime, safety risks, and excess maintenance costs.

Plant owners and managers want their switchgear to last as long as possible, as complete replacement usually represents a significant capital investment. Modernization and life extension solutions are often the wisest choice when the purchase of new equipment presents the following challenges:

• Inability to withstand long periods of downtime
• Limited budget for the purchase and installation of new equipment
• Limited bandwidth or expertise within the electrical maintenance department
• Limited floor space available for new switchgear

Eaton provides switchgear modernization as a cost-effective alternative, partnering with Wesco to deliver these solutions to customers. These modernization solutions include reconditioning existing equipment and replacing circuit breakers and other electrical components. Electrical experts from both companies work with you to understand the challenges of your existing systems and identify the ideal solution for your timeline and budget. Eaton's life extension and switchgear modernization solutions offer multiple business benefits:

1. Increased Reliability

Modernized switchgear provides enhanced reliability and improved overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). These solutions include modern circuit breaker and trip unit technology to ensure increased mechanical endurance.

On-going maintenance is also simplified after modernization. Eaton and Wesco can provide all spare parts that may be needed in the future, eliminating the need to locate and stock a variety of components from multiple manufacturers. Finally, all modernized switchgear will have the same warranty and lifecycle, making future upgrades and expenses more predictable.

2. Improved Safety

Aging plant equipment often lacks safety features that protect workers from hazards such as arc flashes, overheating, fires, and dangerous leaks. Eaton’s switchgear modernization techniques can add several safety features to your existing power system, including arc flash mitigation, upgraded breakers, remote racking, and protective relays.

3. Minimized Risk

In 2023, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70B shifted from “Recommended Practice” to a “Standard,” containing mandatory language for electrical maintenance programs. Much like NFPA 70E, NFPA 70B outlines the minimum consensus requirements for safe electrical work practices and can be utilized by OSHA to issue citations. Switchgear modernization ensures that your business is meeting the latest electrical standards.

4. Reduced Downtime

A total equipment replacement will require more downtime because it requires completely removing old switchgear infrastructure. By contrast, a renovation requires minimal downtime because the existing external structure remains intact. Many switchgear modernization solutions can be completed in just a few hours.

5. Lower cost

Switchgear modernization solutions are more cost-effective than total replacement. The original infrastructure footprint is left intact, and the existing conduit and cables can usually remain in place. This allows for substantial savings in labor costs. As previously mentioned, downtime is minimized as compared to a complete replacement, which decreases revenue loss. Switchgear modernization upgrades can also be performed on an incremental basis to diffuse the financial impact.

Conclusion

Switchgear modernization is a cost-effective way to extend the useful life of your facility's electrical equipment. This solution improves OEE and overall safety while requiring less downtime than a complete equipment replacement. Together, Wesco and Eaton can quickly troubleshoot your electrical equipment issues and deliver a customized switchgear modernization solution for your facility.