What You Need To Know About Routine Transformer Maintenance
Working with transformers can be dangerous — after all, they produce electricity in high voltages. However, it becomes even more dangerous when the transformer hasn't been properly maintained. Learn more about routine transformer maintenance.
Routine Transformer Maintenance
Many people think about transformers in the same way they think about lights in their home — if it's working, everything is fine. Unfortunately, with transformers, that isn't the case. There can be issues with your transformer even if it still seems to be running fine. Having your transformers regularly inspected and tested helps prevent explosions and fires.
Check with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to see how often your equipment is required to be tested. They have set standards for inspection frequencies on all electrical equipment and transformers. Remember, as an employer, you have a responsibility to keep your job sites as safe as possible. Part of doing that is making sure your transformers are regularly serviced.
When it's time to have your transformer inspected, contact a transformer repair service to do the job. During the inspection, the technician cleans the interior components of the transfer and completes power tests to test things such as the transformer's turns ratio, power/dissipation factor, and winding resistance predictive measurements.
Transformer Testing
Unfortunately, you can't test your transformer on your own. However, the technician that inspects your transformer can obtain a sample of the oil and send it to a lab that tests oil from transformers. Experts analyze the oil sample, looking for several different factors including: moisture content, contaminants, and combustible gases. They also test the oil to see how well it reacts to different voltages of electricity. These tests will tell you how likely it is that your transformer will blow up — which you probably don't want to happen at a job site — as well as whether there is an air gap inside the transformer that needs to be filled with nitrogen.
If there is an air gap, you'll need to contact a transformer repair service as soon as possible. Air gaps are caused by oxygen leaking into the transformer. When this happens, the combustible gases in the transformer can build up, which could result in an explosion.
If you want your transformer to last as long as possible and you'd like to avoid electrical fires and explosions on your job site, you should have your transformers professionally inspected. If there is any problem at all, stop using the transformer and call a transformer repair service to have it fixed as soon as possible.
