How do you ensure safe operations using a remote switching tool that’s normally held in place with magnets when your equipment has a fiberboard enclosure? A utility customer recently came to us looking to install remote switch actuators on Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) 12-40PL switches. These switches are found all over many major cities in customers’ incoming service vaults. The unique aspect is they are installed in GPO-3 insulating board boxes. Challenge accepted!
Our hardworking team of engineers and technicians collaborated with the local team to create a design that uses the existing escutcheon plate/frame of the FPE PL switch and allows the RSA-228 actuator to sit on top of the switch. It is secured with brackets that lock it onto the faceplate. The modified design includes two pieces to make installation/removal easy and to provide full range of motion when charging/closing the switch. This was no easy task. Our engineers made several trips to the site to create four different working prototype models before getting to the final product, the new RSK-FPE PL remote switch kit. See it in action in the video below.
The customer is currently performing field trials and plans to roll these out across their locations once the design is finalized for full-scale deployment. Great job, team!
At CBS ArcSafe, we pride ourselves on being able to solve problems and create custom solutions for your applications. As a Group CBS company, we work with our partners around the country to keep customers in the electrical distribution industry safe. Contact us today to discuss your current projects.