Our first course for 2010 is aimed at a basic level; predominately "hands-on" to provide the maximum opportunity for attendees to learn practical skills for testing, commissioning and troubleshooting REG-D/DA voltage regulator installations.

This one day course, to be held at our Auckland facility, will be limited to 10 participants.

Please register with Vladimir Brijacek (ph 09 304 1685). Course cost is $550+GST.

Please keep the provisional date free for "DIGSI & SIPROTEC Relays - Introductory Training", 6th May 2010.

To future proof and protect the value of your investment, the REG-DA can be ordered with IEC 61850 hardware, but enabled with DNP protocol. Essentially the REG-DA is supplied with all the hardware for IEC 61850 connection (including optical interface if selected), but that protocol is not loaded. Instead the DNP 3:00 serial protocol is loaded and made available via standard RS232 or 485 interface.

This allows a REG-DA to be installed and connected to existing DNP SCADA systems. When you are ready to roll out IEC 61850 at your subs, simply upgrade the protocol/firmware of the REG-DA to enable IEC 61850.

Adding IEC 61850 hardware capability at this stage adds approximately $1500+GST to the cost of the regulator, but is a substantially cheaper alternative than having to remove and upgrade the device later.

This capability is also available for REG-D Voltage Regulator.

A common issue that’s often overlooked when selecting surge protection devices is in matching the device to the short circuit rating of the system that is to be protected. For a typical DEHN MOV based device, if the circuit capacity is above 125A, then series fuses need to be installed in front of the surge protection device. In contrast other manufacturers’ devices usually require external fusing if circuit capacity is above only 25A! Given the cost and difficulty of installing fuses, a cheaper option is sometimes to use a different MOV rating, or a spark-gap surge protector device that has a higher backup rating (160 to 315A).

DEHN now have the ultimate solution with their DEHNGuard CI range, which incorporates internal fuses. The DEHNGuard CI range can be used on any circuit capacity with short circuit ratings of up to 25kA.

Always check the installation instructions for the specific fusing requirements of the device before installing.

It’s important not to get blind-sided by the sophistication or cleverness of using a multifunction device/ hammer to crack/solve small protection and control issues – especially when time and cost are key.

RMS 700 Series is a range of single function electronic monitoring and measuring relays that provide a no frills approach to detecting phase failure, over or under voltage or frequency, very basic over current or providing simple time delay. Also included are devices for sensing temperature and liquid level.

These modular relays are compact in size and have been designed to the demanding IEC 255 specs for use in substations and for generator, compressor, motor and mobile applications where shock and vibration are issues.

RMS 700 series also come with a 10 year warranty

So Keep It Simple Sam and take a look at RMS 700 Series….