factoryrat
Member
- Location
- Detroit
The other day I was told to restart a 3 Phase, 480 volt, 150 HP pump motor that was not running. When I got to the Motor Starter location I observed a Red Fault indicator light was illuminated on the front of the Motor Disconnect Panel. I could not restart the motor with the panel mounted START PB. I turned off the panel disconnect and opened the Panel door and discovered an A/B SMC-FLEX Soft Starter inside. I reenergized the disconnect switch with the Panel door open so I could see the SMC-FLEX Display. I was able to restart the pump motor and watched the start-up current climb up to approximately 460 amps before tripping the Soft Starter O/L and giving me an O/L FAULT on the SMC-FLEX Display.
We cleared the plugged pump problem and finally got the motor driven pump running again.
My question is this: Is this a common practice to put a Soft Starter inside an enclosure like this? You cannot see the SMC-Flex Display with the panel door closed. Also you can?t change or look at the parameters without having the Disconnect/Starter Panel door open. I have a Safety Tag posted on the Panel door telling me this is a dangerous area when the Disconnect/Starter Panel door is open.
The above mentioned Starter setup seems to me to be an unsafe setup. I would like opinions and comments on what you think. At our plant safety and safe practices are very important and my common sense tells me we could improve on this panel. I do not see any NEC violations ? do you? It just seems like it could be done better/safer but I do not see how at the moment.
I got a couple pictures of this setup I'd like to post too but can't figure out how as of now.
We cleared the plugged pump problem and finally got the motor driven pump running again.
My question is this: Is this a common practice to put a Soft Starter inside an enclosure like this? You cannot see the SMC-Flex Display with the panel door closed. Also you can?t change or look at the parameters without having the Disconnect/Starter Panel door open. I have a Safety Tag posted on the Panel door telling me this is a dangerous area when the Disconnect/Starter Panel door is open.
The above mentioned Starter setup seems to me to be an unsafe setup. I would like opinions and comments on what you think. At our plant safety and safe practices are very important and my common sense tells me we could improve on this panel. I do not see any NEC violations ? do you? It just seems like it could be done better/safer but I do not see how at the moment.
I got a couple pictures of this setup I'd like to post too but can't figure out how as of now.