?Safety Switchboard, Inc.?

[charlie b]

I have a project at a National Park that involves replacing mechanical equipment at a visitor?s center. The main board is a 120/240V, single phase, 600 amp switchboard made by "Safety Switchboard, Inc." The date on the name plate is 1964. The project budget does not (yet) allow for replacement of the main board. Since there will be new mechanical components, as well as replacement of existing ones, I am concerned about getting new breakers for this old board. Can anyone share any knowledge or experience with this company in specific, and with adding breakers to equipment that is 50 years old?

 

[Jraef]

When I was getting into this industry in the late 70s, there was still a small custom swgr. mfr called Safety Switchboard and Mfg. Co. in downtown San Francisco (who used to be called Butte Electric Mfg. Co. before WWII, because it still said that on the building). I don't know if that is the same, but I know that at that time, they specialized in marine "Naval" switchgear because I used to sell them ITE marine duty circuit breakers. As a result of doing Navy stuff, they were mostly involved in shipyard work and other government contracts so it's entirely conceivable that they may have supplied gear for a National Park bid. They died right around that time though, (probably something like 1979-1980?) when the last of the big San Francisco shipyards closed down. I left that supply company in 1981 and they had already tanked by then. Don't know how helpful that is, but I do know that if it was the same company, I don't recall having ever had a single discussion about interrupting capacity, fault duty etc., but then again, I only discussed Navy rated equipment, for which that had little importance.

Still, if it were me, I would be loathe to lend my name to old gear like that where it is highly unlikely that it would meet modern safety standards for switchgear.

 

[charlie b]

Thanks, Jraef. I was able to confirm the San Francisco connection. So this project is going to be tricky. I am thinking that if all I have to do is connect existing breakers to new wires to feed new components, then I can disregard the switchboard's ratings. But if I have to add new breakers (and good luck finding ones that can be used), then I will have to verify the available fault current and the AIC rating of the existing main breaker. That could disrupt the project a bit, I fear.

 

[mgookin]

Is that building still in san fran? You might find some parts laying around!

 

[Jraef]

Is that building still in san fran? You might find some parts laying around!

Nah, it's a freeway off ramp now.

I know they used ITE breakers almost exclusively at the time, they bought them direct for everything else but the company I worked for had exclusive rights to the Naval qualified breakers, the ones that had the shock and vibration ratings for use on battleships. The old Siemens Sentron breakers that they still sell are basically the exact same frames and designs from ITE, they would likely drop right in.

 

[norcal]

X2 on Safety Switchboard using ITE breakers, think I have a relic of a panelboard w/ a interior using ITE BQ breakers.


Here is a shot of a old label from a 1962 480V switchboard, if my memory serves me, it used Vacu-Break fusible switches.




When it was built, I would not turn two for another 4 months.:lol:

 

[charlie b]

Here is a shot of a old label from a 1962 480V switchboard, if my memory serves me, it used Vacu-Break fusible switches.

That is exactly the same type of nameplate on the switchgear that I am dealing with. The PM suggested that there might be a supplier who specializes in spare parts for old boards - kind of a junk man. We may have to try that solution. I am hoping that the mechanical design will allow me to simply connect replacement wires to existing breakers, and not require any additional breakers to be installed.

 

[Jraef]

That is exactly the same type of nameplate on the switchgear that I am dealing with. The PM suggested that there might be a supplier who specializes in spare parts for old boards - kind of a junk man. We may have to try that solution. I am hoping that the mechanical design will allow me to simply connect replacement wires to existing breakers, and not require any additional breakers to be installed.

Try a company near Sacramento called Pacific Coast Breakers. They have a manufacturing division called PCS Electrical Products that specifically makes retrofit kits to put new breakers into old gear. Those guys have amassed an impressive set of design drawings from all kinds of old obsolete equipment, I would bet they have info on that stuff. But if not, they may even send someone out to take measurements (for a fee). Their whole specialty is making bus adapters and the sheet metal trim parts you would need.
http://www.pacificcoastbreaker.com/Accessories/

Actually, it looks as though they now have their own website.
http://www.pcsep.com/contact/

 

[qcroanoke]

Zog may have a line on something that is acceptable.