Second hand switch gear

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Johnnybob

Johnnybob

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Colville, WA
I'm not sure if this is the correct place for this post, but to me it seems like a safety issue.
The boss bought 5 sections of A-B Centerline MCC at auction. Somewhere in it's travels, it was laid flat on its back, then motored around on a fork lift in the same position. Now the back is bent in in two places where the forks were.It's bent off plane about 1/2" in one spot, and a full inch in the other. Right over the horz. buss, of course, leaving buss clearance of 1 1/2" and 1" respectively. Where would I find minimum buss clearances, and is this gonna turn into Hiroshima when I power it up? Repair is problematic, as everything inside is plastic except the buss, leaving nothing to really lever against.
Thank you for any help on this matter:)
 
I wouldn't sweat it too much, assuming the metal isn't so bent out of shape that it could easily be pushed in any farther making the clearance any less. Is it just the sheetmetal on the back that's bent or did the frame and mounting holes on the side take some damage too?

It's too bad you're not closer, we could give you the backs off a couple sections of AB MCC that we're sending off for scrap. They are new but were ordered the wrong size(15" deep instead of 20"). Fortunately, we only needed the buckets out of them and not the sections themselves!!!
 
Cow said:
I wouldn't sweat it too much, assuming the metal isn't so bent out of shape that it could easily be pushed in any farther making the clearance any less. Is it just the sheetmetal on the back that's bent or did the frame and mounting holes on the side take some damage too?

It's too bad you're not closer, we could give you the backs off a couple sections of AB MCC that we're sending off for scrap. They are new but were ordered the wrong size(15" deep instead of 20"). Fortunately, we only needed the buckets out of them and not the sections themselves!!!
Click to expand...
My guess is you purchased the complete assembly because it would have cost more to buy the components individually?
 
you can probably get it fixed as another poster mentioned. Worst case is if it bothers you put some insulating material between the bus and where the wall bow in. I have used polycarbonate for this kind of thing. supposed to be 300+ V per mil.
 
Cow said:
I wouldn't sweat it too much, assuming the metal isn't so bent out of shape that it could easily be pushed in any farther making the clearance any less. Is it just the sheetmetal on the back that's bent or did the frame and mounting holes on the side take some damage too?

It's too bad you're not closer, we could give you the backs off a couple sections of AB MCC that we're sending off for scrap. They are new but were ordered the wrong size(15" deep instead of 20"). Fortunately, we only needed the buckets out of them and not the sections themselves!!!
Click to expand...
Thank you. No the frame is bent where the sections bolt together. I think I might be able to take a piece of bar stock to lay across and pull it out with a Bessy clamp. From what I've heard so far, I shouldn't let it bother me, but I do:) Got another whole inch to go to armageddon, but this is a sawmill, and stuff happens. Seems like qualifications for fork lift drivers is the ability to show up 3 days a week:(
 
Johnnybob said:
I'm not sure if this is the correct place for this post, but to me it seems like a safety issue.
The boss bought 5 sections of A-B Centerline MCC at auction. Somewhere in it's travels, it was laid flat on its back, then motored around on a fork lift in the same position. Now the back is bent in in two places where the forks were.It's bent off plane about 1/2" in one spot, and a full inch in the other. Right over the horz. buss, of course, leaving buss clearance of 1 1/2" and 1" respectively. Where would I find minimum buss clearances, and is this gonna turn into Hiroshima when I power it up? Repair is problematic, as everything inside is plastic except the buss, leaving nothing to really lever against.
Thank you for any help on this matter:)
Click to expand...

I would be concerned, at the very least have a testing company come in and do full run of commissioning tests on it before energizing.
 
Johnnybob said:
I'm not sure if this is the correct place for this post, but to me it seems like a safety issue.
The boss bought 5 sections of A-B Centerline MCC at auction. Somewhere in it's travels, it was laid flat on its back, then motored around on a fork lift in the same position. Now the back is bent in in two places where the forks were.It's bent off plane about 1/2" in one spot, and a full inch in the other. Right over the horz. buss, of course, leaving buss clearance of 1 1/2" and 1" respectively. Where would I find minimum buss clearances, and is this gonna turn into Hiroshima when I power it up? Repair is problematic, as everything inside is plastic except the buss, leaving nothing to really lever against.
Thank you for any help on this matter:)
Click to expand...

if you are really concerned, there is disposable 1,000 volt certified blanket you can
buy in rolls. it's 36" wide, 30' long, and you can cut, fit, and do what you need to.
rolls are individually tested, with a cert number on the edge of the material, and
do not need re certification.

i've used it to make something safe where there could be reduced clearance.

Burlington Safety Equipment sells it.
EL-250Y $382.80 a roll was the quote they gave me.
the website sells it for $425. go figure.


http://electrical-protective-equipment.burlingtonsafety.com/item/blankets/roll-blanket/el25y
 
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but if an A-B CenterLine MCC is ever tilted more than 30 degrees from vertical, it voids the warranty because the bus insulation and bracing is a solid one-piece molded part. If the MCC structure flexes, you get micro-fractures in the glastic and it can fail during a fault, which is the only time you really need it! There is no testing (short of destructive x-rays) that can determine if it is safe to use.

When new, they are all shipped with "Tip-N-Tell" devices that show if they have ever been tilted more than 30 degrees.

PS:
Sorry, after being redesigned for seismic withstand a few years ago the maximum angle from vertical is now 45 degrees, but the difference is moot here.
 
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