Square D - IPaCS

[ptrip]

Specifically the IPC2 ... an experience out there?

I have a school where I'm getting very limited electrical space. We are required, of course, to have separate Life Safety and Emergency systems in addition to the standard normal power distribution. While perusing the Square D digest looking for something else I happened upon the IPC2 system where I can put, in one enclosure, a 480V NF panel, a 208V QO panel and a 480:208 xfmr. This fits in a 24x42 enclosure ... compared to the standard panel, xfmr, panel lineup on the wall. I was thinking about one of these for LS and one for EM.

Once I started looking at it closer and spoke with the mfr rep I started thinking of more ways to use this system (combining lineups of panels into one smaller integrated enclosure) ... and also wondered why I have never used it before. I assume I haven't because the other way is "the way we've always done it". I'm now at a company where my interest in products is actually given merit ... what a concept! :grin:

So ... it's compact, but it's 24" deep so I believe there's probably plenty of conduit space above it. The interconnections are factory pre-wired, so theoretically install would be faster/easier. It's more expensive at the outset ... would I actually see any of the install savings that are possible that the reps claim? :roll:

In this one project I don't really have another option ... but it seems like it would be a good product to use typically.

http://static.schneider-electric.us...tegrated Power Center 2 (IPC2)/2230BR0701.pdf

Square D is where I found it ... but Siemens and, I believe, Cutler-Hammer offer similar gear.

Thoughts?

Pam

 

[masterinbama]

I wish they had speced these on the last job I did. We could have pulled 1 480V feeder to the numerous electrical closets instead of one for each panel (6 per closet times 16 closets). The savings in conduit and wire alone should more than offset the initial increase in cost. Granted the feeders would have been larger but eliminating 80 runs of conduit of various sizes would have saved tons of conduit,wire pulling and terminating labor.

 

[benaround]

ptrip,

All the IPC enclosures are 91.5" tall, and the panels still need seperate feeds.

IMO, they still save time and are easy to work with.

 

[PCN]

We are looking at going with a similar type of switchgear as well. In a few areas, depth of equipment is critical.

Cutler Hammer has what they call an IFS line of gear, some of the combined panel sections can be as shallow as 18".

We (like you) are hoping for a savings in labor and gain valuable floor space at the same time. We are also leaning toward Cutler Hammer because it is more affordable equipment.

The only thing I'm not totally sold on is having a transformer directly below a panelboard in the same cabinet. Seems like a lot of added heat for the conductors and breakers????


http://www.eaton.com/EatonCom/Marke...tribution/IntegratedFacilitySystems/index.htm

 

[roger]

Pam, we have used them before and they are great. Believe it or not, one of the times we used one was in a school project.

It was no big deal but, the transformer in that one was wired wrong from the factory.


Roger