ASCO Model 5170 Communication Module
Company X distributes dry goods and fresh foods to retailers. On a Monday morning, its regional facility manager learns that one of the firm’s satellite warehouses had lost utility power over the weekend. A fallen tree had damaged the overhead utility wires that bring power to the building. The backup generator started and supplied emergency power. Nevertheless, one of its cold storage rooms had warmed unacceptably because a distribution breaker supplying its refrigeration system had opened. The genset was now low on fuel. Staff at the site were trying to arrange electrical repairs and fuel delivery, while others were preparing to dispose of spoiled inventory.
Sound familiar? Power outages commonly affect businesses. In this instance, the facility could have responded quickly and limited the impact to its business and customers if key personnel had learned of the outage when it occurred.
Challenges
In running their facilities, personnel are routinely affected by a lack of real-time awareness of critical power conditions. These challenges include understanding the status of the normal and emergency power sources, learning when outages occur and when gensets start, and seeing the status of key power distribution devices and load equipment.
And it's not just during utility outages. Even during routine operations, access to power information can impact productivity and performance. For instance, for facilities without a power monitoring system, personnel may have to check the status of equipment manually, which requires someone to go to the equipment locations or the locations of any remote annunciators to check for alarms.
The impact of the lack of information increases with the distance between the operator and the backup equipment. Large facilities require greater time for staff to inspect equipment and annunciators, and remote facilities require someone to travel to the site to evaluate system status. In these scenarios, power events and conditions may be discovered only long after their initial onset.
Solution
Transfer switches provide functions that are vital to the effective use of backup power sources. Because they are located between power sources and loads, they are the perfect location for accessing information from the transfer switch itself as well as upstream power sources and downstream devices. Placing an ASCO Power Technologies monitoring and communications device into the switch enables it to be used as a gateway for critical power system information.
Connectivity
The Model 5170 Transfer Switch Communication Module (Accessory 72EE2) is ASCO Power Technologies’ solution to the problems that challenge facility personnel. Installed in ASCO Transfer switches, it connects, monitors, controls, and secures equipment in backup power systems. With four Ethernet ports, it can be connected to other transfer switches; to an engine-generator set to monitor its status and power acceptability; to a utility breaker, a generator breaker, or a power meter; or a downstream distribution breaker. Hardwire contacts are also available to annunciate and control generators, circuit breakers, and other power devices. Two proprietary ports can be used to connect the device to other ASCO power equipment. A conceptual configuration is shown below.
Company X distributes dry goods and fresh foods to retailers. On a Monday morning, its regional facility manager learns that one of the firm’s satellite warehouses had lost utility power over the weekend. A fallen tree had damaged the overhead utility wires that bring power to the building. The backup generator started and supplied emergency power. Nevertheless, one of its cold storage rooms had warmed unacceptably because a distribution breaker supplying its refrigeration system had opened. The genset was now low on fuel. Staff at the site were trying to arrange electrical repairs and fuel delivery, while others were preparing to dispose of spoiled inventory.
Sound familiar? Power outages commonly affect businesses. In this instance, the facility could have responded quickly and limited the impact to its business and customers if key personnel had learned of the outage when it occurred.
Challenges
In running their facilities, personnel are routinely affected by a lack of real-time awareness of critical power conditions. These challenges include understanding the status of the normal and emergency power sources, learning when outages occur and when gensets start, and seeing the status of key power distribution devices and load equipment.
And it's not just during utility outages. Even during routine operations, access to power information can impact productivity and performance. For instance, for facilities without a power monitoring system, personnel may have to check the status of equipment manually, which requires someone to go to the equipment locations or the locations of any remote annunciators to check for alarms.
The impact of the lack of information increases with the distance between the operator and the backup equipment. Large facilities require greater time for staff to inspect equipment and annunciators, and remote facilities require someone to travel to the site to evaluate system status. In these scenarios, power events and conditions may be discovered only long after their initial onset.
Solution
Transfer switches provide functions that are vital to the effective use of backup power sources. Because they are located between power sources and loads, they are the perfect location for accessing information from the transfer switch itself as well as upstream power sources and downstream devices. Placing an ASCO Power Technologies monitoring and communications device into the switch enables it to be used as a gateway for critical power system information.
Connectivity
The Model 5170 Transfer Switch Communication Module (Accessory 72EE2) is ASCO Power Technologies’ solution to the problems that challenge facility personnel. Installed in ASCO Transfer switches, it connects, monitors, controls, and secures equipment in backup power systems. With four Ethernet ports, it can be connected to other transfer switches; to an engine-generator set to monitor its status and power acceptability; to a utility breaker, a generator breaker, or a power meter; or a downstream distribution breaker. Hardwire contacts are also available to annunciate and control generators, circuit breakers, and other power devices. Two proprietary ports can be used to connect the device to other ASCO power equipment. A conceptual configuration is shown below.
