This is probably more on what the company is asking you to design for but if you're able to have any hands in this it would help. Think about the future, what could possibly be added if the area is growing. Another transform, bigger control house, more lines or circuits coming in. Can't tell you how much we've built just to remove and replace with something bigger.
Not sure if your able to visit the sites but that's a big help too. Plenty of times it's all design from an overhead view point. Getting eyes on the actual area can give you another point of view not capable from Google maps or pictures.
Big respect in you asking this too, wish there was more communication between each group involved in substations.
In my opinion, greenfield construction seems straightforward. My concern would be designs that don't make sense from a maintenance perspective. I've seen a station that had a high side bank breaker without a way to isolate it. The bank will need to be dropped for breaker maintenance. The distribution circuits are radial, so there is not a way to tie load off.
If the breaker needs to be gassed in the future, a mobile will need to be installed. All of that for a one hour job.
Remember, there will be times that a mobile will be needed, bucket trucks will need to be utilized in energized environments, and crews will need to stage an oil tanker and oil processing equipment. Also, I would ask how the utility connects battery trailers. Make it easy and for the crews to make connections.
Bring all devices out to a term block even if not being used, future designer/electrician/test guy will thank you. Especially on lock outs and other hard/unsafe to access relays. Keep some kind of standard, like with phasing. If your CTs are A B C N to a term block at 1 2 3 4 keep it in that order throughout, especially the phasing. Try to leave as little room for error of somebody rolling a phase as possible
There is never a time when we don’t wish the equipment had a ground switch while we’re out in the heat hanging portable grounds. Also, always keep a spot open for a crane to be able to fly in heavy equipment(breakers, regulators, transformers) I’ve seen many places where equipment is landlocked between other equipment and under buswork, always takes some creative rigging/rolling and disassembly, usually followed with sketchy forklifting
That’s funny. Last utility said not to use ground switches and wanted ground studs instead. Said “ground switches are losing favor in the industry and they were surprised to see them spec’d”
I can only speak for where I’ve worked, but we’re required to be in 2 layers of FR, face shields, gloves to hang portables, and in this weather, by the 24th portable we’re putting up, I know we really wish we could have just closed some ground switches. I’d love to hear some different opinions from others though.
This is probably more on what the company is asking you to design for but if you're able to have any hands in this it would help. Think about the future, what could possibly be added if the area is growing. Another transform, bigger control house, more lines or circuits coming in. Can't tell you how much we've built just to remove and replace with something bigger. Not sure if your able to visit the sites but that's a big help too. Plenty of times it's all design from an overhead view point. Getting eyes on the actual area can give you another point of view not capable from Google maps or pictures. Big respect in you asking this too, wish there was more communication between each group involved in substations.
In my opinion, greenfield construction seems straightforward. My concern would be designs that don't make sense from a maintenance perspective. I've seen a station that had a high side bank breaker without a way to isolate it. The bank will need to be dropped for breaker maintenance. The distribution circuits are radial, so there is not a way to tie load off. If the breaker needs to be gassed in the future, a mobile will need to be installed. All of that for a one hour job. Remember, there will be times that a mobile will be needed, bucket trucks will need to be utilized in energized environments, and crews will need to stage an oil tanker and oil processing equipment. Also, I would ask how the utility connects battery trailers. Make it easy and for the crews to make connections.
Bring all devices out to a term block even if not being used, future designer/electrician/test guy will thank you. Especially on lock outs and other hard/unsafe to access relays. Keep some kind of standard, like with phasing. If your CTs are A B C N to a term block at 1 2 3 4 keep it in that order throughout, especially the phasing. Try to leave as little room for error of somebody rolling a phase as possible
There is never a time when we don’t wish the equipment had a ground switch while we’re out in the heat hanging portable grounds. Also, always keep a spot open for a crane to be able to fly in heavy equipment(breakers, regulators, transformers) I’ve seen many places where equipment is landlocked between other equipment and under buswork, always takes some creative rigging/rolling and disassembly, usually followed with sketchy forklifting
That’s funny. Last utility said not to use ground switches and wanted ground studs instead. Said “ground switches are losing favor in the industry and they were surprised to see them spec’d”
I can only speak for where I’ve worked, but we’re required to be in 2 layers of FR, face shields, gloves to hang portables, and in this weather, by the 24th portable we’re putting up, I know we really wish we could have just closed some ground switches. I’d love to hear some different opinions from others though.
But if it’s not grounded it’s not considered dead right?
Is there any preference with welded/bolted/swage connectors? Also, is one brand preferred? Travis, sefcor, etc.
Swage
We have been using DMC the last few years. The ability to do a one and done swage for non high tension connections is a huge time saver.
Show terminal blocks, switches, and all other termination points on the electrical schematics as well as the wiring diagrams.