Old Transformer Services – You can’t win
225 KVA Dry Type Transformer For Sale
Many facilities are declaring their maintenance budget to be revenue neutral. Our recommendations for maintenance of old transformers are both condition based and time based. For example, one may recommend annual infrared scanning and annual dielectric fluid analysis on fluid filled power transformers, especially old or obsolete transformers. Whereas, old indoor dry type transformer should be cleaned and maintained based on their condition, their environment. A foundry would be more condition based than a commercial facility. A problem occurs when the conditioned based maintenance costs are unusually high in a particular year, say this year. Some maintenance supervisors have been told if they add cost in one area, they must remove cost somewhere else. Revenue neutral decision making. This can be roulette in some facilities that have a lot of old or aging equipment that really needs attention. Unfortunately what often happens is time scheduled maintenance is postponed in favor of condition based service. MIDWEST suggests a compromise. Review “Schedule Services” and perform those services on equipment that is most critical and has the poorest service condition. Likewise, service “Condition Based” equipment that is both the most critical and most in need of service. These decisions are only good “if nothing goes wrong.” If something goes wrong, then, of course, it will be attributed to you choosing poorly. You can’t win. You might escape the first year. But as the financial stress on the maintenance dollar continues, what seemed to work last year, now appears more reasonable to “do the same” this year. And next. Until something goes wrong. Then you lose. You chose poorly. We recommend reviewing the maintenance services on obsolete, old, and new equipment each year using the cumulative information of all the prior years. Do not go back just one year. Also, good luck.