SPI4000 smart primary injection test system
The SPI4000 is a high current primary injection test system with the flexibility to test, via primary injection, a wide variety of devices, including low voltage power circuit breakers, moulded-case circuit breakers equipped with thermal magnetic or electronic trip devices, overcurrent relays, and thermal relays. Designed to accommodate circuit breakers with ratings of up to 4000 Amps frame size, the SPI4000 fully complies with NEMA AB-4 test guidelines.
The SPI system is the first high current test system that allows you to type in a predetermined current amplitude and will then generate and regulate the requested high current without preheating the test sample by pulsing the output current at high amplitudes. Additionally, the SPI system has the unique ability to turn on at the current zero crossing every time for any load by automatically adjusting the output firing angle. This eliminates DC offset for all circuit breaker types and eliminates the need for you to determine and manually adjust the firing angle for various loads and circuit breakers.
Short-time pickup not tripping
The SPI4000 sends output pulses that are 130 % of the maximum trip time on the curve. When testing with a generic breaker form, make sure the maximum trip time is correctly filled out. If necessary, the advanced setting will enable you to configure a longer pulse duration.
Long-time pickup is not recording accurately
To perform long-time pickup tests, the SPI finds 80 % of the pickup current, then gradually increases the current. You are then prompted to press the “Simulate Breaker Trip” button on the top right of the screen when pickup occurs, as indicated by the light on the breaker’s trip unit which will be blinking or remaining solid. Next, the SPI begins to decrease the current, and you should press the button again when the pickup drops out, indicated by the pickup light turning off on the trip unit. Finally, the SPI increases the current once more, this time at half the speed of the initial increment. You should press the button a third time as soon as the pickup indicator/light comes on again. This process enhances the accuracy of the recorded pickup current. If the long-time pickup is not recording accurately, the user can select “advanced settings” before the test to configure the ramp. The time can be slowed down if it’s occurring too quickly for you, enabling you to avoid inaccuracies.
The unit shows a ground loss alarm
For proper operation, the unit must be connected to earth/ground (hereafter referred to as ground). The output will not be energised unless the unit detects a secure grounding connection. Please ensure that there is a solid and secure connection to ground.
During an instantaneous pickup test, there is an error indicating that the breaker tripped and the unit is now suggesting that I lower the starting current
During an instantaneous pickup test, the SPI will first ramp up to 80 % of the requested current and then continue to ramp up to the requested current. If 80 % of the requested current trips the breaker, then the “Lower Starting Current” message will appear. This indicates that the starting current was too high and caused the breaker to trip before it could reach the requested current.
There are several ways to address this issue. You can lower the requested current to ensure the starting current is below the breaker’s trip threshold. Alternatively, you can adjust the settings to reduce the percentage of requested current from 80 % to 60 % or 70 %. Additionally, it’s worth checking the short-time settings on the breaker’s trip unit, as unadjusted settings can also cause the breaker to trip prematurely before reaching the instantaneous pickup current.
I am not able to get a high current out of the test set
Two primary factors significantly influence the output current achievable from any primary injection test set.
- Input voltage – The output magnitude is proportional to the input voltage. If you have a weak source or high resistance input leads, these factors can result in a reduction in output power.
- Connections to the test specimen – Connections to the test specimen have a considerable effect on the current magnitude the instrument can deliver. Connection through the breaker stabs is crucial and can introduce resistance. Ensure a proper connection is established through the stabs and the proper bus size is being used. If the stabs are loose in the finger clusters of the breaker, it might be possible to add bus spacers between the test set stab and the breaker connection to further tighten the connection. If using flexible stabs, the output current will be reduced as this type of conductor has a higher resistance when compared to solid connections. For example, to push 30 000 amps through a breaker at 10 V, the output circuit resistance must be 330 micro-ohms or below. Any extra bus or a loose connection will add resistance and quickly limit the amount of current the unit can deliver.
How can the SPI4000 be loaded in a van, truck, or trailer?
The SPI4000 can be lifted with a forklift using the under carriage of the unit. Additionally, straps or chains could be attached to the unit’s lifting eyes. For ease of loading in vans or trailers, there are two eye hooks on the side that allow the SPI4000 to be hoisted up a ramp.
What type of wheels are on the SPI4000?
We offer two models. One model features wheels similar to the DDA units, which are solid wheels. These wheels are great for concrete floors and will not go flat. The second model is equipped with pneumatic wheels, which are recommended for navigating rough terrain.
Do existing DDA breaker stabs work with the SPI4000?
The SPI4000 comes with an adaptor plate that allows existing DDA stabs to work with the unit. It also has a connection point for flexible stabs.
Can the SPI4000 work with a 240 V input?
The SPI4000 is autosensing and will detect and operate on 240 V. You don’t need to change taps or anything else as the unit will autosense input voltage.
What size generator is recommended to be used with the SPI4000?
We recommend that you use a 150 kVA or larger generator with the SPI4000. Nevertheless, the SPI4000 can generate sufficient current to test most breakers, even with a generator as small as 75 kVA.
SPI4000'de ne tür tekerlekler bulunur?
İki model sunuyoruz. Bir model, DDA ünitelerine benzeyen dolgu tekerleklere sahiptir. Bu tekerlekler beton zeminler için mükemmeldir ve patlamaz. İkinci model, engebeli arazilerde yol almak için önerilen pnömatik tekerleklerle donatılmıştır.
How many amps can the unit provide through a 4000-amp breaker.
The SPI4000 has been tested with several different 4000-amp and 3200- amp breakers using the CBS2 or CBS3 stabs, and in all cases the unit was able to deliver 40 000 amps.
The unit is supplied with 15 ft input cables. Can longer input cables be used on the SPI4000?
The output current of the unit is considerably affected by the strength of the source. At 480 V, the SPI can draw up to 800 amps (for a very short time during instantaneous tests). Adding 40 ft of cable will result in a 1 % voltage drop, which roughly corresponds to a similar loss in output capability.
The data sheet shows a 225 amp input. Will the SPI4000 work on a 100 amp breaker?
The SPI4000 will work on a smaller breaker, such as a 100 amp one, and its output is similar to that of a DDA high current test set. You can expect similar performance as you would from a DDA on a 100 amp breaker. However, it’s important to note that the output of the SPI4000 (or any high current test set) is influenced by the voltage drop experienced during operation. A 100 amp breaker is typically fed by smaller wire compared to a 225 amp breaker. During high current tests, such as an instantaneous test, the SPI can draw over 800 amps of current, and the voltage drop will be more pronounced on a 100 amp service than it would be on a 225 amp service. Since this high current is typically of very short duration, the 100 amp breaker will not trip. However, the voltage sag may be more significant, slightly limiting the unit’s full output capability.
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