Transcript read through our EC Slideshow - Master Control Systems, Inc.

Master Control Systems, Inc.
Fire pump controllers must
comply with current codes.
• National Fire Protection Association
(Pamphlet #20).
• Underwriters Laboratories.
• Factory Mutual.
• Local ordinances. (AHJ)
But…
do any of these
standards address the
long-term reliability of
the system?
NFPA Pamphlet #20
• Provides minimum requirements for
functionality of equipment.
• Provides minimum requirements for
field performance.
• Relies on “listed” equipment to verify
conformance.
Underwriters Laboratories and
Factory Mutual
• “List” or “approve” fire pump
controllers in compliance with NFPA
20, but they don’t evaluate quality or
long term reliability issues such as:
• Transients immunity
• Electro-magnetic Interference
• Circuit Board Protection
• Product Life Cycle
So who is responsible for
quality and long term
reliability...?
YOU...
... are in complete control
of product quality & long
term reliability!
Let’s look at the critical design elements
that should be part of your specification
to increase long term reliability.
Master EC Series
MASTERfully Engineered for Reliability.
The EC Series controller was
developed for large companies
who desire to protect their billion
dollar properties with the most
reliable fire pump controller in
the world.
Let’s look at it’s Critical Design
Considerations that make this
true.
Critical Design Considerations
Transient Protection and Control Circuit
Control logic circuits are prone to
transient damage when continuously
connected to the power line.
• Master EC - Uses “Air-gap” isolated
circuitry to keep power off of critical
control circuits until the fire pump start
sequence is initiated.
• Others – Connect the control circuitry to
the power line all the time leaving the the
controller susceptible to damaging power
spikes from utility grid.
Critical Design Considerations
Phase Loss and Transient Protection:
Phase monitors are prone to damage due to
uncontrolled transients typically found with
service entrance equipment.
• Master EC – Monitors phase loss downstream
of three electro-statically shielded, high
dielectric strength, control transformers to
prevent power line spikes from damaging the
controller.
• Others – Monitor phase loss at the incoming
power line voltage. Phase loss detectors are
their most common service item.
Critical Design Considerations
Transient Protection and Dielectric Strength:
Transients will find the weakest path to
ground.
• Master EC – Has the highest dielectric
(high potential test) strength available.
It’s rated at 5000 volts.
• Others – Do not published this
information but the testing agencies
only require a dielectric strength of
2500 volts.
Critical Design Considerations
Electro-magnetic Interference
Radio Frequencies from fire radios, cellular
telephones, arcing motors and the like can “upset”
micro-processor designs.
• Master EC - Separates critical and non-critical
functions. It uses electronics in the critical path that
are certified to be immune to RF interference by a
third party testing agency and marked as EMC
compliance in accordance with International
standards.
• Others – Use microprocessor designs in the critical
path that have not been tested by a third party to
establish immunity. No EMC Mark of compliance is
provided.
Critical Design Considerations
Circuit Board Protection
Printed circuit boards can be damaged
during installation when large power
cables are pulled or afterwards when
corrosion develops in high humidity
conditions.
• Master EC - Printed circuit boards are enclosed
to prevent mechanical damage and conformal
coated to prevent corrosion.
• Others – Leave circuit boards un-protected and
un-coated.
Critical Design Considerations
Product Life Cycle
Capital equipment is expected to last
20-30 years but does it anymore?
• Master EC - Controllers are designed to
last 20-30 years and parts are always
available. Our warranties and guarantees
say it all.
• Others – Obsolete products after 10 years
or less.
Critical Design Considerations
PhaseSmart ™
• Master EC
– Intelligent control logic
prevents the fire pump
from starting due to
local or area-wide
single-phase condition;
but allows it to continue
running if the phase
loss occurs while
already running. Meets
NFPA 20 (1999)
• Others
– Not provided
Critical Design Considerations
Phase Loss and Control Power:
To operate under a single phase condition,
control power must be taken from all 3phases since you never know which phase
will be missing.
• Master EC - Takes control power from all
three phases. Loss of one of three phases
will not affect control.
• Others – Takes power from only a single
phase. Loss of this phase results in loss of
all control functions.
Critical Design Considerations
Phase Loss and Locked Rotor Protector:
For the locked rotor protector to trip under
single phase conditions, the shunt trip must
be powered from all 3 phases.
• Master EC – Uses a DC shunt trip coil powered from
all 3 phases. The locked rotor protector will still
operate under a single phase condition.
• Others – Uses an AC shunt trip coil powered from
only a single phase. Has a 2 out of 3 chance that a
loss of phase will disable the locked rotor protector
leaving the motor vulnerable to destruction during
manual operation.
Critical Design Considerations
Restart Time Delay
• Master EC - Controllers
utilize a re-start timer to
delay the instantaneous restart of the controller. This
allows electromagnetic
fields in the motor to decay.
• Others – Don’t provide this
feature. Without it the
circuit breaker may trip
unintentionally during a fire.
The fire pump is then out of
service for the duration of
the fire, or until manually
reset.
Critical Design Considerations
Instant On
• Master EC - All controllers are capable
of starting instantly as soon as power
is applied.
• Others – Take 10, 20, or 30 seconds to
power-up before they are capable of
starting. Many Fire Marshals will not
accept this kind of delay, especially on
transfer switch controllers.
Critical Design Considerations
Low Voltage Ride-thru
• Master EC - Controllers will continue to
operate if the voltage drops by as
much as 35% of rated voltage. This
can be critical when starting the fire
pump on emergency power.
• Others – May not operate if the voltage
drops below only 15% of rated voltage.
Critical Design Considerations
Diagnostics
Demonstration of over-current device.
• Master EC - Provides a test-switch to
demonstrate the timed and
instantaneous settings of the overcurrent device.
• Others - Not available from other
manufacturers.
Critical Design Considerations
Controller Enclosure
• Master EC - Provides no less than a
NEMA 12 dust-tight enclosure. All
enclosures also pass the watertight
hose test required for a NEMA 4 rating.
• Others - No other manufacturer of Fire
Pump Controllers offers more than a
NEMA 2 Enclosure as standard.
Critical Design Considerations
Paperless Pressure/Alarm Recorder
• Master EC - Paperless Pressure
and Alarm Recorder developed by
MCS can record all events leading
up to and throughout a fire.
Custom PC Software is provided
which can analyze and view the
data graphically.
• Others - No other manufacturer of
Fire Pump Controllers offers a
truly medialess Pressure/Alarm
Recorder.
•Built-in dial-up modem
•12 hour battery back-up
•Totally independent of controller
•Password protected over the modem
•4000 Data points in non-volatile memory
•350 Alarm conditions
•Watch check-in switch
Critical Design Considerations
5 Year Warranty/Lightning Protection Guarantee
• Master EC (Written)
5 Year Warranty!
– 2 Years Labor Expense!
– $5000 Lightning and
transient damage
Guarantee!
• Others
– 1 Year Warranty.
– No Labor.
– No Lightning
Protection.
NFPA 20 Summary
• To be compliant today with NFPA 20, a
manufacturer needs only to prove that
the controller performs the basic
functions as laid out in the code.
• UL/FM verifies this functional
performance, but leaves quality and
long term reliability up to you!
Master EC Series - Summary
• Superior performance and reliability
• Air gap isolated control circuit
• All phase monitoring performed
downstream of control transformers
• 5000 volt dielectric strength
• EMC certified by third party testing lab
• Conformal coated printed circuit boards
• 20-30 year product life cycle
Master EC Series - Summary
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
PhaseSmart
DC control power taken from all 3 phases
DC locked rotor protection circuit.
Restart time delay
Instant On
Low voltage ride-thru
Demonstration of over-current device
NEMA 12, dust-tight, enclosure
Master EC Series - Summary
• Paperless Pressure and Alarm
Recorder that is unequaled
• 5 year warranty that is unsurpassed
• $5000 Lightning guarantee that is
unprecedented
• A reliability record which cannot be
touched by any manufacturer!