Optional Monitoring Capabilities

• Cabinet heater current monitoring (OM-ACCT)
• Tank heater current monitoring (UPSM-241)
• Trip circuit isolation (OM-TCI)
• Trip signature monitoring (OM-T-15)

Cabinet Highlights

• Rugged, 16 gauge steel construction enclosure
• IP66 / NEMA 4 ingress protection against water, oil, dust
• All sensor inputs pre-wired to test-disconnect terminal blocks
• Integrated circuit breakers for AC / DC power sources
• Internal cabinet heater prevents condensation
• Built-in hooded cabinet vents allow for proper air flow
• All components pre-wired and factory tested
• Eliminates on-site drilling or tapping to mount devices

Application: Trip and close coil operation verification

Enables Optimizer to:

• Capture and analyze the trip and close coil signatures of circuit breakers with precision
• Assist with NERC PRC-005 compliance

Specifications:

• Communication: DNP3 Alarms, COMTRADE Files, SFTP
• Sensor resolution: 10μs
• Power supply: AC 90-264 Vrms and DC (100-150Vdc)
• Waveform range: Up to 20A amplitude and 100ms
• Compliance: ROHS 2.0 designed under 60100 UL standard
• Channel frequency: 100kHz

Trip Signature Analysis

TripTracer™ technology excels in capturing and analyzing the trip coil signatures of
circuit breakers with remarkable precision. By monitoring these signatures over time, the
technology offers a comprehensive view of the breaker’s operational behavior compared to
baseline measurements, enabling early detection of potential issues before they escalate.

• NERC PRC-005 requires verification that each trip coil is able to operate the circuit
  breaker every 6 years. The Trip Signature Monitor facilitates simplified testing compliance
  without the costly operational expenses of offline testing.
• Armed with a high degree of circuit breaker performance insight, utilities can deploy
  maintenance with intelligence and only as needed.
• AVEVEA/PI Historian compatible.

Application: Monitoring circuit breaker phase currents and fault currents

Enables Optimizer to:

• Measure the current flowing through each phase of the breaker in real time
• Measure the fault current as the breaker is tripped, which is used to calculate the remaining life of the interrupter contacts for each phase

Specifications:

• Current sensors are specifically designed for use with Optimizer CT input circuitry
• Includes 8' wire lead
• 30' leads available upon request
• Accuracy greater than 1%

Interrupter Contact Wear Monitoring

The Optimizer3 measures fault current in each phase during arc time and calculates the damaging energy (I2T) for each phase. I2T accumulates at different rates based on fault current and the involved phase. Using current transformer pickup coils, the Optimizer3 measures real-time current flow in the bushing current transformer secondaries. This objective data allows for intelligent, need-based maintenance scheduling.

Application: AC current monitoring for heaters and motors

Enables Optimizer to:

• Monitor the current draw of continuously-running cabinet heaters
• Monitor the current draw of the circuit breaker’s spring-winding motor
• Monitor the run time of the spring-winding motor, the air compressor motor, or the hydraulic pump motor
• Trigger high and/or low current alarms
• Trigger high run time, accumulated run time and high run frequency alarms
• Calculate the IxT & I2xT of each motor run, and trigger alarms on those values

Specifications:

• Selectable input current range: 0-10, 0-20 and 0-40 amps
• Converts measured AC current to 4-20 mA
• Loop excitation voltage: 18-24 VDC
• Accuracy: +/- 1.0% of full scale
• Output circuit isolation is 2500 volts minimum

Cabinet Heating Monitoring

Most breakers have continuously-running cabinet heaters to prevent moisture condensation by keeping the control cabinet warmer than the outside air. These heaters typically use AC power and can be monitored using an AC Current Transducer. Once the heater’s nominal current is determined, the Optimizer3 can be programmed to alarm if a heater fails, resulting in a current drop.

Application: DC current monitoring for heaters and motors

Enables Optimizer to:

• Monitor the current draw of the circuit breaker’s spring-winding motor
• Monitor the run time of the spring-winding motor, the air compressor motor, or the hydraulic pump motor
• Trigger high and/or low current alarms
• Trigger high run time, accumulated run time and high run frequency alarms
• Calculate the IxT & I2xT of each motor run, and trigger alarms on those values

Specifications:

• Selectable input current range: 0-5, 0-10, 0-20 and 0-40 amps
• Converts measured DC current to 4-20 mA
• Loop excitation voltage: 8-28 VDC
• Accuracy: +/- 0.5% of full scale
• Output circuit isolation is 1000 volts DC minimum

Spring Winding Motor Monitoring

The trip coil pulls the trip latch, releasing the energy stored in a large spring to open the breaker in a matter of milliseconds. After the breaker closes, the spring winding motor runs shortly to compress the spring. If the motor or the winding mechanism has an issue, the current drawn while running may be affected. The AC or DC Current Transducer measures the peak run current while the motor is winding the spring. If the current draw is too high or too low, the Optimizer3 triggers an alarm.

Application: DC voltage monitoring

Enables Optimizer to:

• Measure DC voltage supply at the circuit breaker
• Trigger high and/or low DC voltage alarms

Specifications:

• Input voltage range: 0-150 VDC
• Converts DC voltage to 4-20 mA
• Loop excitation voltage: 12-32 VDC
• Accuracy: +/- 1.0% of full scale
• Output circuit isolation is 250 VAC, 354 VDC continuous

DC Voltage Monitoring

The Optimizer3 can monitor the AC or DC voltage supplies in the control cabinet, including cabinet heaters, spring winding motors, air compressor motors, station service, and battery banks. Using voltage transducers, these measurements are logged in the database every two hours, with upper and lower limits set to activate alarms.

Application: Thermostatically-controlled cabinet or tank heaters

Enables Optimizer to:

• Indicate On/Off status of thermostatically-controlled heaters
• Monitor the current draw of heaters only while they are running
• Detect loss of a heater element and trigger a low-current alarm

Specifications:

• Coil voltage: 195 - 330 VAC
• Fuse ratings: 3 amps
• Selectable input current range: 0-10, 0-20 and 0-40 amps
• Converts measured AC current to 4-20 mA
• Loop excitation voltage: 18-24 VDC
• Accuracy: +/- 1.0% of full scale
• Output circuit isolation is 2500 volts minimum

Tank Heater Monitoring

Tank heaters are thermostatically controlled, so they do not run continuously. The Power Status Monitor is wired into the heater supply circuit and enables the current draw of the heaters to be monitored only when they are turned on. If one or more of the heater elements fails, the current draw will be too low and the Optimizer3 will trigger a heater alarm.

Application: Temperature monitoring for cabinets, heaters, ambient temperature, or specific component temperatures

Enables Optimizer to:

• Measure temperature in and around the circuit breaker
• Trigger high and/or low temperature alarms

Specifications:

• Measured temperature range: -40 to 120˚ C
• Power supply voltage: 8 - 30 volts DC
• Temperature accuracy: +/- 1˚ C at 25˚ C / +/- 3˚ C at -40 to 120˚ C

Circuit Breaker Temperature Monitoring

A temperature sensor in a circuit breaker cabinet is essential for monitoring the thermal conditions in and around the circuit breaker. It continuously measures temperature levels, ensuring they remain within safe operating limits. If temperatures exceed or fall below predefined thresholds, the Optimizer3 can trigger high or low temperature alarms. This early warning system is crucial for preventing overheating or freezing conditions that could lead to equipment failure, ensuring the reliable and safe operation of the circuit breaker and the overall electrical system.

Application: Maintains physical and electrical isolation of dual trip circuits

Enables Optimizer to:

• Measure SF6 gas temperature and density, and then calculate gas pressure
• Detect and quantify SF6 gas leaks, and trigger a gas leak alarm
• Calculate an SF6 gas leak trend and forecast low gas alarms
• Quantify the mass of lost SF6 gas over time

Specifications:

• Density range: 0 to 60 grams per liter (kg/m3) SF6
• Mounting thread: Male 3/8" BSP
• Operating pressure: -1 to 20 Bar

Trip Coil Isolation

With the TCI, the Optimizer3 Circuit Breaker Monitor can monitor Trip Circuits 1 & 2 as if it was hard-wired to them both, yet maintain the physical isolation required by the NPCC regulation. The OM-TCI is comprised of a Transmitter and Receiver and a fiber optic cable joining the two.

• The Transmitter is connected to Trip Circuit 2 on the circuit breaker.
• The Receiver is connected to the Optimizer3, which is connected to Trip Circuit 1 on the
  circuit breaker.
• When the circuit breaker is commanded to trip via Trip Circuit 2, the Transmitter’s input is
  energized, which causes a signal to be sent through the fiber optic cable to the Receiver.
• The fiber optic signal causes the Receiver’s output to be energized, mimicking the
  Transmitter’s input state exactly.

Application: Monitoring SF6 gas temperature and density

Enables Optimizer to:

• Measure SF6 gas temperature and density, and then calculate gas pressure
• Detect and quantify SF6 gas leaks, and trigger a gas leak alarm
• Calculate an SF6 gas leak trend and forecast low gas alarms
• Quantify the mass of lost SF6 gas over time

Specifications:

• Density range: 0 to 60 grams per liter (kg/m3) SF6
• Mounting thread: Male 3/8" BSPP
• Operating pressure -1 to 20 Bar

SF6 Gas Monitoring & Reporting

Low gas density can compromise dielectric properties, potentially leading to catastrophic failure. The Optimizer3 can continuously measure SF6 gas density, pressure, and temperature, allowing it to forecast the number of days until a low gas alarm will occur. By detecting and trending SF6 leakage, the Optimizer3 provides early warning before damage occurs, ensuring reliable and safe operation. Every two hours the Optimizer3 logs density, pressure and temperature measurements into an SF6 history. Every 24 hours, the average density, density trend, average mass, average pressure, pressure trend and average temperature are logged into an SF6 daily summary report for simplified reporting. 

Application: Monitoring SF6 gas temperature and pressure

Enables Optimizer to:

• Measure SF6 gas temperature and pressure, and then calculate gas density
• Detect and quantify SF6 gas leaks, and trigger a gas leak alarm
• Calculate an SF6 gas leak trend and forecast low gas alarms
• Quantify the mass of lost SF6 gas over time

Specifications:

• Pressure range: 0 to 10 Bar Abs at 20˚C compensated
• Mounting thread: Male 3/8" BSP
• Operating pressure: 0 to 20 Bar absolute

SF6 Gas Monitoring & Reporting

Low gas density and excessive moisture can compromise dialectric properties, potentially leading to catastrophic failure. The Optimizer3 can continuously measure SF6 gas density, pressure, and temperature, allowing it to forecast the number of days until a low gas alarm will occur. By detecting and trending SF6 leakage, the Optimizer3 provides early warning before damage occurs, ensuring reliable and safe operation. Every two hours the Optimizer3 logs density, pressure and temperature measurements into an SF6 history. Every 24 hours, the average density, density trend, average mass, average pressure, pressure trend and average temperature are logged into an SF6 daily summary report for simplified reporting.

Application: Monitoring moisture in SF6 gas or high-pressure air used as dielectric insulation in breakers

Enables Optimizer to:

• Measure the moisture in dielectric insulating gases
• Trigger a high-moisture alarm

Specifications:

• Dew point: -60 to 20˚ C
• Mounting thread: Male 3/8" BSP

SF6 Gas Monitoring & Reporting

High moisture content can significantly degrade the insulating properties of these gases, leading to reduced dielectric strength and increased risk of electrical discharge or arcing. By continuously measuring the dew point, the sensor ensures that moisture levels remain within safe limits, preventing potential equipment failure and enhancing the reliability and longevity of the circuit breaker. Early detection of moisture issues allows for timely maintenance, avoiding costly downtime and ensuring the safe operation of the circuit breaker.

Application: Mounting SF6 gas sensors to a circuit breaker gas fill port

Highlights:

• Directly connects to a circuit breaker via the SF6 gas fill port
• Available with single or dual sensor mounting ports
• Integrated fill port cap for easy gas refilling without sensor removal

Specifications:

• Pressure range: 0 to 10 Bar Absolute
• Mounting thread: G1/4" BSPP
• Seal: EPDM70PC O-ring seal
• Accuracy: +/-1.5% of full-scale range @ 20°C
• Temperature effect: +/-0.025% of full-scale range per 1°C
• Linearity error: +/-0.1% of full-scale range
• Output signal: Analog 4-20 milliamps

• Excitation voltage: 10 to 35 Volts DC
• Electrical connections: 2-Wire (3-meter cable provided)
• Operating temperature: -20 to +85°C
• Over pressure limit: 20 Bar Absolute (not temperature-compensated)
• Electrical insulation: 15 KV, 50 Hz for 1 Minute
• Material external: Stainless Steel (AISI316)
• Weight: 5.29 Oz. (150 Grams)