• The most important issue is that wireless sensors create a potential threat to critical infrastructure operations because such systems are hackable. Exertherm sensors avoid any cyber security risks.
• Sensors described as wireless often have a very limited transmission distance – sometimes as low as 30 cm (SAW technology).
• Wireless sensors require antenna to pick up the wireless signal –usually several antennas will be required per vertical column
• The antenna are hard wired !- so perceived savings are actually not available.
• Wireless sensors operate on a limited number of frequencies – which can result in confusion if antenna pick up two sensors on same frequency – causes commissioning problems
• The wireless systems can only normally be commissioned on-site
• Wireless sensors require power to transmit the signal – that creates problems such as battery replacement costs / insufficient power to generate energy harvesting on LV equipment / requirement for re-calibration etc etc.
• Exertherm sensors avoid ALL these issues + Exertherm sensors come with a Lifetime Warranty/ zero maintenance guarantee – something wireless sensors cannot guarantee.

• Raw data can be exported from Exertherm Datacards in Modbus 485 protocol
• Raw data can be exported in Modbus TCP/IP via use of a converter or via the Exertherm ARM XL HMI module
• Local and remote dry contact relays can be utilised via the Exertherm ARM XL module
• The MCC monitoring solution enables remote alarm via dry contact relay / export of raw data via Modbus 485, or export of raw data in Modbus TCP/IP via the Exertherm ARM XL HMI
• The MCC monitoring solution also provides a drawer/ bucket face mounted status LED to indicate Green = OK; Yellow = Warning level alarm; Red = Critical level alarm

LV and MV switchboards –key monitoring points using Exertherm non-contact passive infrared sensors.

• bus joints of line and load side of main incomer air circuit breakers
• line and load side of bus couplers / tie breakers
• Load side of ACB feeders
• optional shipping split bus joints

LV cable terminations;

• Line side main incomer ACB
• Load side feeder ACB

LV MCC : Using the Exertherm MCC kit which provides monitoring of incoming + outgoing power terminations fits INSIDE the drawer/ bucket.

Dry Resin Core Transformers using Exertherm non contact passive infrared sensors:

• Tap change connections
• HV both ends of coil terminations
• LV side bus joints

LV Power transformers :

• Input / output cable terminations
• Tap change connections

Independent research indicates that there will be generic savings of circa 12% on current Opex maintenance costs. In addition, 24×7 condition monitoring will detect approx. 70% more failures in advance of the failure than periodic inspections. This will save on repair and replacement of equipment + associated downtime costs. The combined effect will produce circa 30% overall savings when compared to periodic inspection maintenance regime.

Calculations for typical 10 x switchboards with 5 columns per board indicate total savings of circa $250,000 over lifetime (20yr) of equipment.

There is also the Opportunity cost of not utilising condition monitoring. These include lost opportunity to increase safety by removing people from a place of potential risk to perform inspections.

Perhaps the greatest lost opportunity of not utilising condition monitoring will be the loss of the ability to collect 24×7 data of uniform quality for subsequent analysis to obtain the benefits of IIOT. Every piece of electrical equipment e.g. LV/MV switchboards, MCC, transformers etc which is built without the inclusion of sensors is building in obsolescence.

There are a number of reasons which can be summarised as:

• Thermal inspections on electrical equipment are normally undertaken annually – that is one day out of 365 – less than 1% – which means a high dependence on luck to detect a failure condition in advance of the failure.
• Thermal inspections are not integrated into SCADA / BMS computerised systems and so cannot provide alarm notifications, trending, analysis etc.
• The thermal inspection temperature measurements are highly dependent on the quality of thermal camera and operator, thus data produced is not of a uniform quality. Further, thermal window infrared transmission deteriorates over time, making accurate indications of Go / No Go situations unreliable.
• Exertherm sensor technology provides proven accurate and reliable data of a uniform quality
• The IIOT “revolution” will globally transform the way electrical infrastructure is procured, operated, and maintained across all major industries. Installing sensors to create the data for subsequent analysis is a key part of the IIOT jigsaw since No Sensor = No data!
• ALL major OEMs now advocate the use of thermal condition monitoring over periodic inspection.