A
bout the author
ROUND UP
M
arkets are constantly demandingmore from low voltage switch-
boards.Today’s switchboard is at the crossroad of internal and
customer demand for increasingly sophisticated applications on the
one side, and external demand related to changes in legislation on
the other side.
“Today’s switchboards simply have to be capable of adapting to
parameters such as the capability to adapt to both environmental
impact constraints and more difficult operating conditions,” says
Jacques van Eeden, vice president, Power at energy management
specialist,
Schneider Electric South Africa
.
“Also critical in the design and development of LV switchboards
is engineering technology to ensure that switchboard products in-
corporate sufficient technological advantages to carry them forward
into the future.”
Eeden adds that the company has focused on tackling these issues
with its range of Okken LV switchboards, which feature segregated
modular construction, main busbars up to 7 300 A, dropper busbars
up to 4 000 A, a fixed semi-withdrawable or fully withdrawable pat-
tern and up to form 4b separation.
“The Okken switchboards are earthquake tested, internal arc tested
at 90 kA/300 mS, have a rated insulation voltage of 1 000Vac, impulse
withstand of 12 kV and short circuit withstand of 150 kA/1 sec. The
degree of protection for the Okken meets IP31/41/54 and it is internal
arc tested at 90 kA/300 mS,” says Eeden.
In addition to the company’s B100/ C100 motor control centres, the
offering includes the latest range of fixed, demountable or withdraw-
able Okken low voltage solutions. “Our Okken range of motor control
centres are fully type tested to the latest IEC 61439-1 specifications,
including internal Arc-tested to IEC 61641.We are pleased that recent
metals, minerals and mining orders in excess of R30 M have been
awarded to Schneider Electric SouthAfrica for African-based projects
in Mozambique, Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Zambia,” he highlights.
Enquiries: Jacqui Gradwell.Tel. 011 254 6400 or email e-mail:jacqui.
.
LV switchboards meet new technology demands
technology and smart building approaches, the company could use
energy in ways that were efficient and had the most impact for any
given project on any given day.
According to sustainability consultant and chief executive officer
of Cape Town based consultancy, Innov8-Africa, Anthony Nartey, up
to 50% of energy and water used in buildings is wasted on average.
Taking a smarter approach to energy use can save an organisation
as much as 40% on energy costs, 50% on water, and up to 30% on
building maintenance. Reducing waste across the organisation saves
money that can be used to finance more projects or improve support
for current ones.
Conclusion
It is only by taking this strategic approach that project managers will
be able effectively to manage projects that add the most strategic
Dennis Comninos is an international project manage-
ment consultant, lecturer, and author as well as the
director of the UCT Graduate School of Business
Strategic Project Management. He has over 40 years
of experience in strategic, general, and IT manage-
ment relating to almost all industries as a business
and systems analyst, developer and project manager. Enquiries: Email
.
value to their organisations. Having the right knowledge, seamless
communication channels, and the ability to cut down on waste, im-
proves decision-making, team design, organisational support and
project selection in the future, all of which will help in keeping project
failures to a minimum.
Plant maintenance, test and measurement
45
June ‘13
Electricity+Control
