Volume I, Issue 2 - November 2008
The Supplier
WUE Named U300 GE Distributor
WUE was recently named a U300 GE distributor. This means that WUE can now market, stock and sell GE transformers, capacitors, meters, regulators, CT & PT, relays and power transformers to all municipals and cooperatives in Colorado and Wyoming. In order to provide technical support to customers for these products, WUE, has hired a metering sales specialist (Greg Harmon). Greg can be reached at the Brighton office. Additionally, WUE will be adding new GE materials to its’ inventory., including the addition of polyphase meters, CT & PT’S and transformers.
WUE Named Howard Lighting Distributor
WUE has been named a Howard Distributor. Howard Lighting offers a wide array of cobra heads , security lights and CFL fluorescent bulbs at a competitive price.
New Concept in Wood Crossarms
Brooks Manufacturing a leader in supplying the electric utility industry with wood crossarms has introduced the “extenda-life crossarm.” The new crossarm design eliminates end splitting of the crossarms. Thus the need for anti-split bolts is eliminated, the life of the crossarm is substantially increased, it allows for date tracking of the crossarms, and prevents insulator pin pullouts due to splits (especially during storms). The patented design consists of galvanized endplates pneumatically installed into the crossarm at the Brooks Factory. The end plates increase end pin pullout values by over 59% and overall strength over anit-split bolts by 41%. They can hold 32% more load after a failure than a non-plated crossarm. The crossarms are RUS approved.
A recent study has shown the following savings using the Extenda-Life crossarms. Based on historical usage data collected from utilities, a utility can avoid replacing approximately 15% or more of their crossarms, prior to the pole needing replacement, by preventing end splits. If we assume that it costs $1,000 for labor, equipment and materials to replace a failed crossarm in the field, and we assume that a utility purchases 5,000 crossarms per year, the annual savings over the life of the system will be $750,000.
WUE is now stocking Brooks arms with the extenda-life end plate.
CABLE IN CONDUIT (CIC)
Provides for cost savings
Many electric utilities have been installing either primary or secondary cable in PVC conduit for quite some time. The duct provides for protection of URD cables (minimizes future cable outages) as well as ease in removing and reinstalling URD cable at some future time. While using 10’ or 20’ PVC sticks and gluing them together is very popular, many utilities have begun to use continuous HDPE duct with the required cable already installed. These 1500’ to 2500’ reels of HDPE conduit significantly reduce installation time (utilities report that at least 4 more services a day can be installed), eliminates splices and pull lines, reduces conduit waste, eliminates water or dirt ingress, while providing permanent cable lubrication. It is estimated that savings approach 25-40% based on installation techniques. In many cases elbows are not required as the continuous semi-flexible duct can be bent to the necessary angle for termination in the cabinet. However, special easy to use couplers are available to connect HDPE duct to PVC elbows if required.
Arnco is the leading provider of HDPE duct in the industry. They manufacture both empty duct (for pulling cable in the field) or duct extruded loosely over URD cable at the factory. The duct is available from 1/2” to 3” with various wall schedules and either a black (standard) or red color. WUE is currently stocking 1/10, 4/10 and 350 mcm. 600V secondary cable installed in 2” Sch 40 black (with red stripes), as well as 2” Schedule 40 Black (with red stripes) with 1/0 15KV or 25KV medium voltage cable on a 2500’ reel. Please see your WUE rep to arrange a trial order. Your operations crews or underground contractors will not go back to the use of sticks. There is factory support available to answer any questions and provide installation instructions.
Go Polymer Rather Than Porcelain
The preference to use Hendrix polymer insulators rather than porcelain Insulators continues to escalate due to both performance advantages and a narrowing price gap. Polymer insulators have:
40 years proven field performance and vandal resistant (i.e. gunshots, etc.)
Superior leakage distance and contamination performance
Mechanical characteristics that eliminate chipping, cracking and breaking.
RUS acceptance
Less than .01% failure rate
Availability in 15 KV, 25 KV and 35 KV with varying neck sizes
Same grey color as porcelain
Ability to be hand-wrapped or used with formed ties.
For a brief time only, WUE will ship a free sample box of 4 pin insulators to try on your distribution line. Just tell us what voltage and neck size is required. Additionally, your WUE account rep can supply information on the best polymer insulator in the marketplace-Hendrix.