Remote Pringle Switch Operation

Does anyone know of a device for remote operation of pringle switches?

We have a customer with 6 pringle switches tied to a ring bus from their incoming transformers vault that splits power throughout the site. These switches are just a hair over 40 cal at 18". Normally we would fabricate an extension piece at a right angle to the handle to increase working distance and get down to HRC 4 but there are space restrictions.

I have seen products like the chicken switch for pistol grip operation, or remote operators for LimitAmp style starters but nothing for pringle switches. Is anyone aware of such a device?

FEC2

Yes, CBS arc safe makes them. www.cbsarcsafe.com

Zog, thanks for the tip. CBS has designed such a remote switch to work on a pringle but has not manufactured any yet. It is cheaper than going to say a static trip breaker but costlier than fabricating your own extender bar when all you need is 6-12 inches to get below 40 cal/cm2. In a case like I described earlier, the cbs switch makes a lot of sense (many swithces on site, high energy...)

We run into a lot of situations where a customer has something like a 2500 kVA transformer feeding a set of 3000A Class L fuses at 480V for their main gear. Often the available fault current and the fuse melt curve align so that even the sub-fuse or breakers are above 40 cal. What are people hearing out there from equipment manufacturers for more cost effective retrofits (i.e. arc flash relays, new fuse technology...)?

Why not contact Eaton (Pringle) and see if you can purchase an electric operator for your switch. Swap out the existing operator with an electric operator. Pringle was always pretty consistent with their designs.

Just adding an extension to get it below 40cal is not my idea of mitigation, the worker is still suited up a 40 cal suit and in the flash protection boundary. Better to do it right and be outside the FPB. The arc safe people can have something like this developed and produced in a few weeks.

There may be better solutions for mitigation but I don't know the details of your system, but experminting with some different fuses can make a huge difference.

I thought about this too but he has 6 of them so upgrading all 6 may be costly. Good idea though, we upgrade these all the time, pringles are a little more involved than say a boltswitch but can be done if you know the equipment.

*Disclaimer* I work for Eaton.

We also offer a remote racking system (just grabbed this off of Google) - http://www.eei.org/meetings/Meeting Documents/2009FallTDM-6-McKinney, Kenneth.pdf

However, in this situation, what we have done as well is retrofill the pringle switch and replace it with a LV circuit breaker with a trip unit and Arc-Flash maintenance switch. In one instance, our design has a remote control panel, located about 50' away from the room where it can be done.