Maintenance Training facility 1

[raisinbran]

Gentlemen,
Our coal mining company is setting up training facilities to train our mine electricians on how to safely troubleshoot our equipment. The supply voltages to this equipment would be either 480 volts (3 phase) or 950 volts (3 phase).

When being used underground, our equipment is powered by high resistance grounded systems. We want the equipment used in our training excercises to be the actual equipment used underground so that we can also train our people on the hydraulic and mechancial aspects of the equipment.

Some of the trainees have limited troubleshooting experience and my concern is that I do not want to get anyone injured while trying to train them. They will have voltage-rated gloves on and high quality test equipment while being trained.

I am wrestling with the idea of using ungrounded power systems in our training facility to minimize the chance of electric shock while training. Maximum cable runs will be less than 100 feet from the source transformer.

I realize that there are three phase GFCIs available (for 480 volts)that can be used with resistance grounded systems, but the motor sizes used on this equipment exceeds the 100 ampere limit of what I have found.

I plan to install current limiting fuses to minimize any arc flash potential, but I am worried about accidental contact while the person is being trained to use a volt meter

Has anyone faced a similar situation or does anyone have any practical suggestions?

Thank you,
Raisinbran

 

[oldfieldguy]

Hampden Engineering Corporation makes some excellent simulators for training that will allow you to do a lot of teaching in a low-energy environment. I would think that this would be an excellent way to set up a classroom/laboratory for training. Your 'students' can learn much about how power systems work by using the simulators and then you can move the venue out into the real world.

old field guy

 

[LionelHutz]

I used a Startco SE-502 in our training room but it's only a 208/120V system and I'm not sure that thing can handle higher voltage systems. It does provide Class A GFCI trip level protection. I had a step down transformer installed and connected the SE-502 to the Wye winding output of the transformer so it tripped the output circuit breaker.