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12
Installation
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BriteSpot® Plus
Ch 4 Installation
If the BriteSpot® Plus is not installed as per the
following instructions, correct operations not
guaranteed, and any protection provided by
the device may be impaired.
The installation of the BriteSpot® Plus fiber-optic
temperature measurement system is comprised
of several steps. The BriteSpot Plus conversion
module and fiber-optic probe can be installed
independently of each other, and hence the
order of certain aspects of the installation are
at the user’s discretion. Many of the images will
show installation on medium voltage switchgear,
as this provides a typical installation. However,
the principles of installation can be carried over
to many other applications where temperature
monitoring is needed. Other examples include:
wiring splices, circuit breakers, motor control
centers, bus duct, dry-type transformers, etc.
A. Select A locAtion of intereSt
BriteSpot can measure temperatures on any
equipment within its operational range. The
start of the process is to select a Location of
Interest (LOI). The tip of the fiber will eventually
be placed at this location and secured via the
fixture.
Some recommended principles to follow when
selecting the LOI include:
1. The LOI should ideally be as close to a
potential source of failure as possible. For
example, if a splice or bolted connection is
present and critical, consider mounting the
fiber sensing tip right at, or adjacent to, the
connection point.
2. The probe can measure temperatures in
locations that are not visible, therefore
consider locations where infrared
monitoring will not be effective. In many
situations, important connections are
hidden behind ducting and sheet metal.
Main bus compartments are an ideal
example as they cannot be viewed in
operation.
3. There must be a method for affixing one of
the various fixture options to the LOI. Each
fixture type has specific requirements for
proper attachment.
4. There must be a continuous path going
from the LOI to the mounting location
for the conversion module which can be
followed by the fiber. This will be termed
the “fiber path”.
There are additional aspects that need to be
considered before proceeding with installation:
1. The LOI and mounting location for the
BriteSpot Plus conversion module must not
be farther apart than the length of the fiber.
In practice, they must be even closer as the
fiber will frequently not take a direct path,
following surface features instead.
2. Provide continuous power to the BriteSpot
Plus conversion module. In addition,
if RS-485 or Ethernet ports are used for
real-time communication, the associated
communication wires must be capable
of being routed to the BriteSpot Plus
conversion module.
3. Temperature at the LOI must not exceed the
maximum rated temperature of the fiber for
an extended period.
4. No point on the fiber path (in contact with
the fiber) shall exceed 100C (212°F). This
excludes the LOI where the fiber is attached
to the mounting fixture.
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