Ottermill 3ph switch fuse

[NozSpark]

I know it's a long shot, but does anyone know where I can get hold of some spare parts for an Ottermill 100A 3ph switch fuse??

I was called out to a cafe at a local Fransican friary... the cafe had lost power! I traced the fault down to a burnt out termination at the L2 fuse holder and was able to move the sub onto the spare L3 phase.

Obviously I'd like to carry out a more permanent repair and get the cafe back on the phase that it came off... If not I might have to replace the whole switch fuse.... they have maybe 8 of these in total

I think that I might also have to recommend that they have a thermal survey done of the rest of their switch gear

 

[steptoe]

I can have a look tomorrow at work, place I'm at has a load of old redundant sw fuses still mounted. Dunno if any ottermill, but can have a look. 

 

[Tony S]

Ottermill spares are still available.

http://www.switchgeardoctor.co.uk/ottermill.htm

It is bloody good switchgear.

 

[NozSpark]

Ottermill spares are still available.

http://www.switchgeardoctor.co.uk/ottermill.htm

It is bloody good switchgear.

Cheers Tony... Ive just sent them an email with some pictures

 

[Tony S]

You can download all the Ottermill maintenance manuals from them as an added bonus.

 

[NozSpark]

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[NozSpark]

You can download all the Ottermill maintenance manuals from them as an added bonus.

I've had a quick look at them..... I seriously doubt that they've been looked at for several years..

IMHO they could do with an EICR or thermal survey doing (as a minimum)

 

[Tony S]

That would be a good idea, Ottermill is fantastic switchgear but it’s getting on a bit.

A thermal scan showed up a hot ACB isolating contact, it took me four hours to dig my way in to change it. The root cause? It hadn’t had any maintenance since the day it was installed.

 

[NozSpark]

The only problem is that I don't have an IR camera... that can be resolved, but I don't know if it would be worth buying one just for one job

 

[Tony S]

I’m sure you can hire them, the deposit might be a bit eye watering. Have a word with our resident test gear expert.

I used to “borrow” an imager from the production lads.

 

[kerching]

Is it an optical illusion...or is the yellow knife 'out of kilter'...looks a bit asymmetrical 

 

[Tony S]

Probably bent when NOZ switched it off. Once coppers been hot it’s soft as anything.

The fuse base will need changing, it looks like a EE Red Spot so off the shelf.

 

[NozSpark]

Yeh,,, it was already bent when I got there..... Also they had managed to open the door without turning it off....

Door interlock misaligned !!!!!!!

and yes... it needs a new fuse base, knife and shield (as a minimum)

 

[Blue Duck]

Can I see brown black and (burnt) grey ?surely It would have had some kind of inspection???

Also...

£200 isn't that high a price?

http://isswww.co.uk/flir-one-2nd-generation-personal-thermal-imager-for-your-smartphone-android-ios?gclid=Cj0KEQjwo5--BRCS8ceLjv-XppUBEiQAGp15EJMNZfwF2cmKuWKz6u8fCq8JtWJHHQj27qO5Ua-pklUaAm9w8P8HAQ

 

[Tony S]

Yeh,,, it was already bent when I got there..... Also they had managed to open the door without turning it off....

Door interlock misaligned !!!!!!!

and yes... it needs a new fuse base, knife and shield (as a minimum)

Let me know how you go on with the switchdoctor.

In a way I find it annoying that the switchdoctor has been around for years. Every time I needed spares our buying department would come back with company XYZ is out of business, you’ll have to butcher old kit.

Allen West, original spares still available.

Ottermill, remanufactured spares still available.

English Electric, original spares still available.

George Ellison, remanufactured spares still available.

BTH, remanufactured spares still available.

Reyrolle, remanufactured spares still available.

 

[poni]

RS do them for £165 (883-7049)

 

[NozSpark]

Let me know how you go on with the switchdoctor.

In a way I find it annoying that the switchdoctor has been around for years. Every time I needed spares our buying department would come back with company XYZ is out of business, you’ll have to butcher old kit.

Allen West, original spares still available.

Ottermill, remanufactured spares still available.

English Electric, original spares still available.

George Ellison, remanufactured spares still available.

BTH, remanufactured spares still available.

Reyrolle, remanufactured spares still available.

Here's the reply that I got from the switch doctor,,,, very quick response, but not quite the one I was after

Hi Nick,

We do not hold any spares for this type of wall mounted switch fuse.

Regards

 

[NozSpark]

Can I see brown black and (burnt) grey ?surely It would have had some kind of inspection???

Also...

£200 isn't that high a price?

http://isswww.co.uk/flir-one-2nd-generation-personal-thermal-imager-for-your-smartphone-android-ios?gclid=Cj0KEQjwo5--BRCS8ceLjv-XppUBEiQAGp15EJMNZfwF2cmKuWKz6u8fCq8JtWJHHQj27qO5Ua-pklUaAm9w8P8HAQ

I had to replace the link on the L3 fuse.... I'm afraid that I only had some blue 25mm tails available but obviously the L2 phase fuse base had burnt out (including the link and knife),,,, but the L1 phase isn't looking fantastic either

RS do them for £165 (883-7049)

I'm guessing that you've linked to the same thing that Quackers (above) linked to......... is it good enough for a thermal survey???

I could easily work that price into the job

 

[Tony S]

Rollocks! OK lets start again, the fuse holders, switch blades and terminals I’m certain I’ve seen before in another make of switch probably BILL Royal. Like many things, factories ABC made the bits, DEF put them in their own housing. Let me ponder on it.

It may be easier and cheaper to swap it entirely and keep the useful bits for the future. There is a company I know of that will make them for you in exchange for an arm and a leg.

 

[NozSpark]

Rollocks! OK lets start again, the fuse holders, switch blades and terminals I’m certain I’ve seen before in another make of switch probably BILL Royal. Like many things, factories ABC made the bits, DEF put them in their own housing. Let me ponder on it.

It may be easier and cheaper to swap it entirely and keep the useful bits for the future. There is a company I know of that will make them for you in exchange for an arm and a leg.

I'd rather not have to swap it if I can get away with it,,, but I'd really like to get the sub back on the L2 phase.... If I have to I could possibly move the L3 components over to L2 as it's a spare way anyway.

and it'd be a pig of a job as the switch fuse is sat on top of a 5 foot long busbar chamber with metal clad 10 way wylex standard directly on top of it.... the switch fuses seem to be only connected to the  busbar chamber and wylex with brass bushings and is attached to nothing else (sort of hanging in the air)

.... IIRC there are at least 8 switch fuses coming off the busbar chamber (4 above and 4 below)... and I remember seeing at least 2 x 10way metal clad wylex standards

TBH isolating the busbar chamber will end up being quite a task as it seems that this incomer will supply the entire friary