Maintenance Archives - Southwest Electric

Maintenance

Transformer Oil Guide: Uses, Testing, & Best Practices

Transformer oil is necessary for many reasons. In this article, you’ll learn four things you need to know about transformer oil, including how to monitor its health and keep your facilities running smoothly.  1. Transformer Oil vs. Synthetic Fluids Today, the majority of transformers are still filled with mineral oil. But, other types of oil […]

Read More

6 Common DC Motor Issues & How to Fix Them

Though DC Motors are simple machines, proper and timely maintenance is important to lengthen the motor and facility’s lifespan. DC motor users in the manufacturing sector know all too well the headaches that can come along with troubleshooting issues. This article will help you troubleshoot six of the most common DC motor issues. 1. Carbon […]

Read More

Substation Maintenance & Upgrades: Retrofitting vs. Replacement

Substations play a vital role in your business’s critical infrastructure. Maintaining the reliability of these power stations is crucial to reducing problems that may arise while also protecting the equipment and enhancing your operational efficiency. However, their reliability begins to suffer when your substations suffer from poor maintenance and an aging infrastructure. The good news […]

Read More

Electric Motor Repair: 6 Basic Steps & Best Practices

It is important to follow the procedures for electric motor repair. This can help obtain all the needed data/information that will determine if you should proceed with a repair. The following will take you through the most basic processes for Electric Motor Repair. Receiving a Motor for Repair The first step is to document the […]

Read More

Transformer Maintenance Strategies: A Step-by-Step Approach

Whether you have one or hundreds of transformers in your fleet, you need a maintenance plan to keep everything running optimally.  The task of maintaining a fleet may seem daunting, but we can help you accomplish it in 5 steps. Your transformers play a crucial role in generating, transmitting, and distributing electrical power across your […]

Read More

Substation Upgrade | 5 Ways to Save Money & Minimize Downtime

Your facility is adding new equipment this year, and you are tasked with upgrading, installing, and maintaining the existing substation with minimal downtime and a very limited budget. How do you do it? Apply these 5 recommendations to your new substation upgrade and deliver on-time and within budget, while keeping your workforce safe and your […]

Read More

5 Questions to Ask Before Replacing or Upgrading Switchgear

Replacing or upgrading switchgear can be overwhelming, especially when you have limitations on footprint, downtime, access, and budget. Here are 5 questions to ask before making the decision to spend money on your equipment. 1 – What is Driving the Need to Replace or Upgrade? The reason behind your need to replace or upgrade your […]

Read More

Everything You Need to Know About Vibration Analysis

Vibration analysis is an essential maintenance process for electric motors today. This article breaks down everything you need to know about vibration analysis to ensure your facility’s motors are running at peak efficiency. What is Vibration? In a dictionary, you might see vibration defined as “to swing back and forth; to oscillate.” In the electric […]

Read More

The 5 W’s of Transformer Oil Analysis

The 5 W’s of Transformer Oil Analysis Transformer oil testing and analysis is often overlooked yet is an integral part of keeping your transformers maintained. The process is very similar to a blood test you might have performed by a doctor. The results tell us what is going on inside and give us the chance […]

Read More

Your Electrical Distribution System Checklist

Industry retirements and maintenance department budget cuts often result in lost knowledge and documentation gaps that can be difficult to replace. Electrical department managers and employees can find themselves lacking the history and background needed to understand the critical systems that keep production moving. People often overlook the electrical distribution system until the lights go […]

Read More