Transformers
July 25, 2024
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 MoreMay 5, 2024
5 Questions on Transformer Grounding
You hired someone to install and ground your transformer. You assumed they understood and followed all appropriate codes and considered the health and safety of your personnel and equipment. But what happens when they do not? Are you aware of some of the dangers that could be lurking due to an error or omission from […]
Read MoreApril 24, 2024
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 MoreApril 16, 2024
Neutral Grounding of Electrical Power Systems
To ground, or not to ground – that is the question. There are many factors to consider before selecting the best method of neutral grounding for your electrical system. This article discusses the requirements and techniques of four different methods of system grounding to help you choose which one is best for your needs. Background: […]
Read MoreApril 6, 2024
How Often Should I Pull a Transformer Oil Sample?
A common question we get from our customers is “How often should I pull transformer oil samples?” Our training manager Mark Stone has the answer in our latest video: Oil sampling is crucial because it allows you to both spot and fix potential issues early, as well as allowing the individual to assess the performance […]
Read MoreMarch 11, 2024
7 Reasons to Choose Southwest Electric as Your Transformer Manufacturer
You may recognize Southwest Electric Co. as a go-to substation service provider, a custom manufacturer of switchgear, or a reliable motor repair shop. But, unless you are local to the Oklahoma area or heavily involved in the oil and gas industry, you may not be aware of our extensive history as a transformer manufacturer, specializing […]
Read MoreMarch 1, 2024
The Right Way to Sample a Transformer
Transformer sampling is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to determine what is going on in our transformers, but it is important to sample correctly to make sure you get a good representative sample from the transformer. Don’t wait until the transformer fails to do this sampling – many of the high costs that […]
Read MoreFebruary 28, 2024
Most Common Custom Transformer Options
At Southwest Electric Co, we are experts in building custom distribution class oil-filled transformers with options unique to a wide variety of applications. This article walks through our most popular custom transformer options, from transformer type and termination options to accessories. Transformer Types: Pad Mount & Unit-substation Before deciding on custom transformer options like accessories, […]
Read MoreFebruary 24, 2024
How to Determine Transformer Criticality
Determining transformer criticality is an important step towards turning your existing maintenance plan (or lack of) into a reliability-centered maintenance program. The analysis will allow you to develop a custom plan that saves you money with minimal downtown. So, how do you go about determining transformer criticality? The question of what tests to pull and […]
Read MoreFebruary 23, 2024
Traditional Transformer Oil vs. Today’s Alternative Fluids
The following article was published in Transformer Technology‘s Issue 9. Read the original article here. Today, most transformers are filled with mineral oil. This has been the case since the late 19th century, when chemist Elihu Thomson, whose company later merged to form General Electric, patented the use of mineral oil in transformers to help […]
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