Resetting breakers, replacing fuses and maintaining pumps, drives and motors is a routine part of the job for electricians and maintenance workers at power generation plants. “Routine” doesn’t mean risk-free though – there’s potential for hazards like arc flash and electric shock if components or equipment remain live. Workers are required to check that circuits are de-energised before they do anything else.
But manual absence-of-voltage testing can be time-consuming, complex and prone to human error. Workers have to isolate the power supply following lockout tagout procedures, put on appropriate PPE, grab an adequately-rated portable meter and test it on a known voltage source to prove it’s functioning before they even open an electrical enclosure.
Once inside a 3-phase panel, workers need to manipulate two manual probes to take six separate measurements to confirm the absence of voltage, often contending with a tight space that makes it hard to see, and sweaty hands in bulky insulating gloves.
Even a minor slip, such as contacting insulation instead of a conductor can give an incorrect measurement and compromise safety. The process doesn’t end there – workers still have to go back and test the portable meter again before any work can start. What if a worker could just walk up to an electrical enclosure, and press a button instead?
Panduit’s VeriSafe Absence-of-Voltage Tester makes the process just that simple. VeriSafe is permanently installed inside a panel, generally on the load side of a disconnect with the test button mounted on the outside of the enclosure. It automatically performs the absence-of-voltage testing at the touch of a button, going through the following steps in seconds:
It then repeats these steps a second time. VeriSafe is installed with two connections in a closed loop. If it can’t verify a connection, an amber light flashes four times, indicating a worker will need to go into the panel and check what’s happening. If voltage is still present, the amber light flashes twice. Get a green light, and work is good to go.
Alan Bond, Sr. Global Product Manager – Prevention Through Design at Panduit, says the automation takes the potential for human error out of the testing process.
“Humans are terrible at doing the same thing and getting the same result, every time. If we weren’t, we’d all be 100% free throw shooters,” he says.“The value of VeriSafe is it’s programmed to do it the same way, every time. The prove test prove portion of the process is automated and no longer variable.”
VeriSafe enables a worker to confirm a circuit is dead before they even open an enclosure. It can be installed on high-severity, high-touch panels, where the consequences of an incident could be significant, or deployed to support consistent electrical safety practices across a plant.
VeriSafe can also save on time, and in turn, labour costs. While manual testing with a portable meter can take 20 to 30 minutes, VeriSafe completes the process in around 10 seconds. Alan believes so strongly in VeriSafe, he wanted to work at Panduit. He says the technology would have prevented safety incidents he experienced first-hand in his previous working life.
“It truly does resolve the human performance factors and gets you to a much more robust, reliable and consistent process when you’re testing for absence of voltage.”
When installed according to Panduit instructions, VeriSafe meets the requirements of NFPA 70E Article 120.6 (7) Exception 1 for permanently mounted absence-of-voltage testers and SIL 3, also supporting compliance alongside improved safety and productivity.
There are two models available, both powered by replaceable batteries. The 600V to handle 3-phase AC voltage and the 1000V for 3-phase and single-phase AC and DC voltage. The 1000V is also compatible with a network module that shows live voltage levels, presence of voltage state and provides data logs on test results, enabling easier tracking of compliance.
As Australia’s leading supplier of industrial solutions, Blackwoods has everything you need to keep your operations running smoothly. Talk to your Blackwoods Account Manager about how VeriSafe can power up absence-of-voltage testing.