Deejey
26-06-2005, 01:45 AM
Recently a large supermarket chain was having one of their stores (in my local area) retrofitted with new racks, cabinets etc. during the installation a fire in the plant room destroyed the new racks, the old compressors and all the electrical system.
What caused it...well a fault deveolped in 1 of the old compressor motors. It was tripping the overload. A service mechanic fitted a higher rated overload to keep it running until the new rack came on line. Unfortunately he did not check the motor windings out. Consequently during the night, the motor lost a phase and sat there humming on 2 phases until it got so hot the plastic terminal block melted and dripped onto oil underneath the compressor setting it on fire. It destroyed the whole plant room all the existing refrigeration and the new racks and electrical panels...
The supermarket a major one for the area had to close for several weeks.
What caused it...well a fault deveolped in 1 of the old compressor motors. It was tripping the overload. A service mechanic fitted a higher rated overload to keep it running until the new rack came on line. Unfortunately he did not check the motor windings out. Consequently during the night, the motor lost a phase and sat there humming on 2 phases until it got so hot the plastic terminal block melted and dripped onto oil underneath the compressor setting it on fire. It destroyed the whole plant room all the existing refrigeration and the new racks and electrical panels...
The supermarket a major one for the area had to close for several weeks.