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Why did Beckwith Electric choose to use adapter
panels as a means to retrofit other brand controllers?
Back in the 1980's we introduced a line of analog replacement
tapchanger controls which all used the same basic PCB and components.
We offered this control in 13 variations each one specifically designed
as a DIRECT replacement of the original. In this case "DIRECT"
meant just that. The customer needed only to disconnect and remove
his old control. Ours mounted in the same manner and typically had
a wire harness, labeled with the original manufacture's designations
and some times re-used certain hardware and or connectors. The ease
of replacement was a huge advantage for the customer saving them
time and money. When the M-2001 was introduced in 1993 we chose
to build on the work that had been done on the analog line and came
up with the configuration we have now. We started by adapting the
13 designs from the analog line and since that time have designed
more Adapter Panels which now number around 30. Some of the advantages
to this approach are:
1) Reduced Inventory costs: A utility could keep one or
two M-2001 controls on hand and 5 or six different adapter panels.
He can be ready for a control failure on any of his LTCs or regulators.
Because the Adapter panels cost much less than the entire control
his inventory level is reduced when compared to keeping 5 or 6 unique
controls in stock.
2) Easy future change outs: If a customer has an older M-2001
and would like to upgrade to a new version because of some new feature
that he needs he can now switch out the old M-2001 with a new one
by removing 4 screws and pulling the quick disconnect plug and putting
in the new one... a 5 minute job.
3) Standardization: Because the M-2001 can be used on any
LTC or Regulator, crewmen etc. only need to learn one control, one
software suite.
4) Easier Custom Installations: Because the M-2001 is so
small, applications where a direct replacement is not available
become less problematic. We also offer some space saving Surface
Mount or Flush Mount interfaces for the control that make the control
extremely flexible. And we can custom design and build a replacement
panel with the same ease of installation and include paralleling
equipment or what ever the customer needs.
Many times, particularly on LTC transformers, simply offering "retrofit
wiring harnesses" is not enough. Many times additional relays
or seal-in circuits are needed. Sometimes capacitors or aux. C.T.s
are lost with removal of the old control. Our Adapter panels address
all these issues when they are designed leaving a more complete
and faster conversion. No one in the industry can approach the "Universality"
of our M-2001 control.
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