Finning Power Systems Planned Maintenance and Inspection Program, is custom designed to help reduce generator operating cost, prolong component life and increase the overall reliability of your equipment.
| Engine Service Levels | Monthly | Readiness | PM Major |
| Simulate a failure of the normal electrical supply to the building | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Operate system under 30% of rated load for 60 minutes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Operate transfer switch under load | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Visual inspection of generation equipment | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 50 point visual inspection | No | Yes | Yes |
| Change oil & filters | No | No | Yes |
The Monthly Inspection consists of the testing and inspecting of the following. Perform a simulated failure of the normal electrical supply to the building and operate the system under at least 30% of the rated load for 60 minutes. Operate all automatic transfer switches under load. Inspect brush operation for sparking, and block heater hoses and wires. Inspect for bearing seal leakage. Inspect for operation of auxiliary equipment, for example radiator shutter controls, coolant pumps, fuel transfer pumps, oil coolers, and engine room ventilation. Record instrument readings in the log and verify they are normal. Drain the exhaust silencer condensation trap. Recommend all defects found during inspection and tests are corrected. Finning will provide a log book to record all inspections, tests, and corrective action in the logs.
The Readiness Inspection includes a detailed inspection of the generator set. This includes a full check of the overall appearance of the equipment and controls, fan belt tension and condition, fuel filter bowl for condensation, oil level, coolant level and anti freeze strength, battery electrolyte level and specific gravity, battery charging rate, inspect and clean battery terminals, spark plugs and breaker points where applicable, fuel system operation, clean or replace crankcase breathers, exhaust silencer condensation trap, clean or replace panel lights, day tank pump and fuel level where permissible, operation of cooling thermostats and louvers, test all shutdown devices, transfer load with transfer switch and run under building load, output voltage and frequency engine controllers and commandments.
An Annual Load Test is preformed at the same time as the Readiness Inspection. The Canadian Standards Association recommends that emergency generators be run and tested at their name plate rating for a minimum of two hours each year. Load Bank tests are an essential part of the Planned Maintenance program.
The primary cause of diesel engine failure is "wet-stacking" ("wet" unburned fuel accumulating in the engine "stack"). It is caused by under-loading of the generator. Diesel engines that are lightly loaded, or allowed to idle for long periods, never reach their recommended operating temperature. Over time, unburned fuel coats the combustion chamber, reducing engine rating, efficiency, and life span. Planned Maintenance includes load testing of the diesel generator set, which reduces the harmful effects of "wet-stacking" and increases engine life. Load Banks provide a practical means to test the system without interruption to the critical loads. This also keeps the cooling system exercised, helps reseat the piston rings in the liners, burns off carbon deposits in the engine and will dissipate any condensation build up on generator copper windings. Testing includes the supply and installation of all load cables and required load bank.
During the PM Major Service we will replace the engine oil and applicable engine oil and fuel filters. We will check air intake filters and replace as required. During this service we will also take an oil, fuel, and coolant sample. Fluid Analysis is the fastest, most accurate, most reliable ways to see what's going on inside your engine. Proper fluid maintenance is imperative to keep engines operating at peak performance.
The Annual ATS Maintenance is an important part of the Planned Maintenance program. Although transfer switch equipment usually requires minimal maintenance it is strongly recommended that the following maintenance be performed to ensure the safe operation, reliability and longevity of your equipment. In order to perform this maintenance the switch will need to be de-energized however if the switch is equipped with bypass isolation this is not necessary. During this inspection Finning will complete a thorough internal and external examination of the ATS. We will also vacuum the cabinet with an anti-static vacuum cleaner and check connections for hot spots with an infrared camera.
The five year service requires a complete inspection of the generator winding insulation. Using an insulation tester (megger) the resistance in megohms should not be less than {(Rated V + 1000) -/ 1000}. If the resistance is less, we will dry insulation using the auxiliary heat process. We will also test surge suppressor, rotating rectifier on brushless machines, grease bearing, clean commutator and slip rings, clean rotor and stator winding using clean compressed air, inspect coupling bolts and alignment, inspect windings at rotor and stator slots, and inspect all electrical connections.
For more information regarding Finning's Planned Maintenance Service Levels, please contact:
| Alberta | British Columbia |
| Patrick Hamilton Product Support Sales Rep Phone: (780) 443-7580 Email: phamilton@finning.ca (Northern Alberta) |
Dave Manders Product Support Sales Rep Phone: (604) 247-3767 Cell: (604) 817-5913 Email: dmanders@finning.com |
| Moe Prieur Customer Service Manager Phone: (604) 231-3900 Email: mprieur@finning.com (Mildred Lake) Calgary Branch Phone: (403) 275-3340 (Southern Alberta) |
