Because recloser pilots are test projects, they can easily fall by the wayside when more pressing issues arise—unintentionally delaying results and the benefits you’re aiming for. Here are common errors that can occur when balancing other day-to-day responsibilities compete for attention.
What to Watch Out For
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Not involving line crews early
Line crews will be the ones interacting with smart technology like S&C’s TripSaver® II Cutout-Mounted Reclosers the most. Including them in applicable pilot planning and providing thorough installation and operations training is critical to the pilot beginning and running smoothly.
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Skimming over training
Lack of training can lead to your teams’ dissatisfaction and frustration with any pilot project before realizing its benefits. Thorough training is critical for all team members who will be configuring, installing, working, and collecting data from the devices.
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Not installing devices immediately
Every day you delay your pilot you delay the savings you’ll see in the short term from the TripSaver II reclosers as well as the expanded long-term benefits from a widescale deployment. If you’ve planned your pilot thoroughly so installation aligns with your budget and teams’ work schedule, delays could risk missing your installation window, forcing you to forfeit work orders or team members to new jobs or urgent issues that cropped up in the meantime.
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Installing devices where you’ve recently trimmed trees or in trouble-free spots
Pilots should be designed to show how the devices operate when issues arise on the grid. If you place devices in areas of your system that generally don’t see much activity, or if you trim trees and mitigate one of the core problems TripSaver II reclosers resolve, you’re not providing the devices an opportunity to operate—therefore eliminating the intention of testing how the devices respond to common problems. Running other grid-modernization pilots in the same areas Think of pilots as being an experiment, and test only one variable at a time. If you install other devices or upgrades that coincide with your TripSaver II recloser pilot, you won’t know which variable improved your system.
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Waiting to collect data
Many times, utilities can see TripSaver II reclosers’ benefits within months. But no pilot should last longer than a year. Within a year, the reclosers will have been exposed to the elements your system typically sees, and you’ll know how the devices responded. In your pilot’s plan, schedule an end date and time dedicated to collecting and reviewing data. A year’s worth of data makes it easy to extrapolate the returns your system will see annually.
Planning for the Missteps Matters
Every step in your pilot brings you closer to success—including knowing what to avoid. By steering clear of these common pitfalls, you’ll keep your team engaged and ensure your pilot delivers the reliability and financial benefits you expect.