Can normal IT equipment be used in a high voltage substation?

[ManUnited1]

Hi,

Can domestic computer equipent be suitable for a substation or does it require specialized equipment.

 

[ScottyUK]

Probably depends what you're think of. I've used standard laptops in substations for years, as have most engineers who deal with that sort of work.

Fibre has a lot of benefits in an HV substation with significant rise of earth potential by virtue of fibre being non-conductive. Most domestic equipment doesn't have fibre provision.


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If we learn from our mistakes I'm getting a great education!

 

[ManUnited1]

Before you used your laptop, was it put through a rigorous test by the substation or was the standard CE marking enough.

 

[ScottyUK]

Tested? I just plugged it in, loaded the software and started using it. The biggest problem was finding one with a half-decent serial port to talk to the older relays.

There have been a few - an IBM thinkpad, a Compaq Armada M300, and latterly a hardened laptop from Terralogic. Guess which one I had most problems with?


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If we learn from our mistakes I'm getting a great education!

 

[davidbeach]

It will work just fine until the first ground fault on a line with a terminal in the station.