Substitution recommendations for Cooper reclosers

[wfowfo]

Our Utility has been a long time advocate of Cooper reclosers, particularly their VWVE's and Nova products.

Without going into details that would make this look like a rant, we have recently made the decision to go with SEL 351-R's; conversely, Cooper has made the decision not to sell their reclosers without Cooper controls. So we are currently in the recloser market, looking at Whipp & Bourne, G&W, and others.

Considering the popularity of the SEL devices, I'm sure others are addressing this problem. Anyone have any recloser reccomendations, suggestions, horror stories, etc.?

 

[dpc]

I would check out the new ABB vacuum reclosers as well as Joslyn TriMod. Both have vacuum interrupters and solid dielectric. The ABB unit is normally sold with their own PCD2000 protection unit, but it can be purchased with a conventional trip/close interface that would allow you to use the SEL-351R.

ABB had some problems early on with these reclosers, but I think those have been mostly solved.

The Joslyn reclosers look very rugged and can be purchased with SEL-351R as a standard option.

 

[wfowfo]

"ABB" stands for "A Big Bomb" at our Co-op. We tried one of the "ABB had some early problems" and none of our linemen will go near one.
We were looking hard at the G&W Vipers, but I've heard they have abandoned their original warranty.
I take it from your advice that Joslyn no longer requires the 351-J. Do you have any personal experience with this recloser?

 

[dpc]

I don't have any personal experience.

 

[apprenticerelaytech]

ABB will no longer install SEL relays into their recloser control cabinets, or at least won't for us. The last time I was in the stockyard it appeared we are buying strictly G&W now.

 

[apprenticerelaytech]

I forgot to add we were having problems with the ABB recloser "brain" that interfaced with the SEL relay. A ABB rep I talked to said that is why they are no longer installing SEL relays. Very short sighted of them in my opinion, since SEL is such a major player. I know for a fact we have had at least 6 of the "black box" brains fail.