1 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Communications Specialist Course Skill 2 Unit 3: AC Power, Distribution, and Generators

2 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course AC Power, Distribution, and Generators

3 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course AC Power, Distribution, and Generators

4 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Now you see him…

5 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Now you dont!

6 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Unit Objective Upon completion of this unit, you will be able to give a general description of AC power systems and how to safely utilize them in the US&R mission.

7 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Enabling Objectives Describe both utility supplied and local generator supplied AC power sources Describe the need for, and use of, electrical safety and equipment protection devices

8 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Utility Supplied Power Considerations Availability? Reliability? Capacity? Practicality?

9 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Availability Do you have permission to use the power? Are outlets available in the correct area?

10 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Reliability Is the utility power affected (or might it be), by the incident or other outside factors? Is the local infrastructure intact? Are there hazardous conditions which may require the power to be shut off? Are receptacles wired correctly?

11 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Reliability: Are they wired correctly? Conventional GFCI

12 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Reliability: Whats hot and whats not? Neutral Hot

13 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Capacity Check the breakers. Are there sufficient circuits available, at the correct voltage, to provide the necessary power? Can additional circuits be wired in temporarily? Is someone available who is qualified to perform the addition of circuits?

14 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Practicality How many extension cords will it take and are there enough of the correct sizes, to handle the required power? How long are we here for? What are the alternatives?

15 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Load analysis Most equipment, currently available, has a label with its voltage and current requirements. By adding up the current requirements of each device, the total load can be calculated.

16 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Load analysis… Calculate the load. 1.4 computer power supplies: volts at 1.5 amps each 2.6 radio chargers: 115 volts at 1 amp each 3.10 cell phone chargers: volts at 120 ma each 4.1 fax machine: 120 volts at 2.5 amps

17 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Load Calculation Computers 4 x 1.5 A = 6.0 A Radio chargers6 x 1.0 A = 6.0 A Cell phones 10 x.120 A = 1.2 A Fax machine 2.5 A ________ Total 15.7 A

18 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Spikes, Surges, Sags, and Brownouts Can be from the utility lines Can be generated locally Do not mix sensitive equipment with motorized, rock breaking equipment. The on and off cycle of the heavy motorized equipment will cause voltage drops and spikes, during start-up and shut down.

19 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Spikes, Surges, Sags, and Brownouts (continued) Spikes and surges are brief over-voltage conditions which can damage sensitive equipment. Sags and brownouts are a low voltage conditions which can damage sensitive equipment.

20 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course AC Power Disturbances

21 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Spikes, Surges, Sags, and Brownouts (continued) Surge Suppressors, or Line Conditioners, can protect equipment from damaging high voltages. Surge suppressors, by design, can be destroyed by a significant surge or spike. A correctly wired grounded outlet is required for a surge suppressor, to work correctly.

22 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Spikes, Surges, Sags and Brownouts (continued) A UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply), or a Line Conditioner, will correct for voltage drops or losses. A correctly wired receptacle is required for proper operation, prior to a UPS sustaining the load.

23 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Surge Suppressors – How they work

24 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Extension Cords

25 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Extension Cords (continued) Allow operation of equipment in remote/isolated locations. Isolate the operational area from generator noise. Needed to distribute power to multiple locations.

26 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Extension Cords (continued) Rated for their current carrying capacity

27 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Extension Cords (continued) Manufacturers recommendations foot 16 gauge 10 Amps foot 14 gauge 13 Amps foot 12 gauge 15 Amps

28 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Extension Cords – Other Considerations What is the condition of the cord? Is cord getting hot? Is it a trip hazard? Protect the cord from damage. Secure the cord from pulling out of the outlet. Secure all connections.

29 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Extension Cords (continued) Label the end of the cord at the power source, with what its supplying, as well as the total load. Label the appliance end of the cord and identify the what the power source is. On multiple outlet boxes, cover unused receptacles with tape, as a warning to consider the total capacity, before adding more load.

30 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Extension Cords (continued) Make sure to have all the adapters, surge suppressors, and other supplies you need to support your operation, before leaving the cache. GFCIs (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters) can prevent shocks and may be required by OSHA. GFCIs CANNOT prevent all shocks.

31 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Ground Fault Interrupter Circuit

32 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Generators

33 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Generators Large central generator sets may be in place at an incident.

34 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Generators (continued) Use caution when using lighting- generator units. These may be shut down during daylight hours, along with your load.

35 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Generators (continued) Task Force Generators

36 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Generators (continued) Calculate the load. Do not overload them. Know the specifications of your generators and have the manuals available. Multiple receptacles may share the same maximum load. Know your generators runtime and schedule equipment checks and refueling accordingly. Make sure you have a reliable fuel supply available.

37 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Honda EM7000is 6500 watt max 5500 watt rated 4.5 gal fuel tank 4.7 rated load /4 load 200 lbs dry Clean power from inverter technology

38 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Honda EM7000is (continued) i-Monitor Hour meter Wattage Diagnostics OHSA approved GFCI & Neutral bonded to ground Voltage selector switch

39 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Power Distribution Kit is included

40 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Honda EU1000i 1000 watt max 900 watt rated 0.6 gal fuel tank 3.8 rated load 8.3 ¼ load 29 lbs dry Clean Power form Inverter Technology

41 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Honda EU2000i 2000 watt max 1600 watt rated 1.1 gal fuel tank 4 rated load 15 ¼ load 46.3 lbs dry Clean Power form Inverter Technology

42 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Generators Other Considerations Exhaust fumes Noise Refueling Maintenance Security

43 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Review Utility Power… Is it available, reliable, capable, and practical. Calculate the load, by checking the equipment labels, then do the math. Protect equipment from damage from the power supply. Protect people with a GFCI device. Do not overload extension cords. Know their rating(s), secure them, and label them

44 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Review (continued) Generators Do not overload Calculate runtime Schedule periodic checks Order fuel Consider hazards and safety

45 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Honda Generator Models & Capacities EU1000i EU2000i EB5000X EM7000is 900 w 1000 w w 2000 w w 5000 w 120 / w 6500 w 120 / 240 Rated Max VoltsModel

46 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Honda Generator Models & Capacities EU1000i EU2000i EB5000X EM7000is 7.5 A A / / / / 240 Rated VoltsModel

47 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course EU1000i

48 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course EU2000i

49 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course EB5000X

50 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course EM7000is

51 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Unit Evaluation Please fill out the evaluation form for this unit.

52 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course End

53 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course

54 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Now you see him…

55 National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Communications Specialist Course Now you dont!