When a critical pump goes down, downtime isn’t just inconvenient, it can affect operations across the entire site. That’s exactly what happened last week when one of the main autotransformer starters failed, leaving no standby pump available.
Thanks to the rapid response of the APDS team, we were able to deliver and install a new ABB softstarter at short notice, restoring service swiftly and improving the pump application’s reliability in the process.
What we did:
- Replaced the failed autotransformer starter with a modern ABB softstarter
- Removed the aging CET3 motor protection relay, as the softstarter now handles all protection functions
- Integrated a new line contactor into the emergency stop circuit
- Added a pulse reset timer to automatically reset the panel after mains loss
- Configured soft start and motor error settings to not auto-reset, maintaining safe manual control
- Reduced heat output by eliminating transformer losses. This panel now runs significantly cooler
And the client’s response after APDS Engineer, Alan, updated the site manager with the good news:
“Brilliant news and huge thank you to you! You guys have once again bailed us out the doo doo.”
This wasn’t just a fix, it was a future-proof upgrade.
By replacing the outdated starter with an ABB softstarter, the system now benefits from greater efficiency, modern protection features, and improved performance monitoring. And most importantly, the client’s critical pumping capability was restored, fast.
At APDS, we pride ourselves on fast response times, in-depth product knowledge, and getting the job done right first time.
Need help with a breakdown, or ready to modernise your motor control systems?
Get in touch, we’re here for when you need us.
