Mobile Automation delivered the power and controls for a silo installation at a bulk handling operation, integrated back to a control room and PLC.
Mains and outlets into the new switch room
The site was on a temporary generator supply.
- 4x 95 mm mains and a 35 mm earth run into the switch room
- Protected in cable tray and lid inside an exclusion zone
- Three 20 A distribution-board breakers feeding 10 A and 15 A outlets at silo top and bottom
- 55 kW motor fitted off
- Isolator re-mounted on the cable duct in a more accessible position, its cables re-run into a junction box on the silo's C-channel
Proving what the existing cabling connects to
Nothing was taken from the drawings alone.
- Drawings cross-referenced against terminations and continuity for every panel on site
- Multicore runs traced end to end to confirm terminations
- Junction box 412A1 relocated, a further junction box and glands extending the proximity-sensor cabling
Safety switching around the mixer and access gates
Gate and mixer safety devices were mounted and wired.
- Brackets fabricated for two gate-mounted emergency stops
- Drawings altered to add a further gate emergency stop identified on site
- Gate switches and the emergency stop under the existing mixer terminated into junction box 412A1
- Up and down limit switches, and a junction box for locking-pin proximity sensors and solenoids
- Draw-wire switch mounted for the silo acknowledge function
Planned energisation and commissioning
Energisation was planned before the generator set's lock-out was released.
- Safe work method statements written for pneumatic and control circuits
- Safety circuit fault traced and cleared
- Two proximity sensors, the high-overrun switch and four solenoids commissioned, with contact adjustment on the mechanical arms
- Reed switches on the pin in/out function, rail movement and limit switches proved
- Heating elements and the VSD for the main winch commissioned
- Motor resistance and continuity readings logged
- 24-core terminated into the PLC, with shielded Cat6 and multicore back to the control room
The results
- Silo power, controls and safety circuits commissioned
- Every safety component proved for correct operation
- Push-button control of the silo from the control room
- Drawings corrected to match what is installed on site