Product Breif BULLETIN B240-05035 AUTOMATIC SECTIONALIZING LINK LIFE CYCLE COST - COOPER BUSSMANN® VS. COMPETITOR Introduction: the The Cooper Bussmann® Automatic Sectionalizing Link (ASL) represents a significant breakthrough in field of medium-voltage overhead line distribution system protection, offering considerable savings in operating costs and minimizing unnecessary interruptions to customers. Benefits include: ■ Reduces system-operating costs by eliminating nuisance fuse outages, which can account for as many as 90% of all outages. Every time there’s an outage, a crew is dispatched to re-fuse a cutout and get the customers back on line. With an ASL installed at the head of each lateral, service calls are significantly reduced. ■ System efficiency ratings improve due to elimination of nuisance outages. For utilities whose rates are based on reliability indices, this translates to increased income. ■ The Cooper Bussmann ASL provides a better value than the competitor’s resettable sectionalizer. The initial expense of putting ASL units on a system, including replacement actuators, typically costs less than the same number of resettable sectionalizers. ■ The life of each cutout at the head of a lateral is greatly extended, since the ASL doesn’t expel sparks or cause contact erosion. A cutout fuse tube normally needs replacement after 5-6 expulsion fuse operations. Lower Life Cycle Cost: When it comes to selecting overcurrent protection, utilities normally select products based on the lowest life cycle cost. Cooper Bussmann Automatic Sectionalizing Links (ASL) are the smart choice in sectionalizers because they are a better value than the competitor’s resettable sectionalizers. Though the ASL uses a replacement actuator, it is typically less expensive than the competitor’s offering. Since the ASL only operates for permanent faults, the number of replacement actuators kept on hand need only be a fraction of the number of expulsion fuses kept in stock to replace both temporary and permanent faults. So the initial expense of outfitting a distribution system with ASLs, including stocking replacement actuators, typically yields lower life cycle costs than buying the same number of the competitor’s resettable sectionalizers. PRODUCT BRIEF AUTOMATIC SECTIONALIZING LINK LIFE CYCLE COST - COOPER BUSSMANN VS. COMPETITOR Installation time and number of service calls are the same for both the ASL and the competitor’s resettable sectionalizer. Both require a trip to the site to reset and restore service to customers. The ASL actuator can be replaced in the same amount of time that it takes to reset a competitor’s sectionalizer or replace an expulsion fuse link. The graph demonstrates the total life cycle cost when choosing the Cooper Bussmann ASL. This example shows that if a utility purchases 100 ASLs each year, plus replacement actuators for 5% of the total number of installed ASLs on their system in the first 5 years, this results in a first purchase cost savings of $30,000 compared with using the competitor’s resettable sectionalizer. In terms of life cycle cost, that's a savings of over $20,000. Both the sectionalizer quantities and typical number of permanent outages will vary from utility to utility, but even after many years of use, the ASL can save you money. Additional Benefits of the Cooper Bussmann ASL In addition to the life cycle cost benefit of using the Cooper Bussmann ASL, there are operational advantages to using the Bussmann ASL versus the competitor’s resettable sectionalizer. These advantages include: ■ Lighter weight – the Cooper Bussmann ASL is significantly lighter in weight than the resettable electronic sectionalizer. This represents improved handling of the ASL, when installed with a standard hot stick. This is especially true when installed from the ground, in instances when a bucket truck cannot access the physical location of the installation. ■ Color bands are located on the body of the ASL to easily identify the pick-up current and number of counts. ■ Cooper Bussmann ASL has a more comprehensive range of current ratings than the resettable electronic sectionalizer. This allows for more opportunities to utilize the ASL on a distribution system. © 2005 Cooper Power Systems or its affiliates Bussmann® is a registered tradmark of Cooper Industries, Inc. Bulletin B240-05035 • July 2005 • New Issue Printed in U.S.A. 1045 Hickory Street Pewaukee, WI 53072 USA www.cooperpower.com